Tuesday, January 20, 2026

01/20/26 Big 8 Conference 2026 Baseball Preview - unofficial - last update: 01/20/26

01/20/26 Big 8 Conference 2026 Baseball Preview - unofficial - last update: 01/20/26

Big 8 site - https://www.unioncityschools.org/athletics/big-8-conference

Big 8 site (MaxPreps) - https://www.maxpreps.com/mi/baseball/25-26/league/big-8/?leagueid=8b26d916-eb86-497f-89c5-f9e65c78d0ef


Below -

1- MHSAA 2026 Baseball Calendar & enrollment classifications

2 - 2025 BIG 8 Standings (MaxPreps) / MPR rankings

3 - 2025 MHSBCA awards

4 - state champions & runner-up

5 - PBR 2025 commits & some college rostered player

6 - websites of interest

7 - possible first games (subject to change)


*MPR note: MPR is a ranking system that COULD be used for seeding playoff teams. The biggest issue I see is that not all results are reported to the MHSAA. Whether this is done thru lack of staff or to “stay under the radar” or just “why bother” I do not know. However, if coaches want seeding, then it is necessary to have accurate information. So coaches - you choose!

MPR (Baseball) - https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/baseball/mpr


2026 MHSAA Baseball Calendar (*first games as of 01/20/26) -

March 9 - MHSAA Practice Begins

March 18 - First MHSAA Contest

*March 18 - Stockbridge vs Webberville (Genessee Athletic) at Webberville HS

*March 19 - Concord vs Lenawee Christian (TCC) at Concord

*March 23 - Springport vs Dansville (CMAC) at Springport Baseball Diamond (HS)

*March 24 - Union City vs White Pigeon (Southwest 10) at Union City Alumni Field

*March 31 - Bronson vs Hillsdale (LCAA) at Hillsdale (30 S Norwood Ave; Hillsdale; 49242)

*March 31 - Quincy vs Onsted (LCAA) at Quincy (Griswold Field / Roger Corey Diamond)

*March 31 - Reading vs Litchfield (SCAA) at Litchfield (210 Williams St, Litchfield 49252O

*April 7 - Maple Valley vs Bronson (Big 8) at Bronson (450 E Grant St; Bronson)

April 11 - ACT Test date

May 2 - SAT Test date

May 25 - Memorial Day

May 29 / 30 - MHSAA District Finals

June 3 / 6 - MHSAA Regionals and Quarterfinals

June 6 - SAT Test date - June 6

June 11-12 - MHSAA Semifinals - McLane Stadium, MSU, East Lansing

June 13 - ACT Test date

June 13 - MHSAA Championships - McLane Stadium, MSU, East Lansing


Enrollment classifications -

Division 1 - 944 and above (153 schools)

Division 2 - between 437 - 943 (152 schools)

Division 3 - between 233 - 436 (156 schools)

Division 4 - 232 and below (151 schools)

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2025 Big 8 Standings - https://sites.google.com/a/unioncityschools.org/big-eight-baseball/2025-season

School - Big 8 W-L / all W-L - (MHSAA MPS W-L / MPR#)

*Springport - 14-0 / 23-3 - (D3 25-3 / 0.529) - 2025 Big 8 Champion

Bronson - 9-4 / 16-9-1 - (D3 16-11 / 0.493)

Quincy - 9-5 / 15-13 - (D3 15-13 / 0.489)

Union City - 9-5 / 15-3 - (D3 16-13 / 0.495)

Maple Valley - 5-8 / 8-13-2 - (D4 8-14 / 0.427) - D4 District 117 Champion

Stockbridge - 5-9 / 7-21 - (D3 6-22 / 0.435)

Concord - 3-11 / 10-16 - (D4 9-16 / 0.424) - D4 District 118 Champion

Reading - 1-14 / 7-16 - (D4 2-15 / 0.367) - D4 District 119 Champion

* * *


Big 8 Conference (school (Baseball Division / enrollment)) -


#Bronson (D3 / 330)

Baseball Head Coach: Daniel McMichael (2nd season - Bronson / Adrian College)

Address: 450 E Grant St; Bronson; 49028 - Phone: (517) 369-3230

Field: southwest corner of athletic fields (south of high school) off of Wayne Street

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://www.bronsonschools.org/o/athletics


