Powers Catholic defeated Dewitt 9-2 to win its third straight regional championship on Saturday, and then knocked off Richmond 10-3 in the Quarterfinals to clinch a spot in the state semifinals vs. Trenton on Friday, June 14th. Game time is 2:30pm at MSU’s McLane Stadium.
      Against Dewitt, after defensive mistakes by the Chargers, the Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 5th. Powers roared back with a five-run fifth and three-run sixth to win going away. The uprising supported Grant Garman’s 12-strikeout complete game. Luke Dupuis delivered a key two-RBI hit in the fifth, Nate Gebhardt contributed a pair of hits driving in four, and Isaac Sturgess went 3 for 3 and scored three runs.
     In the quarterfinal matchup, the Chargers jumped to a 5-0 lead powered by a second-inning Isaac Sturgess grand slam. Isaac finished with 5 RBI’s and hit for the cycle during Saturday’s doubleheader. Fischer Hendershot overpowered the Blue Devils with a five-inning 9-strikeout performance (zero earned runs) to get the win. Gavin Darling added two hits and two RBI’s; Eli Sturgess chipped in a pair of safeties as part of Powers’ 13-hit attack.
     Every player has contributed to earning a school record 35th and a return to the Final Four. Thanks to dedicated players, supportive parents, families, and fans. And it was great to see alumni from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. Fantastic!
      “Rise up, you mighty Chargers!” Onward! One pitch a time!

3-1-4-3: those are the runs totaled in the first four innings for the Chargers in an 11-0 mercy-rule route of runner-up Spring Lake in the title game matchup at MSU’s McLane Stadium last Saturday. Fischer Hendershot was in command all day in a two-hit, five-strikeout performance. The tall Senior righty also had a pair of hits and drove in a run.
     Gavin Darling smashed a two-run double and scored himself on a throwing error as the Chargers raced to a 3-0 lead in the first. The hits and base runners just kept coming as the Powers offense totaled 9 hits, 5 walks, and 5 hit batters in five at-bats. Connor Kelly also drove in a pair of runs, and Michael Klein led with three runs scored. Grant Garman pitched in with two RBIs. On top of the offense, the defense was sharp with Luke Dupuis and Kelly turning in dazzling plays. Catcher Nik Stimac was the steady, fantastic backstop the entire weekend, making all the pitchers look good and steering the team away from trouble, pitch-by-pitch.
     The win occurred 50 years after the 1974 team won it all, the first State Championship in school history.
     In Friday’s semifinal, Powers won in walk-off fashion versus a tough Trenton Trojan team, 4-3 in eight innings. The Chargers led 3-0 after four with senior ace, Grant Garman, in total control pitching  a no-hitter. To the Trojan’s credit, their hitters adjusted with put-it-in-play swings, finding holes in the defense, bunching five hits for three runs. It stayed 3-3 behind Isaac Sturgess scoreless three innings of relief until Connor Kelly was walked to load the bases with one out in bottom of the eighth. Darling stepped to the plate and drove a deep fly to left center that eluded the drawn in outfielders, and freshman Eli Sturgess sprinted home with winning run and a brief celebration ensued as the Chargers knew they had made it to Saturday’s final game. Garman had three hits and Isaac Sturgess scored three runs.
     So, there you have it: 1974, 1980, and now 2024 State titles. Powers is the first school in the Greater-Flint and Genesee County area to earn three Baseball State Championships.  Coach Dutkowski credits our tremendous coaching staff: Dan Garman, John Fitzko, Vinnie Mersino, JD Garman, Bruce Miller, and Jim. Everyone contributed in their unique ways. We thank administration and maintenance; we thank all our devoted parents and fans. More than anyone, we thank our current and former players. We have made noise in the state playoffs for decades, but the 2024 TEAM got us over the hump. We didn’t do it alone: hundreds if not thousands have helped us along the way. For that, this old Coach is eternally grateful. Proud of all you: Much love and respect. Onward! -Coach D

The Sturgess brothers combined for five hits and seven RBI’s to lead the Charger offense against Frankenmuth. Isaac crushed a pair of two-run homers in the third and fourth and drilled a triple in the first. Eli had a single, double, drove in two, and scored a pair.
     Pitchers Grant Garman, Fischer Hendershot, and Connor Kelly limited the Eagles to four hits, two earned runs and combined for eight strikeouts.
     Powers, 33-6 overall, takes on Dewitt at Howell HS, Saturday, 10am for the Regional championship. The winner plays again in a quarterfinal matchup (estimated start time is between 2-3pm). The other bracket pits Richmond vs. Macomb Lutheran North at about 12 noon.
     Practice, pack a lunch, and pray. Go Chargers!

