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With 2024 now in the past, Prep Baseball Michigan is eagerly anticipating bringing the state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2025. Starting in February, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2025 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

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2025 Spring Team Preview: Brother Rice

BLOOMFIELD HILLS - For most programs, losing 11 seniors that are all playing in college would mean a rebuilding year ahead. But Brother Rice is not like most programs.

Bob Riker, who picked up his 700th career win during a 43-2 campaign last season, has seven returning starters from a team that lost 2-1 to Northville in the Division 1 state finals.

“For me it’s about the program,” Riker explained about what has brought success to Brother Rice. “We try to create a sound group of coaches that will develop players. Most guys that come here want to go on and play in college. We want to get them better as players and as people. If you do that, winning will take care of itself.”

Blake Ilitch and Cole Duhaime, the top two starting pitchers last season, are back to anchor the staff. Ilitch, the top-rated senior RHP in Michigan and the 35th in the nation, is a Mississippi signee. Duhaime, the No. 1 junior southpaw in the state and 14th in the country, is a Virginia commit.

“It’s nice to have,” Riker said of the strong one-two punch on the mound. “We want to try and have them not do too much, not have too many high-leverage innings.”

A pair of sophomores, Grady Preston, the 13th-ranked 2027 right-handed pitcher in Michigan, and left-hander Ben Junga add depth to the staff along with freshman lefty Manuel Simms and junior righty Ethan Riedy.

The middle of the field is in great hands with twins Cole and Cash Van Ameyde at shortstop and center field, respectively, while Broder Katke is behind the plate. Cole, the third-ranked senior shortstop in Michigan, is a Michigan State commit while Cash, the top-rated 2025 outfielder in the state, is an Oakland recruit. Katke is the number one sophomore in the state and seventh-ranked 2027 catcher in the country.

Completing the middle is returnee Tristan Turner, the 17th-rated junior in Michigan who will play second base while also possibly seeing time at third.

“We’re strong up the middle but we’ve got to find some corner outfielders and corner infielders,” Riker pointed out.

CJ Hornberger, the 83rd-ranked junior in the state, is expected to see action in the infield along with Mike Stanton, the 33rd-ranked sophomore in Michigan, and freshmen Anthony Flores and Jackson Haefner.

Junior Brady Thomas along with freshmen Maksim Neshov and Simms are looking for playing time in the outfield. Neshov is the No. 1 2028 in the state and 20th-ranked in the nation.

“If they’re good we play them when they’re young,” Riker explained. “We let talent dictate. Last year not too many got to play with all the seniors we had.”

The veteran mentor sees a lot to like about this year’s squad.

“They get along and are very hard working,” Riker noted. “They’re always putting in the time to get better on their own. We have a good core of leaders back and a good group of freshmen and sophomores that will follow the lead of the juniors and seniors. That’s what we try to build here. We want to make sure the older guys show the younger guys the way so they’re all on the same page.

“These older guys were once young and taken care of by older guys,” Riker continued. “Our facility is off campus, a 15-minute drive, and the older guys drive the younger guys there. That’s how it was when the older guys were younger.”

The Catholic League is loaded as usual this season with Riker pointed to Detroit Catholic Central, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, DeLaSalle and U of D as teams to contend with as well as the three schools from Toledo that “will be better than last year” in the eyes of the head coach of the Warriors.

“If we can throw strikes, catch the ball and not make errors, we’ll be in every game,” Riker concluded. “If we can hit a little we’ll be fine. We have capable guys that are chomping at the bit to get that opportunity.”

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