The OAA is rich with rifle-armed, slick-gloved and hard-slugging center fielders on the baseball diamond in 2022. Many of them are multi-sport gems and using this spring to enhance their already gleaming prep athletic resumes.
Of course, there’s Alabama commit Parker Picot, who has been spending a lot of time in center field for Rochester Adams — when he’s not pitching, or playing shortstop or … well pretty much anywhere he’s needed. He plays a little football, too, piloting the Highlanders to the Division 1 finals in the fall.
West Bloomfield’s Adrian Epps is probably the other best, pure centerfielder in the OAA this year, a five-tool stud who is uncommitted for his college ball. The 6-foot-0 junior led West Bloomfield’s state-power football team in interceptions from his spot at safety last fall. Epps captained the Laker diamond cutters to an OAA White title this year — clinching the crown courtesy of a double header sweep of Birmingham Groves back on Monday. He’s currently hitting .346, with an on base percentage near .500. He has 22 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
“Adrian is a true leader,” West Bloomfield skipper Josh Birnberg said. “He runs the bases and patrols center as good as anyone I’ve seen. Lately, his bat is getting hot. He smashed two homers in one game earlier this month. We feel like he’s our engine. We’re going to go as a team, the way he goes in this upcoming home stretch of the season.”
Oxford senior Brady Carpenter is committed to Saginaw Valley State and carries a big stick. A natural leader, Carpenter quarterbacked the Wildcats’ football team the past two years and decided to play on the diamond at the college level right before the start of Oxford’s memorable playoff campaign on the football field.
Bloomfield Hills senior Robert Newland is 6-foot-4 and rangy, able to cover as much ground as anyone in Oakland County in center. Equally effective at the plate and on the base paths, Newland will play the next four years for Kalamazoo College.
Stoney Creek’s Zach Hager is another top dog in center in the city of Rochester and one of the best uncommitted players in the area’s Class of 2022. Hager has hit over .400 for the past three seasons and is known for robbing hitters of surefire extra-baggers and long balls with his glovework.
Clarkston junior Preston Stout and Lake Orion senior Jack Wellman are talented Northern Oakland County standouts still uncommitted for their respective college plans. Stout has come on strong this month and is beginning to gain traction in his recruiting.
North Farmington’s Jared Frazier is a rare breed, the old-school three-sport athlete. Frazier rakes at the dish and dashes hitters’ spirits with his glove in center. Frazier is an All-OAA selection on the soccer pitch and started in the backcourt for North Farmington’s district-championship club. He’s set to put his organized athletic career behind him and embark on a degree at the University of Michigan in August.
“Jared is the consummate competitor and student athlete,” North Farmington basketball coach Todd Negoshian said. “You watch him in center and he’s a natural. On the basketball floor, he set the tone for us in terms of toughness and defense.”
https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2022/05/18/beaumont-doctor-talks-about-covid-19-deaths-in-younger-population/
Slicing the suitors
Birmingham Brother Rice blue-chip junior hoopster Curtis Williams has narrowed his college choices down to a list of six schools. The sweet-stroking swingman will be deciding between
Notre Dame, Florida State, LSU, Alabama, Xavier and Seto Hall. Williams (6-6) averaged 16 points per night last winter and was the best perimeter defender in the Catholic League Central.
Tweet of the Week
“Its stealth season” — Brady Carpenter on the upcoming stretch run of the 2022 baseball campaign for his Oxford Wildcats
