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With 2023 now in the past, PBR Michigan is eagerly anticipating bringing the state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2024. Starting in February, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2024 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2024 Team Preview, click here.

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2024 Spring Team Preview: Macomb Dakota Cougars

MACOMB - What a memorable first year as varsity head coach it was for Angelo Plouffe at Macomb Dakota.

“It was fun,” Plouffe said about a season that ended at the State Final 4. “It was a lot of work, but if you surround yourself with good people it makes the job easier.”

Heading up a program that has two trips to the Division 1 state semifinals in the past four years, Plouffe looks to keep it going in 2024.

“After one year of putting my plan in, it’s running smoother than last year,” Plouffe noted.

It won’t be easy, however, with some heavy losses from a squad that advanced to the state finals where the Cougars jumped to a 4-0 lead before falling to eventual state champion Brownstown Woodhaven, 6-4.

“We had a very senior-heavy team,” related Plouffe, who must replace the likes of ace pitcher Will Demasse (Wayne State), Alex Kavalick (Alma), Ryan Jarvis (Saginaw Valley), Charlie Chmielewski (Mott), Blake Garbarino and Brendan Borowicz. “We only return two starters, but if you look at the guys coming back they were able to sit and learn. Our junior class is very talented, with potentially some Division I guys.”

Depth is certainly there at the pitching position with senior Brendan Przybycki, a three-year starter committed to Macomb Community College, a top returnee. St. Clair Community College signee Jake Andrews is another senior right-hander in the rotation with junior Luke Demass, a Ball State recruit ranked 19th in the state among 2025 right-handed pitchers, an additional key piece to the staff.

Junior Jadon Ford, the 22nd-rated junior RHP in Michigan who was the starting quarterback on the football team, and Ryan Petrovich, a 6-3 170-pounder ranked 47th among right-handers in the 2025 class in Michigan, called by Plouffe “maybe the best athlete on the team”, will also contribute pitching. Junior Jadin Roels (33rd-rated 2025 RHP in Michigan) and sophomore Andrew Borowicz are other pitchers that could make an impact.

Two seniors, Jon Kurzawa, a Lawrence Tech commit, and Tyler Murphy, an Albion signee, add to a strong staff that will be aided by returning backstop Evan Kavalick, the sixth-rated junior catcher in the state.

“Pitching will take us where we go,” Plouffe expressed. “We can compete with pitching of most teams. We may not have a ‘top guy’ but I’d like to see who has more depth than us.”

Northwood commit Matt Wouters, who had two hits in the state semifinals last year, will be the shortstop with twin brother Mike Wouters, also a Northwood recruit, vying for time in the infield along with Demasse, Ford and Evan Morrison.

Luke Kavalick, the twin brother of Evan, will be one of the outfielders for the Cougars along with Brandon Moore, Braylon Ryan and Ford.

“I was very fortunate to coach those guys last year,” Plouffe said. “They were great teammates. It will be exciting to see how these guys grow from last year.”

Program depth is a strength according to the head coach, who noted “the bottom of our roster can compete with the top of our roster due to the size of our school.”

It bodes for another potentially strong season for Dakota.

“Division 1 is tough,” Plouffe said. “We weren’t picked to get there last year but Lake Orion wasn’t supposed to beat Orchard Lake and they did and we beat Lake Orion and then beat Grand Blanc. We beat Stevenson, which beat us three times in the regular season.

“It’s all about putting it together at the right time,” Plouffe concluded. “Every team’s a puzzle, you just have to figure it out. It’s a lot about being lucky in Division 1. You get the right matchup and you get some breaks.”

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