Forest Hills Eastern Hawks
March 9, 2023
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2023 Spring Team Preview: Forest Hills Eastern
FOREST HILLS - While a number of standouts are gone from the 2022 Division 2 state championship team, Forest Hills Eastern still has a squad with plenty of promise entering the upcoming campaign.
“We have a lot of experienced players,” noted Eastern eighth-year head coach Ian Hearn, whose team defeated Grand Rapids Christian 3-0 in the state finals a year ago behind the one-hit pitching of Evan Parks, who is now playing at Butler. “We have a lot of baseball kids that have played for a long time, that have done a lot of training and played a lot of travel ball. It’s a really nice situation. The skill level, as far as depth, continues to grow.”
Jacob Pallo, a first-team all-state pitcher a year ago with a 10-0 record, 0.84 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 58 innings, headlines a staff that must replace another first-team pitcher in southpaw Ashton Feenstra.
Pallo, a Hillsdale commit ranked 38th among 2023 right-handed pitchers in Michigan, is expected to get pitching help from fellow seniors Mack DenBraber and Walker Brockie.
“We also have a lot of young talent coming up,” pointed out Hearn, who enters the season with a 603-244-4 career coaching record including a Division 1 state title at Rockford in 2011.
Freshman Cam Pallo, the younger brother of Jacob, is a right-hander with promise along with sophomores Landen Lindley, a 6-4 RHP, and Manel Conners, another righty. Senior Owen Mast adds depth to the staff.
Hearn is hoping the youth learn lessons along the way, like the team did a year ago.
“The experience the returners have to compete at the highest level the state provides and being in big games is something you can’t teach,” explained Hearn. “It elevates participation, excitement and the drive for returning players as well as the youth players in the great game of baseball.”
Two talented catchers are battling to replace Leo Hearn, the son of the Forest Hills Eastern head coach who is now playing at Bowling Green. Sophomore James Dempsey, who hit .381 in limited time a year ago, and Matt Stotts, the 14th-rated junior catcher in the state, are looking to be behind the plate with corner infield another position each can play.
DenBraber batted .345 with a dozen extra-base hits last season and will be at first with Jacob Pallo, a .355 hitter with 34 RBIs, slated to play second with Brockie or a move-in from California, others with potential.
Brendan Thompson, who played shortstop last year when Parks pitched, can play short, second or left with third base open competition between Stotts, Dempsey and Brockie. But Parks will be difficult to replace after hitting .402 over his career, including a 3-for-3 performance in last year’s state championship game.
Senior Collin Fridsma, who batted .325 with 51 runs scored and a school record 31 stolen bases in the leadoff position, will anchor the outfield in center. Max Ferrick, a .300 hitter with 27 RBIs and nine doubles as a freshman, will also play outfield with senior Ethan Smith and junior Drew Patton additional players seeking playing time.
“This team has a really good mix with three freshmen on varsity last year and two that started,” Hearn said. “That’s nice to have.”
There is more that stands out to the veteran coach.
“I really like the balance and experience on this team,” Hearn noted. “They’ve played a ton of baseball and really enjoy playing.”
Admittedly, there will be a target on the back after taking home a state championship a year ago.
“That was awesome, it was amazing to win a state title,” Hearn explained. “Our absolute focus this year is we just want to improve in practice or inside a game. We just want to get better. People will definitely be aiming for us. Our kids just need to keep working to improve.”
Co-champs in the OK Gold Conference a year ago with Kenowa Hills, the Hawks have their sights set on another title, both in the league and in the state.
“You definitely have to have chemistry,” Hearn said. “Balanced defense, pitching and hitting all the way through the lineup are all important. We just need to keep our focus on improving. We have a challenging schedule and we’ll take some lumps, you just have to respond to that.”
The first official game is on April 11 in a battle against defending conference co-champion Kenowa Hills.
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