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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.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2025 Team Preview, click here.

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2025 Spring Team Preview: Macomb Dakota

MACOMB - Is season three the year for Angelo Plouffe?

The third-year head coach has taken Macomb Dakota to the Final 4 and the Regional Finals in his first two seasons at the helm. With a loaded pitching staff, the Cougars have their eyes on the big prize in 2025.

“Two of the last five years we’ve been to Michigan State,” Plouffe said in reference to the site of the finals. “You need a little luck, you need the draw to go the right way and you need pitching to go the right way. When you face a good pitcher, you’ve got to beat them.

“For me, my thing is playing your best baseball at the end. You make them compete all year and at the end of the year the kids are battle-tested.”

Luke DeMasse, the Macomb County Player of the Year, headlines a strong pitching staff that includes Kellogg CC commit Ryan Petrovich and junior Andrew Borowitz. Left-hander Braylon Ryan, an Alma signee, is another hurler that Plouffe is counting on this season.

But it is Demasse, a Ball State commit, who is the staff ace after going 6-1 with a 1.38 ERA a year ago, striking out 56 and walking just eight in 55 innings pitched.

“The pitching staff is our strength,” Plouffe related. “We have some really good arms.”

The Cougars are not too bad behind the plate, either, with Evan Kavalick back for his third year as starting catcher. A Northwood commit, the senior backstop had a .436 average a year ago with 30 RBIs and eight doubles. In the postseason, Kavalick was 15-17 at the plate.

“That was pretty impressive to watch,” Plouffe said of his performance in the playoffs.

Ryan, a .347 hitter last season, will be at first base when not pitching with sophomore Tyler Gardner at second base. Jaden Ford, a senior committed to Lansing CC, can play anywhere with second and third base options being used by Plouffe. Jacob Gjonaj, a junior, is penciled in to play shortstop with DeMasse at third.

Luke Kavalick, a Northwood commit like his brother, will be in center field after hitting .326 a year ago. Seniors Chase Thornton, a Lawrence Tech signee, and Dylan Beitelshees, along with sophomore Gavin Goike are other potential outfielders for Dakota.

Another plus this year is the return of Brady Hamby to the program. A senior signed to play football at Ferris State, Hamby has not played baseball since his freshman year.

“He’s getting better every day,” Plouffe said of the potential DH/1B/3B for the Cougars.

More depth in the program comes from right-handed pitcher Connor Dwyer, a Macomb CC commit, Joe Rusin, a senior going to play at Hope next year, and Michael Draska, a senior catcher committed to Siena Heights.

Last year Dakota finished 31-10, winning the Macomb Area Conference Red Division.

“We try to make sure everything is earned,” Plouffe said about his program. “It seems to be successful so far.”

Depth is definitely something that stands out about the program.

“We have 14 or 15 guys that can be starters for us,” noted Plouffe, who has a roster with 15 seniors, five juniors and two sophomores. “We have a lot of experience and these guys work hard. We’re coaching a veteran team. These were young guys last year, now they’re grown up. They know what the deal is, how to work and how to practice.”

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