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2026 High School Team Preview: Forest Hills Eastern Hawks

ADA - Three Final Four appearances and two state titles in the past four years has Forest Hills Eastern on the map as one of the state powers in Michigan. With a pair of pitchers back along with the top two hitters in the batting order from the Division 2 state champions, look for the Hawks to make another run at the crown in 2026.

“It was an amazing experience,” head coach Ian Hearn said of a 42-1 campaign a year ago. “What a wonderful season. The first doubleheader of the season (against Sparta) we won the first game and lost the second, then we won 41 in a row.

“After the season you reflect back on it and it was like … Oh wow! In the moment you don’t think about milestones, you’re focused on preparing and improving.”

After all, a winning streak like that is far from on the mind of the 11th-year mentor of Eastern.

“Our focus is on constant improvement,” Hearn explained. “It’s nice winning 41 in a row, but it’s not our priority. It came with the drive of the players and the will of the players to improve. Once it becomes the focus, you stop improving and are worrying about failure.”

Cam Pallo, a Michigan State commit who started the state semifinal 5-4 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, and Colton Brinks, the winning pitcher in the semis who threw 4.2 innings of relief in the state final 5-2 victory over Standish-Sterling to cap off a 10-0 season on the mound, are both back for the Hawks.

The 10th-ranked 2026 right-handed pitcher in Michigan, Pallo is a two-way standout who pitched 30 innings and finished 8-0 while batting .269 a year ago. Brinks, a Northwood signee, pitched more than 60 innings in relief as well as a starter last season with a 0.50 ERA, but moves into a full-time role as a starter this year.

“His value to help the team was to be available every single game,” Hearn noted about Brinks pitching in relief in 2025. “This year we feel we have pitching depth.”

Kenric Penkevich, a third baseman who batted .368 last season, will also pitch this year with right-hander Silas Langenau, ready to contribute. More depth comes from senior righty Jack Almeroth.

Seniors Brayden Valk and Breslin Waite along with sophomore Merrick Penkevich are battling for time at catcher after the graduation of three-hole hitter James Dempsey, who had the top batting average on the state championship squad.

Waite, Langenau and senior Gordon Kaiton are potential first baseman with Ben Fausey, a Grand Rapids CC recruit, anchoring the infield. Fausey batted .371 a year with 13 doubles, 35 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Collin Ybarra, a senior signed with Quincey who hit .372 with six doubles and 25 RBIs a year ago, will play infield and/or outfield with juniors Heath Cleck and Kal Waselewsky in the mix for infield time.

Junior leadoff hitter Drew Ferrick returns to play outfield after hitting .300 in 2025.

Senior Bennett Heymoss is another outfielder with sophomores Max Cleck and Jackson Greene providing depth on the roster.

“I like their experience as baseball players,” Hearn said about the Hawks in 2026. “I really like the team speed. The pitching keeps improving and the depth also seems to keep improving to where all the positions are open to competition.”

So what will it take to make another run at a state title?

“The keys will be for the players to settle into their new positions and for new leadership to take over,” Hearn noted. “We have good camaraderie and this is a very hard-working group. We just need to continue to battle and get better every day.”

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