Powers dispatched Lake Fenton 10-0 in the District finals behind the combined 1-hit, 11-strikeout performance of Isaac Sturgess and Fischer Hendershot. The Chargers scored in five of six frames before the mercy rule was applied. Grant Garman went 3 for 3 with a pair of RBI’s. Sturgess and Connor drove in two runs apiece; Nick Stimac delivered a couple hits and an RBI.
       The District’s first game featured a 7-3 win for Lake Fenton over Linden. In the second between Powers and Goodrich, Garman displayed his consistent brilliance with a 10 “K” three-hitter. The Chargers managed only three hits themselves in the game—but took advantage of sloppy Martian defense, walks, and couple timely hits by Sturgess and Hendershot to score three in the first and two in the second for a commanding 5-0 lead. Goodrich countered with two runs in the fourth but that was it.
     Powers, 32-6 overall, is scheduled to take on Frankenmuth in the Regional semifinals at Lake Fenton HS on Wednesday. Time to join the bandwagon  before it journeys much farther down the road as the exciting playoff action continues!

Powers defeated Davison 10-0 on Friday of the Flint Champions Tournament behind Santino Evely’s three-hit shutout. It was the last time the Chargers would hold a lead until the fifth inning or later, in the next four games—but three games turned into comeback wins. The only loss came against Howell, 14-5, despite three hits from Issac Sturgess in the “Champions” finale on Saturday.
      Also on Friday, Bay City Western burst to a five-run lead in the opening inning, but Powers rallied for four in the fourth and added seven more in the fifth for an incredible 11-5 victory. Gavin Darling came up big with four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Luke Dupuis smacked three hits, Xander Wolschleger added a pair. Next up, Nik Stimac blasted a solo HR in the second inning to forge a 1-1 tie, but Northville went ahead 2-1 after two. It stayed that way until the Chargers tied it up in the fifth. A five-run top of the 7th vaulted Powers to a 7-2 victory. Fischer Hendershot had a couple hits.
     We saved the best for a last: a 6-5 win over an excellent Goodrich ball club in the Flint Tournament Finals. Just for good measure, the trend of falling behind early continued as the Martians jumped Powers with a 5-run third. Powers cut it to 5-1 in the fourth, and then fashioned a 5-run fifth highlighted by an Issac Sturgess three-run blast. A balk sent home the games’ winning run.  From there, Sturgess recorded six strikeouts to close the door on Goodrich.
     Powers stands at 30-6 on the ‘24 campaign. Never been easy and never will be. Stay the course, young Chargers!

Our Chargers traveled to Midland Dow on Tuesday to demolish the home team 9-0, 10-0 in a resounding doubleheader sweep to earn Powers the ‘24 SVL championship. Dominant pitching led the way. Grant Garman passed the 400 mark in career strikeouts in the opener, fanning 15 Dow batters in a complete game five hit shutout. In the nightcap, Fischer Hendershot struck out seven while allowing one hit in five innings of work. Isaac Sturgess pitched the final inning to preserve the goose egg.
     Offensive heroes include Connor Kelly (3 hits/2RBIs); Gavin Darling (2 hits/2RBIs); Hendershot drove in two. Isaac Sturgess tallied 2 hits/2RBIs (setting a Powers career hit mark, 190 and counting); Xander Wolschleger added a pair of hits; Nate Gebhardt and Eli Sturgess drove in two each.  Additionally, every Powers player saw action on the day and every one of them achieved “Champion Status” as Powers edged out defending title-holder, Bay City Western by one game.
     Powers goes to 26-5 overall and 19-3 in the SVL. Powers will play four games in the annual Flint Champions Tournament on Friday and Saturday.  And, then on Memorial Day, the Chargers take on Goodrich in the Flint Tournament Finals, 7pm at Broome Park.

Connor Kelly struck out seven in three innings of work and Michael Klein smashed three hits to drive in four runs to lead the Chargers to 15-4 win over Durand.
     In the championship game Powers overwhelmed host Brandon by drilling eighteen hits in an 11-3 decision. Isaac Sturgess collected four hits as he set the career record for hits to lead the way. Grant Garman added three hits; Nathan Gebhardt had a pair. Luke Dupuis limited the Blackhawks to two hits with eight strikeouts in five innings.
      The Chargers, 24-5 overall, travel to Midland Dow on Tuesday, with an opportunity to clinch SVL Championship. Let’s GO!

