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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.

Interested in attending a PBR Michigan event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2024 Spring Team Preview: Novi Wildcats

NOVI - Rick Green can not wait for the 2024 season to begin. Coming off a Division1 state championship, the 24th-year head coach has a high appreciation for what this year’s squad can bring to the table.

“Everything!” Green said when questioned what he likes about the team this season. “It’s just a bunch of serious ball players who compete.”

The veteran mentor understands it won’t be easy, however, after winning the title in 2023.

“Everybody’s gonna target us,” Green admitted. “Everybody will be throwing their best at us, even on weekends.”

But the Novi head coach welcomes the challenge of trying to repeat.

“I think winning last year will help us a lot,” Green explained. “The kids realize what it takes to win a championship. It will take the same camaraderie we had last year. The chemistry was great. These kids loved each other.”

While the majority of players return from a 32-8 state title team last year, standout pitcher Brendon Bennett will only DH this season with the third-rated senior left-handed pitcher in Michigan unable to throw due to Tommy John surgery.

“We’re gonna miss his arm,” Green said about the Clemson commit. “He was electrifying.”

But the 10th-ranked 2024 in the state, who had three hits and scored two runs in the state title game last year, will still bring a potent stick to the lineup after hitting .397 with 31 RBIs, 13 doubles, one home run and 26 walks last season.

Even without Bennett pitching, there is a lot of promise for the Wildcats with Uli Fernsler leading the way after winning both state games a year ago. The third-rated 2025 southpaw in Michigan, a TCU commit, went the distance in an 8-3 win over Brownstown Woodhaven in the state finals after throwing three scoreless innings in relief of a 4-1 10-inning semifinal win over Mattawan.

Pitching help will come from a variety of players after Fernsler, with Johnny Aurilia, Boden Fernsler, Colin Bennett, Keegan Litkewycz, Jacob Presher and junior left-hander Gavin Prysbyla all showing potential to help make up for the loss of Andrew Abler, the starter in last year’s state semifinals who is now at Harvard.

“We're a little unproven on the pitching staff with the loss of Brendon Bennett, but we do have Uli Fernsler coming back and three other kids who throw 84 miles-an-hour plus,” Green noted.

Brett Reed and Alex Czapski are others that have graduated and moved on to play at the next level at Lawrence Tech and Grand Valley State, respectively, however, there is a lot of experience back to make another run at state a real possibility according to Green.

“We have plenty of speed and we have very good depth on our pitching staff with great defense,” the Novi mentor pointed out.

Boden Fernsler, who missed the last week of the tournament with pneumonia, is back to play shortstop and pitch in relief. The Lafayette commit hit .323 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases last season.

Aurilia, who moved to short when Fernsler was sidelined a year ago, will play third and outfield as well as short when Fernsler is pitching. The Novi junior hit .403 last season.

Another key returnee is Jaden Vondrasek, the fastest player on the team according to Green, who will play third, second or outfield after batting .327 in 2023.

Catching is another strong suit for the Wildcats with senior Stephen Boujoulian and junior Trevor Reed back. Boujoulian hit .375 last season and Reed .279 while driving in 13 runs.

Center fielder Andrew Kummer, who had two hits in both of the Final 4 state tournament games last season, batted .280 with 24 RBIs and eight doubles in 2023 and is back along with right fielder Thad Lawler, who had a .260 average with a .380 on-base percentage.

Junior Alex Wilson and freshman Colin Bennett, Brendan’s brother, who is the second-ranked 2027 right-handed pitcher in Michigan, are others that could play outfield.

Senior Cash Mumford, who batted .276 last year, will play first along with Uli Fernsler, who hit .444 in limited plate appearances in 2023.

Caleb Walker, who committed just one error a year ago, returns to play second base after hitting .301 with a .426 on-base percentage.

Litkewycz and Presher, both juniors, will pitch and play the left side of the infield, Litkewycz at shortstop and Presher third base.

“Throwing strikes, playing solid defense and battling at the plate will be keys to the season,” Green said. “We’re always a fundamentally-sound team and like to play a very aggressive brand of baseball. We also want to play with class and sportsmanship.”

Although winning state last season, Northville beat out Novi for a league championship last season.

“Our league is one of the toughest in the state but our expectations are to win our division, something we didn’t do last year,” noted Green, whose squad knocked off Northville 6-2 in the regional semifinals en route to the state title. “I like the way we play well together and that we have played together for years.”

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