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2026 High School Team Preview: Macomb Dakota Cougars

MACOMB - With three Final Four appearances in the last six years, including a trip to the Division 1 championship game last season, a state title is all that has eluded the Cougars of Dakota.

“The kids know the standards we have here,” explained fourth-year head coach Angelo Plouffe. “They understand what we strive for every year. It’s motivation for all of us. When I started we had eight to 10 in the weight room in the offseason. Now we have 40 to 50. The kids are working hard to live up to the standards we have here.”

While 15 seniors were lost from last year’s team, including 11 that went on to play college baseball and one college football, Plouffe is far from discouraged.

“We will be fine this year,” explained Plouffe, now in his 15th year coaching in the program and 20th overall.

A trio of pitchers gives optimism to the Dakota mentor, led by James Nuechterlein. The Wayne State commit was 8-1 with a 0.453 ERA last year, fanning 57 and walking nine.

Neither Andrew Borowicz, the number three hurler on the Cougars two years ago, nor Jacob  Gjonoj pitched much last season but will be counted on for valuable innings this year while also returning to start in the middle infield. Borowicz will be at second base with Gjonoj, a Macomb signee, at short.

Junior Nathan Porter has “high upside” according to Plouffe and is another pitcher with hopes of having a big season, with sophomore right-hander Dakari Reed and senior RHP Josh Geill, a Macomb recruit, also expected to contribute on the mound.

“I love our pitching,” noted Plouffe, who led the Cougars to a 37-7-1 record last season, falling to Hartland 5-3 in nine innings in the finals, the first time Dakota has advanced to the championship game in school history. “We have three dudes and then young guys that need some mound time on the varsity. It will be fun to see.”

Tyler Gardner, a three-year varsity player, gets his first opportunity to start behind the plate in this his junior season with Porter slated to play first. Conner Shagena, a junior, is a potential third baseman along with freshman Ericson Cruz.

Gavin Goike returns as a starter in the outfield with the junior joined by seniors Michael Ross and Tyler Choi.

“All three are fast and can cover a lot of ground,” noted Plouffe, who has outfield depth in Christian Walker, a senior committed to Rochester Christian.

It adds up to a lot of confidence for the head coach.

“You always need a little luck, but this team could do the whole thing,” Plouffe said. “We have all the pieces you need with pitching and hitting.

“We lost a lot of guys, but we have guys that have been working hard and waiting their turn. Now it’s time for them to make the most of it.”

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