Catcher Nik Stimac guided the Powers pitching staff a total of 24 strikeouts of the 42 outs needed to subdue the home Bobcats. In game one, Grant Garman fired 13 strikeouts in six innings of work and Isaac Sturgess struck out two in the seventh to run the team K total to 15 in the 2-1 win.  Sturgess, who had three hits, including a leadoff home run in the Powers’ two-run first. Grand Blanc scored one run in the first, and then the Charger defense blanked the home team over the final thirteen frames.
    In the nightcap, Powers scored a couple in the third, and Isaac Sturgess drilled a two-out bases loaded double to make the lead 5-0 in the fifth.  Fischer Hendershot was in command on the bump with two-hit, eight strikeout performance in six inning of work. Sturgess then closed the door in the seventh once again.
      The Chargers move to 22-5 overall (17-3 in SVL) with a doubleheader next Tuesday, May 21st at Midland Dow. Before then, Powers plays a two-game tourney on Saturday at Ortonville-Brandon, 11am. Keep it up, Chargers!

 The Chargers beat the Wolves 11-1 and 12-2 after the nine seniors from the 2024 Class were honored in a pre-game ceremony. Some players have contributed to 103 victories ( and counting) in their tenure. They truly represent a talented group —on the field and in the classroom. Their parents and families have every right to be proud!
    In the opener, Fischer Hendershot and Luke Dupuis stifled Bay City on two hits and six strikeouts. Offensive punch came from Grant Garman, three hits; Isaac Sturgess, two hits, including a HR; Alex Photiou, two hits and two RBIs; Hendershot, Dupuis, and Nik Stimac each drove in a pair.
     In the nightcap, Powers took advantage of nine walks and five hit batsmen to fuel the offense.  Mateo Evans powered the attack with two hits and two RBIs; and, Stimac added two more hits. Pitchers Garman, Dupuis, and Santino Evely held the Wolves to one earned run.
      Powers stands at 20-5 overall (15-3 SVL record) and remains in contention for the league title with only two doubleheaders left. First, at Grand Blanc on Thursday and at Midland Dow on May 21st. It looks like it’s going right down to the wire to decide a champion in 2024. What a great opportunity for our players.

 The second-ranked Charger baseball team ran it’s record to 17-4 by defeating Saginaw Union 15-0 and 18-0 at Broome Park. Several players had big offensive days.
      Perhaps the biggest highlight was the Saginaw team presenting a poster of thanks to Coach Dan Garman and his wife Anna for generously buying new uniforms for their team. The uniforms look great and were worn with pride. Well done Garman family. Well done.

     A pair of the state’s top-ranked teams battled to a draw as the Warriors took the opener 2-0 behind their pitcher’s (Luke Lacourse) no-hitter. Hard-luck starter Fischer Hendershot countered with a three-hit gem of his own, giving up a pair of unearned runs in the first inning.
      The Chargers won the nightcap 2-0 behind the stalwart one-hit, eight strikeout pitching of ace lefty, Grant Garman. Issac Sturgess picked up the save by striking out two of the three batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh. Powers scored its two runs in the top of the second when Nick Stimac and Mateo Evans walked with one out. Eli Sturgess delivered what amounted to a swinging bunt, hustled down the line to force a two base throwing error, chasing home a pair of Chargers.
     In the bottom of the sixth, two Warriors reached second and third with potential tying runs and only one out.. The next BCW batter chopped a two-hopper to third baseman Gavin Darling, who looked the runner back before firing to first for the second out. First baseman Hendershot saw the runner on second had wandered off toward third and alertly threw to shortstop Connor Kelly who applied the tag to complete a sensational double play to end the inning.
     The split leaves Powers and Bay City Western in the thick of the SVL race. Five teams are within one game of the conference lead as we head into the final couple weeks of league play. Here we go: ride on you mighty (15-4 overall) Chargers! Onward!

    The Chargers defeated the Cardinals 2-0 and 4-0 behind dominant pitch in SVL action played at Powers Catholic. Isaac Sturgess scored lone runs in the first and fifth innings. Grant Garman had two hits and an RBI. The big story was pitcher Fischer Hendershot limiting the Cards to one hit while striking out seven in 5.1 innings of work. Sturgess got the save by striking out two in 1.1 innings.
     The standout pitching continued in the nightcap as Garman shutout Davison by firing 12 strikeouts in a complete game three-hitter using only 72 pitches—63 strikes. Of course, against no walks. Incredible.
Matteo Evans a pair of hits and two RBI’s to lead the offense.
     Powers moved to 14-3 overall and 10-2 in the SVL. The Chargers travel to Bay City Western on Monday in a key conference doubleheader starting at 3:30pm.       But first things first: let’s have a great 2024 Prom!

