Detroit Catholic Central Shamrocks
March 9, 2023
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2023 Spring Team Preview: Detroit Catholic Central
NOVI - Ryan Rogowski is confident about taking Detroit Catholic Central back to where it was when he was in high school at his alma mater.
“We’re ready to restore the program to where it was,” explained the third-year head coach, who was a freshman when the Shamrocks won the state title in 1999 with his brother, Casey, a senior and a year later was part of the state runners-up squad. “We want to create men of integrity that are hard working. A person who doesn’t complain, is a great teammate and works hard. Those are things that contribute to championships.”
The program is certainly on the rise following a 19-21-1 season that included a 1-0 win over Brother Rice in the regional semifinals before a 5-4 loss to Hartland in the regional final.
“We return everyone but one senior,” noted Rogowski. “We have 22 returning with varsity experience, that’s a really big bonus. We had 65-70 freshmen signed up for tryouts, so we’re on the up and up with young talent coming in.”
With his older brother an assistant, the 2002 CC graduate is hopeful that success is coming.
“We’ve been to the semifinals maybe one time since 2000,” Rogowski said. “Baseball has not been where it should be. We’ve not won the Catholic League title since 2001, my junior year.”
With teams like Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Brother Rice, University Liggett and U of D Jesuit in the conference, the challenge ahead remains huge.
“We’ve had a sub-.500 record the last two years, but we’re ready to show that Catholic Central is back,” Rogowski proclaimed.
A trio of seniors are being counted on to be major contributors, starting with center fielder Evan Haeger, the 30th-rated senior outfielder in the nation who is an Alabama signee. Haeger, who will lead off this season, hit .303 with 30 runs and 25 stolen bases last year
“He’s one of the purest baseball players I’ve ever seen,” pointed out Rogowski, who played in the Dodgers’ organization after college. “We expect a big year from Evan. He gets everyone’s best.”
Three-year starter Trae Cassidy returns at catcher.
“What a stud we have back there,” Rogowski said of the Ohio University commit, the fourth-ranked 2023 catcher in Michigan. “He’s a tremendous left-handed hitter. We love him in the two-hold.”
Brady Blakita, a captain along with Haeger as a junior who hit .286 with 26 runs scored and 20 stolen bases, is back to play second base.
“He didn’t play his freshman or sophomore years, so last year was his first year and he held his own,” Rogowski said of the switch-hitting Wayne State commit, a 6.5 runner in the 60 who is ranked number two among senior second basemen in the state.
More talent can be found at shortstop, with junior three-hole hitter Matt Ineich back.
“He’s gotten faster and gotten better every single year,” Rowgowski stated about last year’s leadoff hitter, an Ohio University recruit rated the sixth best shortstop in Michigan’s 2024 class. Ineich had a team-high .367 average last year with 23 runs scored.
Flanking Haeger in the outfield will be Steven Wood, called by Rogowski “maybe the fastest runner on the team”, in right field with senior Griffin Crampton, who helped lead the school’s hockey team to the state championship last year, in left.
Returning at third base is Aidan Schuck, the 132nd-ranked junior in the state who hit .273 a year ago and also has the ability to catch, while the first base position is wide open according to the Catholic Central mentor. Brooks Rogowski, the freshman son of the assistant coach, is a potential first baseman while sophomore Jayden Pyden brings depth in the outfield, first base and pitching.
Speaking of pitching, Rogowski has big expectations with what he has seen.
Tyler Wolstone, who “pitched a ton as a sophomore” before missing last season with an injury, is being counted on to be a huge part of a staff with Pyden, a standout running back in football, helping form a one-two punch on the mound after throwing 16.1 innings in 2022.
Junior Braylon Laroo, who pitched the season opener as a freshman against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and was 2-1 tossing a team-high 41.2 innings last season, is another pitcher for the Shamrocks with Trae Langen, senior Vinny Recchione and sophomore Ben Asmussen adding depth.
Additionally, a pair of transfers from last year whose fathers both played minor league baseball, bring more promise on the mound. Cal Rutherford, a 6-4 225-pounder, is a “diamond in the rough” according to Rogowski while hopes are also high for Ryan Torok, the 33rd-rated 2024 RHP in Michigan.
“With 20-something returning and freshmen that want to take their jobs, we’re looking to get Catholic Central back on the map,” Rogowski proclaimed. “These guys are very hungry. The past couple of years they’ve gotten their butts kicked a little bit, but they’re ready for things to change.
“We have such good men here, they listen and pay attention. You don’t have to yell at them, except that maybe when they’re being too nice.”
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