Sports
L'Anse Creuse North Baseball Banks on Experience
The team will rely on the leadership of its coach and the talent and experience of its senior-heavy roster to return to the state finals again this year.
After an unexpected run to the state semifinals last season, the baseball team got its first taste of baseball in Battle Creek and it isn't one they'll soon forget.
Returning eight players, the Crusaders have set their sights on getting back to the west side of the mitten, but first want to capture a MAC White title.
“Our team goals, we want to win the MAC White, we've never won the MAC White, we definitely want to repeat as district champs and after that you never know what could happen,” said head coach Jeff Dropps.
Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Coming back this season for the Crusaders are starters Steve Bercel, Dan Clouse, and Ryan Horne, who play shortstop, catcher and center field, respectively, and should provide solid defense up the middle. Also returning are seniors Alex Sypniewski, Cody Tipton and Lee Wtytka as well as juniors Ryan Cykon and Mario Creecy.
“We have a lot of guys that played that were key contributors last year," Dropps said. "I think its good that we have some experience, and it also helps to build yearly because now we have a good group of juniors this year that came up and hopefully we have a good year this year and we can carry the tradition on."
Find out what's happening in Macomb Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Crusaders will rely on their experience as they tackle a difficult regular-season schedule that includes top area teams such as Stevenson, L'Anse Creuse High School and Lake Orion.
“We don't have any cupcakes on our schedule every game is going to be a challenge and we need to come out ready and prepared," Dropps said. "We're going to have to earn every win we get."
Dropps said he is confident in his pitching staff; although they don't have the depth he would like, he knows there is quality at the top. Dropps added that the team shouldn't have a problem at the plate, though they lost 17 of last season's 20 home-run hits as a team to graduation. He is also expecting seniors Sypniewski and Tipton to step up as leaders.
“This year, I'm looking to better my average from last year and step up as a team leader,” Sypniewski said.
Tipton credits Dropps as the team's main source of leadership.
“He knows how to motivate, that's one of his strong points,” Tipton said.
As a team, the Crusaders will rely on the combination of Dropps' motivational tactics and players' experience and talents to lead them back to Battle Creek for the second year in a row.
On April 12, the Crusaders will travel to Lakeview High School to take on the Huskies.
