The Dragons are 15-0 overall, ranked No. 1 by the state coaches association, No. 25 in USA Today and fresh off a quality win over No. 7 Royal Oak this week.
The Dragons have thwarted the competition with a mix of precision hitting and consistent pitching. Lake Orion is averaging nearly 13 runs a game this season.
"I think this is the highest scoring team in 10 years," head coach Andy Schramek said. "We have a multi-dimensional offensive team. We do have guys who can hit home runs up and down the lineup but we run a lot, steal a lot of bases. We hit a lot of doubles. We're patient. I think we've walked 30 more times than we've struck out this year."
No. 2 hitter Brandon Riggsbee and cleanup hitter Mike Musary, both seniors, have led a balanced attack at the plate.
Senior Connor Mielock, who will play at Oakland University, and senior Josh Deeg, who will play at Xavier, have provided a one-two punch on the mound. Mielock has done a fine job mixing his pitches this season, including a slider. Deeg, meanwhile, has thrived off a curveball and change-up. Both throw in the upper 80s. Both are 5-0.
And both will be important pieces the remainder of the season, which includes stiff competition against the likes of Novi, Midland, Grandville, Utica Eisenhower, Romeo and a shared tournament with Oxford.
Moving on: St. Clair Shores Lake Shore may have lost its University of Michigan-bound star pitcher Kevin VanGheluwe for the season, but the Shorians certainly haven't lost hope on their season.
Far from it.
VanGheluwe, a Mr. Baseball candidate, pitched his last game for Lake Shore on April 9 before undergoing season-ending surgery to remove two blood clots in his right arm.
Lake Shore was 7-0 with VanGheluwe. The Shorians have gone 7-0 without him.
Lake Shore has drawn from a pool of talented pitchers that includes Warren De La Salle transfer Dan Keith, a right-handed junior, left-handed junior Travis Brown, lefty senior Vinnie Plouffe and junior righty closer Cameron Walker.
