Denby is a sleeping giant
Detroit Denby's boys basketball team won one game last season. Look for a big change in their record for 2009-10.
Chuck Albright, twice considered for the job at Detroit Southeastern in the past three years, has taken over the program at Denby and it should signal a change for the better.
Albright had been at Detroit Cleveland (it closed two weeks ago) and before that was an assistant under Derrick McDowell at Detroit Redford. Albright also had a stint as a head coach at Redford Bishop Borgess.
Albright applied for the Southeastern job vacated by Mark White but lost out to George Ward, formerly of Oak Park/Detroit Central/Detroit Charlotte Forten Academy.
Things are going to be different on the city's east side and the hiring of Albright is but one change. Detroit Pershing, the defending Class A champion, won't be as good because of the number of seniors that graduated. Detroit Finney closed but is scheduled to re-open as McNair Middle School. With Southeastern having a new coach there are many questions about the immediate future of that program.
So could Denby, with Albright at the helm, be the surprise team in the East Division? The answer seems obvious. Denby won its only PSL title in 1997. With the hiring of Albright a second title is more of a possibility than it was a few weeks ago.
Trend continues for college commitments
Now that outside linebacker William Gholston of Detroit Southeastern has reportedly committed to Michigan State, could quarterback Robert Bolden of Orchard Lake St. Mary's or some other player with similar ability and stature be next?
The commitments so far are quarterback Devin Gardner (Michigan) of Inkster, receiver Jeremy Jackson (Michigan) of Ann Arbor Huron, Gholston, linebacker Austin Gray (Iowa) of Warren Fitzgerald and quarterback Joe Boisture (Boston College) of Saline. Every year we seem to get more and more commitments earlier and earlier. This trend is especially true in the northern states. One exception was Nick Perry of Detroit King a couple of years ago, who waited until signing day to make his decision known. In some ways this is a good thing -- remove all of the telephone calls and concentrate on school, playing football and getting ready for college. The one drawback -- and this seems to be happening more frequently, as well -- is when a player de-commits. But if the player is absolutely certain where he wants to play, why not get the college decision out of the way and remove all of the hype that is sure to take place closer to signing day?When two is better than one
One pitcher can't win a state baseball championship for his team, but he can keep another team from that same goal.
Look at the teams that reached the state semifinals. Whether it's Saline, Warren DeLaSalle, Mt. Pleasant, Blissfield or even Sterling Heights Parkway Christian in Division 4, all have a minimum of two reliable pitchers, and most have three. In football the most important position is the quarterback. In hockey the goalie takes center stage. Baseball teams can get away with one reliable pitcher during the regular season and still be successful. A coach can adjust his rotation so that he saves his top pitcher for the biggest game that week. But in the state tournament, where teams must win five games in eight days to win a state title, two good pitchers are needed. If you’re going to Battle Creek this weekend, check out the starting pitchers. If they have command of their pitches early on they'll give their team an opportunity to win. If not, it's likely to be a long afternoon.Too many pitches?
Maybe it's time for the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association to propose a change that would help to protect the arms of pitchers.
As most high school baseball followers know, there is a MHSAA rule that does attempt to protect pitchers' arms. At any time during the season, pitchers are allowed 30 outs or 10 innings in a 48-hour period. A pitcher must have two full days of rest before this cycle can be repeated. What is just as important is the amount of pitches he throws. A pitcher who is efficient can throw, for example, 85 pitches in seven innings. Another pitcher who labors a bit might take 110 pitches to complete seven innings. Let's take that another step. If a pitcher throws seven innings in a regional semifinal, he is allowed to throw three more innings in the final. What if he threw a high number of pitches in the semifinal â€" say 130, for example? If he comes back in the final and throws 50 pitches in those three innings, isn't that pushing it too much? Isn't the health of this pitcher more important than winning? Some pitchers might throw 130 pitches in 10 innings of work and that might be considered "safe" by his coach. I realize individuals are different. Some pitchers are able to throw 130 pitches in one day and not strain their arms. With other pitchers, if they go over 100 in one day, they've had it. Maybe it's time we look at pitch count AND innings pitched as a barometer.You can't always get what you want
Vic Michaels believed he had been wronged. Maybe he was. The director of athletics for the Catholic League was convinced the field at Comerica Park was ready for play Wednesday for the league championship doubleheader. He was told it was not ready.
