Grosse Pointe University Liggett graduate Oliver Service collects a base hit during the MHSAA Division 2 state finals on June 17 at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University.

Grosse Pointe University Liggett graduate Oliver Service collects a base hit during the MHSAA Division 2 state finals on June 17 at McLane Stadium at Michigan State University.

File photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Grosse Pointe alumni take over college baseball’s first week

By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Grosse Pointe Times | Published March 5, 2024

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GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Grosse Pointe University Liggett and Grosse Pointe North High School were well represented during the opening week of college baseball. Liggett graduates Jarren Purify and Oliver Service, both state champions in 2021 for the Knights, made their Division I debuts.

Purify made his debut for No. 10 ranked Clemson University (9-1) in a 14-3 win over Xavier on Feb. 16, but he reintroduced himself on Feb. 20 against Presbyterian with his first collegiate hit — a grand slam over the left field wall.

Purify is hitting .375 this year in eight at-bats for the Tigers, while his high school teammate, Oliver Service, picked up his first collegiate hit for the University of Texas with a chopper to the third base side on Feb. 20 against Houston Christian.

Service also scored on the base paths for the No. 24 ranked Longhorns (7-4).

North graduate Drew Hill is quickly becoming one of the most reliable batters in Wayne State University’s lineup, hitting .393 in eight games with 11 hits and a home run.

The Warriors (7-1) look to be a force in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season, and Hill’s offensive firepower will be a focal point of the team’s success.

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