MERRILL, Mich. (WNEM) – After a great run last season, Merrill baseball looks to push even further this year.
The Vandals are lead by their six senior, who have been close friends since elementary school.
“We have been together ever since kindergarten, so it all started there and now were here. We’re all really close and play really well together,” said Bryce Mechem, Merrill senior pitcher and catcher.
“I love our class,” said Ethan Mattson, Merrill pitcher and second baseman. “We’ve always been really athletic since we we’re young. We used to have two teams every year when we played little league. They would split us up. We were always really good. Always undefeated, other than when we played each other and we’re great friends outside of the baseball field. We’ve been around each other for so long. Great friendships. I think we’re a really good class.”
While the seniors are the core of the team, the rest of the Vandals consist of sophomores and freshman, who are leading what it’s like to be at the varsity level.
“They’re getting better,” said David DeBeau, Merrill baseball head coach. “I mean they have a lot to learn, but our jobs as coaches, that’s what were going to do is try and coach them up and get them ready, so by the end of the year, we’re ready to go and hopefully make a pretty good run this year.”
After a devastating loss in the regional semifinals last season, Merrill is using it as motivation for this coming postseason.
BRADEN BUCKLEY: MERRILL SENIOR PITCHER AND SHORTSTOP: “Really motivated me,” said Braden Buckley, Merrill senior pitcher and shortstop. “I was pitching and that game and it really sticks with me every single day. I think of it all the time and I really want to get back there really bad and I think we can do it as long as we stick together and play hard and focus on the little things and same with everyone else. Everyone else is on the same wagon as I am. They really want to get back there.”
Copyright 2025 WNEM. All rights reserved.