 Powers rolled past Carman-Ainsworth at home Monday by 18-0 and 17-2 scores in SVL action. In the opener, five Chargers had two hits in the 17-hit attack. Three pitchers limited the Cavs to one hit.
     In the nightcap, C-A scored a run in the first inning, but Powers countered with seven runs in the bottom of the frame to regain momentum. Kaden Martel had a triple, single, and 4 RBI’s to lead the offense. In the fourth, Alex Photiou delivered a two-single that drove in a run, causing the mercy-rule be invoked.
     The 12-3 Chargers (8-2 in SVL) will host Davison in a doubleheader on Thursday, 4pm. Onward Powers Catholic Baseball.

    Luke Dupuis led the way as Powers defeated the Oilers 7-1 in the opener by limiting the opposition to four hits with seven strikeouts, and one run in six innings of work. Santino Evely threw a scoreless 7th. Dupuis helped his cause with two hits and two RBI’s.
    My. Pleasant took the nightcap 2-1, a game shortened to six innings due to darkness. Connor Kelly rapped a pair of singles to lead the offense. Kelly, along with Xander Wolschleger and Isaac Sturgess stymied Oiler hitters with 10 strikeouts against only 3 hits. Credit goes to both teams for outstanding defense and pitching throughout the contest.
     Powers moves to 9-3 (4-2 SVL). The TEAM resumes action on Saturday, 2pm at Broome Park in the opening round of the Greater Flint Tournament vs. Lapeer.

Despite a lead-off homer by Issac Sturgess, Powers fell 5-4 to the host Cougars on Saturday. Sturgess later drilled a pair of doubles plating two runs. Xander Wolschleger smacked two doubles, and Gavin Darling added two hits. The non-league loss was the first in 2024 for the 7-1 Chargers.
     The second contest was played as a scrimmage, ending with a 1-0 score in favor of Powers. It was highlighted by a combined no-hitter by pitchers Wolschleger, Darling, Santino Evely, and Michael Klein. Kaden Martel was the battery mate behind the plate.
    SVL play resumes Monday as the Chargers host Midland in a doubleheader starting at 4pm.

Stellar pitching again led the way in 6-0, 13-1 sweep over Lapeer on Thursday. In the opener, Grant Garman fired a complete game shutout, striking out 13, and allowing three hits. Garman also chipped in a pair of hits and Gavin Darling smacked a pair of safeties and drove in two.
   In the nightcap, Fischer Hendershot, Santino Evely, and Darling limited the Lightning attack to 2 hits, striking out a combined 10 hitters, allowing a lone score. Connor Kelly blasted a two-run homer, Isaac Sturgess and Xander Wolschleger collected two hits apiece, and Luke Dupuis delivered a two-run double.
   Powers’ defense also turned the rarest of the rare by turning a 8-9-3 double play. That’s right, center fielder to right fielder to first baseman. You’d have to be there…
    The 7-0 Chargers (4-0 in SVL) play Saturday at Macomb Dakota in an 11am non-league game followed by a scrimmage between the teams.

The bats were booming and the pitching was stifling in Powers’ 9-0, 9-1 doubleheader sweep of host Heritage on Monday. Connor Kelly and Gavin Darling each delivered three-hit games, and starter Grant Garman, followed by Fischer Hendershot and Kelly combined to shutout the Hawks.
    It was more of the same in the nightcap as pitchers Isaac Sturgess, Luke Dupuis, and Santino Evely limited the Hawks to one run. Sturgess, Garman, Kelly, and Darling each smacked two hits apiece. Powers stands at 5-0 overall as it prepares to travel to Lapeer on Thursday. Go Chargers!

The Varsity Baseball Chargers scored in five of seven innings to defeat Goodrich 10-3 on Wednesday. Isaac Sturgess, Grant Garman, Connor Kelly, Fischer Hendershot, and Luke Dupuis each had multiple-hit games, but Kelly led the way going 3 for 4, topped off by a massive three-run homer in the seventh.
   Isaac Sturgess pitched 5 innings of no-hit ball with 7 Ks before giving way to the bullpen. Despite a three-run uprising by the Martians in the bottom of the 6th, Powers was in command for much of the game.
    The 3-0 Chargers are scheduled to play at Midland Dow on Thursday, but check your rain gauge: the weatherman is predicting a gully washer. Onward!

   Grant Garman and Fischer Hendershot combined to strike out 15 Kearsley batters in a no-hitter over the visiting Hornets. The closest thing to a hit was a slow roller to third baseman Gavin Darling, but the senior made a fine running grab and to retire the Kearsley batter.
   Isaac Sturgess sparked the offense with an RBI single and scored three runs. Nik Stimac smacked a two-RBI double in seven-run 6th inning uprising that made the final score 9-0.
    Friday’s game at Hemlock has been canceled, so the Chargers varsity is off until next Tuesday, April 9 for a Military Appreciation Day game at Oakland University, 5pm, against Yale.