Future Broncos Lead State Championship Teams, Participate In All-Star Games

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan was well represented this past week in Michigan high school state championship games, as well as the senior high school all-star game held at Comerica Park.

Four future Broncos were on winning teams in the Division I, II and III state playoffs and five players suited up with the East/West sides in the state's all-star game.

Infielders Brandon Cable and Hunter Prince were members of Hudsonville’s Division I state championship squad, both scoring runs in the game, as the Eagles downed Warren De La Salle, 9-6. Prince was 1-for-3 in the title game and torched the game-winning double in the state semifinals, a 4-3 victory.

Kurt Hoekstra was the winning pitcher in the Division II title game as Grand Rapids Christian prevailed over Bay City John Glenn, 6-1. The right-handed reliever entered a tied game in the fourth, inheriting a runner on third base with one out. He got out of the jam and went on to pitch three and two-thirds of shutout baseball, holding the opposition hitless while striking out five and walking one. Hoekstra also contributed at the plate, driving in one run.

Catcher Brett Sunde helped lead Bishop Foley to its second-straight Division III championship with an 8-2 win against Lansing Catholic Central. Sunde got his team started in the first inning with a towering home run over the left-field fence, his fifth of the season, with Luke Ortel on second to give the Ventures a 2-0 lead. He also drew a pair of walks in the game, scoring three of his team's eight runs. Sunde was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 35th round to start the month, and named the 2012 Michigan Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year by ESPN.

Hoekstra, Prince, Sunde, as well as Bloomfield Hills Andover's Gabe Berman (RHP) and Portage Central's Derek Schneider (LHP) were among those selected from the top graduating seniors in the entire state for the 31st annual Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game. Hoekstra, Prince and Schneider were on the winning West side in a 16-6 victory. Sunde drove in a run with a sac fly for the East in the first and scored in the third after a walk, a double by Berman and a passed ball.

On top of the championships and all-star appearances a number of accolades have also rolled in for the incoming Bronco freshmen class. Hoekstra, Prince, and Sunde were each first-team all-state selections, while Berman, Cable, South Haven's Aaron Dehn (RHP) and Rockford's Drew Farmer were named second team all-state. Farmer additionally picked up Louisville Slugger All-America honors.

Schneider was a Kalamazoo Gazette All-Area pick and Patrick Haynes, a right-handed pitcher out of DeLaSalle High School in Illinois was all-conference, all-Catholic league and a Catholic League all-star.