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2026 High School Team Preview: Brother Rice Warriors

BIRMINGHAM - A pair of standout seniors along with two juniors are being counted on to lead a young Brother Rice team that is expected to continue a great tradition in 2026.

“Our program is a little unique,” explained long-time head coach Bob Riker. “When you come here and play you usually leave happy and go on to college and play. I think that’s why you come here, to go on to play in college. We try to make it our number one priority.”

Cole Duhaime and Tristan Turner are seniors living up to those dreams, with both headed to Division I schools, Duhaime to Virginia and Turner to Western Michigan. Each is expected to play a major role this season for the Warriors, which won the Catholic League during a 28-13 season a year ago that ended in a 2-0 regional final defeat to Dakota, the eventual Division 1 state runner-up.

The number one senior left-handed pitcher in Michigan and 39th-ranked in the nation, Duhaime was 5-1 in 2025 with a 2.30 ERA, striking out 66 in 48 innings with opponents batting just .169.

Turner, coming off a knee injury, played mainly first base last season but could move back to the middle infield for his final high school season. The fourth-rated senior shortstop in Michigan hit .410 with a .510 OBP last year, pounding out nine doubles and three home runs among 48 hits with 40 RBIs, 27 runs and 18 stolen bases.

Then there is the junior class led by “one of the best catchers in the midwest” in the eyes of Riker. Broder Katke, the top-ranked 2027 backstop in the country, returns after hitting .374 with 39 RBIs, 35 runs, two home runs, 17 doubles and a .455 OBP a year ago.

“He played right away as a freshman with one of our best teams ever here and we’re looking for big things out of him this year,” Riker said of the Vanderbilt commit.

Another junior, Grady Preston, is being counted on to take on a bigger role on the mound this season after throwing 15 innings with a 2.80 ERA in 2025.

“With these four - especially Cole, Tristan and Broder - we have a good group of leaders,” noted Riker, who enters his 38th season at the helm with more than 700 wins.

The veteran mentor points to another senior, Ethan Reidy, as someone “we’re looking for big things on the mound.” The right-hander struck out 21 in 19.2 frames as a junior with a 3.20 ERA.

Junior right-hander Griffin Delusky brings more experience after throwing 31 innings with 43 Ks and a 2.25 ERA last year, holding the opposition to a .189 batting average.

“Our strength is on the mound,” Riker assessed about the coming season. “We can really pitch it. The bonus there is we have probably the best catcher in the state and one of the best in the midwest.”

Two 10th graders add to the depth on the hill, Manny Simms and Cam Bajis. Simms made 8 apperances on the mound as a freshman while Bajis had a 3.04 ERA in 23 innings last spring.

Sophomore Gavin McLelland could also see time pitching with Bobby Smith, Damo Mangiapane, Kellen Alexander and Ben Nelson promising freshmen in the program.

“Catching the ball and making routine plays will be the key for us,” Riker said. “We can pitch with anybody. If we don’t make errors, we will be fine. Defense is the big question right now.”

Maxsim Neshov, the 18th-ranked sophomore outfielder in the nation, will help anchor the defense in center field while moving from the two-hole to leadoff in the batting order after hitting .417 as a freshman with 55 hits, 43 runs, 25 RBIs, eight doubles, three home runs and 28 stolen bases.

Jackson Haefner, the top-rated sophomore third baseman in Michigan, will be at third and will also pitch.

“We’ve got to find two corner outfielders and three infielders,” Riker noted. “We’ve got to find some young guys.”

Freddie Beyer returns in left field with CJ Hornberger expected to see action in the infield after being the DH last season.

There are numerous players hoping for time in junior infielders Mike Stanton and Mike Cadicamo and sophomore first basemen Mino Koski and Anthony Flores. Koski will also pitch after pitching the fourth most innings as a freshman.

Sutton Pawlaczyk, a sophomore outfielder, is another hoping to get into the lineup.

Junior Ayden Wagner, sophomore Grant Paletz and freshmen Trevor Chase and Cruz Rodriguez are vying for time to back up Katke at catcher.

Two more ninth graders, Jonathan Henry and Bryce Milliner, along with sophomore Henry Warnemuende add infield depth.

“I think we have some special guys,” summed up Riker, who points to DeLaSalle, Detroit Catholic Central and Orchard Lake St. Marys as teams expected to be near the top in the Catholic League this season. 

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