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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: Sterling Heights Stevenson Titans

STERLING HEIGHTS - “I expect to be pretty solid.”

That could be an understatement by Sterling Heights Stevenson head coach Joe Emanuele. After all, the Titans have nearly everyone back from a 26-8-1 squad that won a Macomb Area Conference Red Division championship with a 13-1-1 record to go along with a district title last season before losing to Macomb Dakota in the regionals.

“We return virtually every pitcher,” pointed out the 27th-year head coach, who is 582-285 in his career. “They are two-year starters at all our infield positions, so pitching and the middle of the diamond should be solid with our catcher and center fielders returning.”

Ty Jenkins, last year’s ace, is back to lead a deep pitching staff. The 27th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in Michigan, who is committed to Kellogg, was 8-1 with a 1.45 ERA last year, fanning 70 and walking 10 in 67.2 innings.

Juniors Scott Leonard, Alex Pierce and Ryan Rumble are also back along with senior reliever Vance Labrake. Leonard was 5-1 with a 2.30 ERA, Pierce 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA and Rumble 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA while Labrake was 2-0 with a 3.42 ERA. Pierce, the 33rd-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in the state, is a Central Michigan commit.

A trio of seniors is also expected to contribute in southpaws Jacob Turner, a Henry Ford commit, and Jacob Kibbe, an Alpena commit, along with right-hander Shane Maggard, a Spring Arbor commit.

“I do like our pitching depth,” Emanuele noted. “We should send out a good starter every day.”

Two-year starter Carson Sweet returns at catcher after the 92nd-rated junior backstop in Michigan hit .358 with 23 RBIs a year ago.

Pierce, the clean-up hitter in 2023, is back at first after batting .357 with 24 RBIs and three home runs, coming off a six home run freshman campaign.

Brett Leonard (23rd-rated 2025 shortstop in Michigan) will be at second base, Jake Leonard (10th-rated 2025 shortstop in Michigan) at short and Scott Leonard (30th-rated 2025 shortstop in Michigan) at third with senior Brock Savage, a Calvin signee who hit .319 last year, filling in at an infield position depending on who is on the mound. Brett Leonard, who batted .309 with 21 RBIs, and Scott Leonard, who scored 27 runs while averaging .271, are Eastern Michigan commits while Jake Leonard, a .324 hitter with 38 runs scored and 29 walks last year, is a Wright State recruit. 

Rumble, who averaged .337 while driving in 27, will be in center field with Jenkins playing right or center. Cameron Simms, a McComb commit who hit .310 with 22 runs scored last season, is another returnee in the outfield with Labrake, who averaged .636 in 15 plate appearances, adding depth.

“They’re true gritty baseball players from one to 15 on the roster,” Emanuele said. “They eat and sleep baseball. They’re motivated and among the best leaders I’ve ever had.”

A pair of juniors, left-handed pitcher Jordan Miller and outfielder John Longsway, are newcomers that could also fit into the mix for the Titans.

“How we come together as a team and how we gel will be the key,” explained Emanuele. “If our guys can handle their roles and be unselfish as a team, we should do well.”

Performing well would be nothing new for teams under the guidance of Emanuele, who led the Titans to a state title in 2005, made the Final 4 in 2011 and 2013 and been to the Final 8 three other times.

“People that play us see a team that is aggressive on the bases and pretty solid defensively,” Emanuele said. “Catching is always solid for us.

“One of our key stats is winning the run game. That’s something you can control. We run a conditioning class for athletes, so that’s another area we stand out. We’re physically strong.”

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