The postponement cost Michaels and his league money. He had 2,000 tickets pre-sold, and walk-up sales could easily have topped 500. Two teams, Warren DeLaSalle and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, were making their first appearances at Comerica. Alumni and supporters from those schools were excited about the opportunity to watch their teams in a major league park. Michaels could have used the scheduled rainout date, which was Thursday. Had he done so, the games would have been played, the league award presentations would have been made, and the players and parents would have been more than happy with that â€" even if it was a day later than planned. Would there have been a sparse crowd in comparison? Yes. Instead of rescheduling the games for Madonna University next week, what Michaels needed to do was think of the players, coaches and parents and allow the games to be played (weather permitting) on Thursday at the home of the Detroit Tigers.No relief in sight for PSL baseball
I covered the Detroit Public School League baseball final at Comerica Park on Tuesday. I've been covering this game for 20 years or so, and it's always disappointing to see such a small crowd watch what is at best mediocre baseball.
Tuesday's game was one of the worst, I'm sad to admit. Maybe Detroit Western should apply to the Mega Conference because it doesn't seem to have any competition in the PSL. Western outscored its three PSL playoff opponents 44-2.
Western plays teams like Grosse Pointe North, Grosse Pointe South, Allen Park, Detroit Catholic Central, Utica Eisenhower (Western won this game) and Birmingham Brother Rice outside its PSL schedule. That's how teams in the PSL get better -- by playing better competition.
There are many problems that plague PSL baseball. Facilities are just one. Apathy is another. Detroit King coach Norm Taylor said his team's loss to Detroit Communication and Media Arts in the league semifinals was partially due to the fact that later that evening King had its prom and his players could not focus on the game.
I can’t help but wonder how beneficial baseball is to the PSL. Maybe a change is in order. Maybe combining teams would help. One argument against this would be that you can't get a student from Detroit Finney to play with students from Detroit Denby, for instance. Who would know? Few attend PSL baseball games. Why not increase the level of competition since few come out to lend support to a particular school?
Baseball is bad in the PSL, except for those coaching and playing at Western.
Small schools get a break
When the football playoffs expanded from four classifications to eight in 1990 it allowed more schools a better opportunity to win a state title; in particular, the smaller schools benefitted. The reason was that the classes at the lower end were disproportionate (fewer schools were in Class DD and D than in the other six). Then we had the change from classifications to divisions in 1999 that created balance in the number of schools in each division.
At about this same time cooperative programs were allowed to compete in the state tournament. The intent was that schools like Deerfield (with an enrollment of 125) and Britton-Macon (enrollment of 214) could combine students and form one football team.
On Monday we learned that schools might have the opportunity to form eight-man football teams. It should be interesting to see many schools opt for it. Take a school like Arenac Eastern, located near Alpena. With an enrollment of 98, it is one of the smaller schools that competes in football. The school has made the state playoffs three times, most recently in 2000. It hasn't won a playoff game since 1996. Back then the school had 148 students. It is unlikely Arenac Eastern will be a serious contender for a state title under the current system. Eight-man football might be the answer if winning a state title is the goal.
A more sound reason for switching to eight-man football would be for safety. A team with 13 players will fatigue more quickly than teams with 22, for example. Fatigue can lead to injuries.
Another good reason to switch to eight-man football would be to keep a program up and running. Practices with 14 or 15 players is difficult in 11-man football.
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett last played a varsity football game in 2005. That season it finished 0-9 and was outscored 394-53. School administrators cited safety reasons for ending the program. If eight-man football brings back programs like these, and does not attract programs that make the move for the main purpose of winning a state title, I'm all for it.
