Blogs > Burney's Bytes

Burney's Bytes will focus primarily on the local preps sports scene, but will also touch on some college and pro athletics, mostly in regards to athletes who hail and have played high school sports in Oakland County. My goal for the blog is to be conversational and anecdotal, a more relaxed and free formal take on high school athletics than you see in regular game day coverage.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Burney's 2013 Baseball Preview - Part 1

Top 25 Players
1 (tie) Matt Ruppenthal (Birmingham Brother Rice) – An "Ace's Ace", most imposing pitcher South Oakland County has seen in quite a while (committed to Vanderbilt)
1 (tie) Brad Schaenzer (Lake Orion) – An "Ace's Ace", most imposing pitcher North Oakland County has seen in quite a while (uncommitted)
2 Nick Deeg (Lake Orion) – Pure destruction every time he hits the hill, goes STRAIGHT SURGICAL on opposing hitters (signed with CMU)
3 (tie) Johnny Slater (Southfield-Lathrup) – Unreal talent on the diamond, very versatile, fast and smooth in the field with his glove (signed with Michigan)
3 (tie) Grant Reuss (BH Cranbrook) – Fireballer from the bump whose can be dominant working a count (committed to Michigan)
4 Connor Mohr (Farmington) – Five-tool star for TEAM FINN aka the Falcons (signed with MSU)
5 (tie) Dazon Cole (Pontiac) – Scouts love this kid on the mound, respect his Yaktown SWAG (committed to CMU)
5 (tie) Sterling Sharp (North Farmington) – HUGE upside for this lanky and wise hurler (signed with EMU)
6 (tie) Andrew Gonzales (WL Western) – Set to shine bright this year after toiling in the shadows of the terrorizing tandem of Cam Vieaux (MSU) and Jason Gamble (CMU) last season (committed to MSU)
6 (tie) Nate Morris (Oxford) – Mega-accurate pitcher with increasing velocity and a fearless demeanor throwing the pill (committed to MSU)
7 (tie) Ty Kiafoulis (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Natural power hitter with a taste for the limelight and a flair for the dramatic (committed to Michigan)
7 (tie) Will Salter (OL St. Mary's) – Best overall catcher in the county, not surprising considering his diamond stock – brother is OLSM alum and current MSU star Blaise Salter and former MLB All-Star Bill Freehan is his gramps (committed to MSU)
8 Mike Azzopardi (Birmingham DCD) – Clutch contact-specialist at the dish (uncommitted)
9 Nick Bredeson (BH Andover) – Great catching prospect behind the plate for the Barons, is the county's top defensive catcher (signed with Ohio)
10 (tied) Nick Plummer (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Might be the most heavily recruited position player in the county by the end of the season, that's how primetime this kid's diamond game is (uncommitted)
10 (tied) Nik Heglin (WL Western) – Pure hitter, with few equals in terms of eye in the batter's box (uncommitted)
11 (tied) Josh Smith (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Tremendously talented lefty pitching prospect (committed to Kentucky)
11 (tied) Josh Bays (Lake Orion) – Could be the fastest-rising college recruit in the OC right now (uncommitted)
12 (tie) Garrett Schilling (BH Madison Foley) – Underrated "ace" on the mound, hasn't lost yet as a prepster (uncommitted)
12 (tie) Nate Grys (MH Bishop Foley) – Along with Smith and Plummer, in the group of highest-touted underclassmen in the area……there is a good reason, he's a sweet-swinging power specialist with pop in his bat and a strong arm from the outfield to keep base-runner's in check (committed to WMU)
13 Tyler Tompson (Farmington)
14 (tie) Connor Bowers (OL St. Mary's)
14 (tie) Mike Hodgins (OL St. Mary's)
15 Ryan Roman (MH Lamphere)
16 (tie) Trevor Bonniver (Waterford Mott)
16 (tie) Jack Flynn (Lakeland)
17 Nick Voglemeyer (Lake Orion)
18 Ryan Lembrecht (Lake Orion)
19 Billy Malak (MH Bishop Foley)
20 Nick Harris (Novi Franklin Rd. Christian)
21 Chad Gravlin (MH Bishop Foley)
22 Marlon Pruitt (BH Andover)
23 Ian Kobernick (Berkley)
24 Randy Righter (Birmingham Brother Rice)
25 Nick Mazzone (Clarkston)
Five more to watch
Brad Baldwin (MH Bishop Foley)
Jack Hranac (Ortonville Brandon)
Jeturi Brown (WL Central)
Zack Feldman (BH Cranbrook)
Brother Rice contingent – Bobby Cross, Sammy Stevens, Freddy Jehle, Alex Malzone
 

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