Although they graduated six from last year’s team, including Major League Baseball draft pick Randy Frye, the Lake Orion varsity baseball team is expecting another successful season this year.
“They’ve been swinging the bats really well,” said head coach Andy Schramek. “We have a lot of young pitchers…but offensively and defensively, we are looking good.”
Returning to the varsity this year are seniors Brent Skiba, Brad Bringard, Jim Couretas, Josh Regits, Matt Ronan, and Joel Coe. Returning juniors are Nate Recknagle, Mike Ripari, and Andy Klaus.
This year’s varsity squad has 14 players, and the team began officially practicing together on March 10.
“It’s been really good,” said Schramek. “They all seem to like each other quite a bit and understand their roles.”
Some of the faces that Lake Orion will have on the pitching mound this year include: Regits, Josh Hughes, Couretas, Skiba, Recknagle, Bobby Clouse, Brian Hewitt, and Coe.
“We have nine kids coming back this year and they all have a spot,” said Schramek. “They’ve all proven themselves at the varsity level.”
Schramek said his goals for this team are the same goals he has every year, to win the league championship and win the last game of the year.
“We were 25-8 (in OAA I) last year,” he said. “I’m hoping they are used to (success)…They probably wonder what would happen if we didn’t have a year like that.”
Schramek said a lot of his players, such as Couretas and Bringard, are third-year varsity players.
“We won regionals the year before (last year)…that’s the expectation,” he said. “We have some really good players.”
Bringard will cover third base for the team, and Schramek said he expects a good year from him.
“He’s really developed into one of the top hitters in Oakland County, if not Michigan,” he said. “He sacrificed all winter working out…he’ll be fourth in our line up.”
Skiba is also a third-year starter, and was Second Team All State as a sophomore.
“Nate Recknagle is also back, and he might be one of the most talented hitters I’ve ever coached,” Schramek said. “Joel Coe went to San Diego last year (for the USSSA World Series). He’s definitely an unbelievable short stop, which every team needs if you’re going to win games.”