Reeves makes timely move
Ray Reeves says he’s the luckiest man in Detroit.
Reeves officially took over as boys basketball coach at Detroit Community on Monday, leaving the same position he held at Detroit Finney the last four years. Thirty hours later, Reeves learned that Finney would be closing in June. If Reeves had not accepted the position at Community, where he also will teach, he would have been out of a job. As enticing as the job at Community was for Reeves, it wasn't a sure thing for him to accept it. For one, he liked Finney. He thanked people such as Finney assistant principal Kenyetta Wilburn and principal Al Ward for standing by him and backing him all the way. Wilburn said there were times when Reeves felt frustrated and considered leaving. Wilburn said she and Ward kept making positive comments to Reeves, encouraging him to continue. Reeves has a family to support. It's important to him to coach, but it's more important to make a good living so he can continue to support his family. Reeves knows he's a lucky man. Not so fortunate are people like Wilburn and Ward, and Curtis Morrow, who was expected to be named coach at Finney to replace Reeves. Hopefully, Reeves' good fortune will rub off on those who helped him in the past.More important than wins
With parents becoming increasingly involved with their children's athletic activities, let's put forth positive energy.
What renewed my interest on this topic was the story in Monday's editions of The Detroit News on pitch counts for high school baseball players. Parents and coaches need to agree on what is best for the player. How many pitches should he throw in a game? How many pitches should he throw in a week? How many pitches should he throw early in the season? How many pitches should he throw two months into the season? What percentage of curve balls should he throw? Should he throw primarily fastballs and change-ups? How many days rest does he require after throwing 90 pitches? How many days rest does he require after throwing 105 pitches? One end result parents and coaches should not point to is wins and losses. If a pitcher gives up three hits and two runs in seven innings, isn't that an achievement in itself? Whether he won the game or lost probably depends on how many runs his team scored, right? The pitcher did his job and there's no need to extend him beyond his pitch limit. This is high school. Players should be developing their skills and having fun. I couldn't help but notice at the Utica Eisenhower vs. Macomb Dakota game on Monday a person who coaches a summer league team encouraging the players on each team -- those he once coached or still coaches. His concern was for the individuals. He didn't care which team won. That's a person who gets it.Be informed
Having attended the Second Chance one-day showcase at Detroit Renaissance earlier this month and the Reaching Higher basketball clinic this past Saturday at Brighton High one important fact is paramount if one wishes to succeeed in basketball and in school and that is one must become involved. One must ask questions in regards to one's future. One must take control of theirt particular, situation and if there are problems, athletically or academically, seek ways to solve them.
These two one-day events are designed to help students who play basketball gain an edge whether it is to obtain a scholarship or get closer to obtaining one. And it's not just about how well one plays basketball although this is important, too. High school students need guidance, a push, to achieve their goals. This guidance needs to come from their parents and support group, which includes coaches, teachers and administrators. If we stand back and do nothing and allow students to be misled by those around them, whomever they might be, some would call them hangers-on, we are partly responsible if they fail. At the Second Chance showcase participating in scrimmages was just one segment of the program. Same is true at Reaching Higher. Playing basketball is what attracts the students. It's fun. That's what got them on the court in the first place. But to play college basketball, which most of these students are striving for, takes more than that. It takes learning the proper study habits. It takes the knowledge of what is expected of them and what will be expected once they reach college. Don't assume all of these know what it takes. Many don't know. Clinics and showcases like the one at Renaissance are available to educate students and their parents what colleges are available. Second Chance and Reaching Higher are not perfect solutions and it's clear not all students need to attend one or either. A superstar player who has good grades and has received the proper guidance would be wasting their time at one of these events. But too many students aren't receiving the proper encouragement and direction. Many are told lies about their abilities, on the court and in the classroom, and are left wondering why they haven't received a scholarship. It's amazing how much money is available in the form of a scholarship based on athletics, academics and need that high school students are not aware of. Don't blame them for not knowing. Tell them. If you're a parent, a teacher, a coach...tell them. The information is there. Go and get it.
