It was an early spring matchup last Saturday between the two best baseball teams in the Catholic League. In the dugout along the third base line was Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, the defending Division 2 state champs and currently ranked No. 1. Across the diamond: the home team, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, CHSL A-B champs four years in a row and rated No. 2 in Division 1. But, before I say anything more about the game, a word about Warriors Park.

Located in the vicinity of Coolidge and Maple roads in Troy, some 10-15 minutes east of Rice’s campus on Lahser, the park is in its third season of use. A grandstand that sweeps home plate from first base to third base puts fans right on top of the action. An artificial turf infield, state-of-the-art locker rooms, landscaping and other amenities support coach Bob Riker’s claim that “this is the finest high school park in the state.” An adjacent softball field is under construction. When it’s all done, Riker estimates the project will cost $4 million — “and not one penny” came from the school’s treasury. “It’s all private donations. (Assistant coach) Brian Kalczynski and I raised all the money.” Both coaches are Rice alumni: Riker, Class of 1985, head coach for 18 years; Kalczynski, 1994, 11 years as assistant.

Back to the games. In the opener of the doubleheader, Brother Rice rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie the score with three runs in the sixth inning, then won 6-5 in the ninth on a walk-off single by freshman Antonio Flores. “We were fortunate,” said Riker. The second game went extra innings, too, created when the Warriors’ Karl Kauffmann singled in a run to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh. The Eaglets responded in the top of the eighth with back-to-back doubles by Jack McCarthy and Carter Macias to regain the lead, and the eventual winning score of 4-3.

In the bottom of the inning, catcher Harrison Salter threw out Rice’s Jeff Timko on a bang-bang play at second base to end the game and seal the deal for St. Mary’s. “This was a great team effort,” OLSM coach Matt Petry said. A cloudless, heavenly blue sky, bright sunshine, and the distraction of planes taking off from Troy Airport behind right field combined to produce an undercurrent of eager anticipation among spectators and players alike.

Forsaking the press box, I got a taste of the fans’ perspective, for the first game, sitting alongside Patrick Sheposh, whose son, Griffin, is the Eaglets’ centerfielder. He had an outstanding day: three singles, two doubles, an RBI and pair of catches in deep left centerfield. “You know, he had seven interceptions last fall (as a defensive back on the Eaglets’ Division 3 state football champs),” Patrick Sheposh said. “It helps him read fly balls better.” His gridiron prowess also helped Griffin secure a football scholarship this fall from Ashland University. I went over to the other side for the second game. I was with Tom Menard when his son, Mac, on the mound for the Warriors, was nailed on the back of the head by a throw from his catcher intended for second base on a steal attempt. Tom was visibly shaken as he watched his son collapse to the ground and tended to by the Rice staff. Mac got to his feet and, after a few moments, finished pitching the inning.

He didn’t return to pitch, but late in the game, Riker inserted him at third base for a couple innings. “He’s OK,” Riker told me the next day. The bottom line: It was a draw; they remain the best in the league. The Eaglets (10-3, 6-1 Central) held on to their advantage over Brother Rice (10-5, 5-3). They meet again May 11 at Orchard Lake.

---

Don Horkey may be reached at [email protected].