National Championship The Goal For Ilitch At Ole Miss

Blake Ilitch RHP / OF / Brother Rice, MI / 2025

DETROIT - Blake Ilitch is taking a break with his arm, working on “mechanical stuff” at this time.

“I’m trying to get my weight up,” explained the Brother Rice senior, who was 6-4 and 210 pounds as a junior. “I want to get up to 230 and then down to 220 to be lean and fast this season. I want to use that extra weight to my advantage.”

A college commitment to Mississippi is giving the 18-year-old an opportunity to relax while putting focus on making improvements in his game as he prepares for his final year of high school before heading south.

“I’m hoping to bring scoreless innings, attack hitters and win games,” Ilitch said in looking ahead to being part of the Ole Miss baseball program. “The goal is a national championship.”

After making the decision to decommit from Duke in August, it did not take the top-ranked 2025 right-handed pitcher in Michigan long to find a new home.

“Nothing against the coaches at Duke, it was more about the facilities and having a great place to train every day in a high-culture environment,” Ilitch explained about his decision to re-enter the ranks of uncommitted players after deciding on Duke back in 2022. “Duke is great, but I made that decision as a freshman. I want to be at a place where I can get better every day.”

Ilitch is of the belief that it will happen at the university in Oxford, Miss., located 111/2 hours from home.

“My Twitter was blowing up with a lot of coaches reaching out,” Ilitch related about what it was like after decommitting. “Ole Miss seemed to have a strong interest in me. Coach (Joel) Mangrum from the Indians is the new pitching coach there. My high school pitching coach, Mike Steele, worked with Mangrum with the Indians’ organization so I had that connection.”

It was a matter of building a relationship with the staff at Mississippi according to Ilitch.

“That led to a visit,” noted the 32nd-ranked senior RHP in the nation, who took a trip to Ole Miss on Aug. 31. “I loved everything about it. They have a top-notch facility and coach Mangrum’s specialty is getting guys better. I went to a football game while I was there. It was just a great fit for me.”

An offer came one day later and Ilitch posted his commitment on Sept. 18.

“I really love the coaches,” the second-rated 2025 player in Michigan said. “It will be the easiest of transitions going from coach Steele to coach Mangrum with them having the same philosophies. The culture, the academics, the facilities, all of that stood out. Plus, (head) coach (Mike) Bianco won the 2022 national championship.”

Texas, Vanderbilt, Michigan and Kentucky were others that Ilitch was entertaining interest from before deciding on Mississippi.

“They all called for a visit,” Ilitch related. “As a 2025, it’s harder since everyone already has all their arms. But Ole Miss needed a right-hander in the 2025 class.”

The coaches at the Southeastern Conference school see the 116th-ranked senior in the country making an impact in the elite program.

“Coach Mangrum really likes my curveball, and I agree it’s my best pitch,” Ilitch explained. “He said it’s an MLB-type curve with the RPMs and how hard I throw it.

“I’ve been up to 95 with my fastball, so they like me being a low-90s guy. Being able to throw strikes with four pitches (slider, fastball, curve, splitter) also stood out to them.”

The idea of wearing an Ole Miss uniform brings a smile to Ilitch.

“This means the world,” Ilitch said. “To be in a baseball town with no pro sports team, I’m blessed to be able to play for them and represent them.”

Admittedly, the second go-around of his recruiting process was more enjoyable.

“It wasn’t so stressful,” Ilitch explained. “I’d been through it before, I just knew I had to get it right. This is a school that really wanted me and I wanted them. It really worked both ways.”

It was a memorable feeling when a commitment was made.

“My family was very happy for me,” Ilitch related. “They thought Ole Miss fits me great. With my passion for baseball, they’re really happy for me and proud of me.”

Finance or entrepreneurship will be the major for Ilitch, who carries a weighted 4.0 GPA at Brother Rice.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of everything there,” Ilitch concluded. “Part of the culture, part of the baseball program, doing well in the classroom. I’m excited to enjoy the experience, have fun each and every day and to go play and win a national championship.”