Grosse Pointe North baseball finishes as runner-up in state final

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Grosse Pointe North High School’s 2022 varsity baseball season was nothing short of spectacular.

North, which finished the season 23-8, gave No. 1-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (44-0) everything it had in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division I state championship June 18 at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium.

As North faced off against the top team in the nation — according to MaxPreps — one run in the first inning would be the deciding factor in St. Mary’s 1-0 win over North.

“We were on a mission,” North coach Kevin Shubnell said. “I felt like that from the beginning.”

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Brennan Hill earned the starting nod and was electric on the mound.

St. Mary’s, which won 66 straight games before the state championship game, faced its toughest test this season as Hill dominated.

“I feel like it was a little bit of everything; I was throwing things for strikes and was able to place my curveball where I wanted,” Hill said. “I was really locked in; I was just going.”

In six innings of work, Hill tallied nine strikeouts using a three-pitch mix consisting of his fastball, slider and change-up. He gave up three hits and one walk.

Senior Luke Babcock caught the entire game for Hill and was a leader behind the plate for North this season.

Shubnell said Hill and Babcock’s ability to be on the same page was a key factor in the state final.

“Brennan never really called him off — they were absolutely in sync,” Shubnell said.

St. Mary’s Nolan Schubart singled with one out in the first inning and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt that found its way heading toward the North bullpen. A fielder’s choice by senior Ike Irish would bring in the game-deciding run.

Shubnell, in his first year at North, said he had high praise for his guys after the game.

“My message was to embrace what just happened. Everyone on the outside’s perception was that we were the JV team going to play a varsity team,” he said.

North ended the season having earned the Macomb Area Conference-White league title, district championship, and regional championship.