#Concord (D4 / 172)

Baseball Head Coach: Scott Chase (3rd season)

Address: 219 Monroe St; Concord; 49237 - Phone: (517) 867-6004

Field: Concord Baseball Diamond (at school, entrance by Middle School, S Main Street)

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://concord-athletics.com/main/teamschedule/id/3797833/seasonid/4913651


#Vermontville Maple Valley (D4 / 227)

Baseball Head Coach: Bryan Carpenter (25th season - Olivet College)

Address: 11090 Nashville Hwy; Vermontville; 49096 - Phone: (517) 852-9275

Field: Griswold Field / Roger Corey Diamond - 170 N Seminary St, Vermontville, MI 49096 (Maplewood Elementary school)

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://maplevalleylions.com/


#Quincy (D3 / 340)

Baseball Head Coach: Pat Dillon (9th season)

Address: 18 Colfax; Quincy; 49082 - Phone: (517) 639-9245

Field: at school - west side of campus on Colfax Street

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://quincyathletics.org/


#Reading (D4 / 174)

Baseball Head Coach: Devin Marquart (3rd season)

Address: 301 Chestnut; Reading; 49274 - Phone: (517) 283-2142

Field: Barre Field - 218 Cherry St, Reading, MI 49274

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://www.readingrangers.org/athletics/


#Springport (D3 / 343)

Baseball Head Coach: Eric Allen (10th Season)

Address: 300 W Main St; Springport; 49284 - Phone: (517) 857-3475

Field: Baseball Diamond - on campus southeast of main building

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://springporthighschool.bigteams.com/


#Stockbridge (D3 / 325)

Baseball Head Coach: “not assigned” - MHSAA site 01/20/26

Address: 416 N Clinton; Stockbridge; 49285 - Phone: (517) 851-7770

Field: at school - north of school

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://stockbridgeathletics.com/


#Union City (D3 / 298)

Baseball Head Coach: John Bain (18th Season)

Address: 430 St Joseph St; Union City; 49094 - Phone: (517) 741-8561

Field: Alumni Field - at school near bus garage (100 S Park St) - https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=95226

Pressbox: ?

Concessions: ?

Rest Rooms: ?

Athletic website: https://www.unioncityschools.org/athletics

* * *


2025 MHSBCA Awards - https://www.mhsbca.org/page/show/6074717-2021-2030


*MHSBCA Hall of Fame -

Michael Leson - Union City inducted 1991

Rick Bailey - Reading inducted 2014


*MHSBCA Dream Team -


*MHSBCA All-State Division 1 -


*MHSBCA All-State Division 2 -


*MHSBCA All-State Division 3 -

OF Ryan Kempter Quincy/25 - 2nd team


*MHSBCA All-State Division 4 -


*2025 All-Big 8

* * *


State Champions (1971-2025, Current schools) -

Reading (Rick Bailey) - D4 2007

Quincy (Lonney Evon) - D3 1998

Reading (Jack Kerspilo) - Class D 1981

Bronson (Phil Wotta) - Class C 1975


Runner-up (1971-2025, Current schools) -

Vermontville Maple Valley - Class C 1975 runnerup


2025 PBR Commits -


2026 College Rostered players (01/20/26) - that I found at local schools

Grant Holroyd - Quincy HS/MI - Glen Oaks CC

Jakeb McDonald - Vermontville Maple Valley HS/MI - The University of Olivet

* * *


Websites of interest -

Big 8 Conference - https://www.unioncityschools.org/athletics/big-8-conference

SEC / SouthEastern Conference - https://www.secstandings.com/

TCC / Tri-County Conference - https://tricountyconference.wordpress.com/

NFHS / National Federation of State High School Associations - https://www.nfhs.org/

MHSAA / Michigan High School Athletic Association - https://www.mhsaa.com/


NFHS Baseball - https://www.nfhs.org/sports/baseball

NFHS 2026 Baseball Rule Changes - https://www.nfhs.org/sports/baseball/rules

MHSAA Baseball - https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/baseball

MHSAA Baseball MPR (not currently used for seeding) - https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/baseball/mpr

MHSBCA / Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association - https://www.mhsbca.org/


MaxPreps - https://www.maxpreps.com/

Arbiter Sports (search by school name) - https://www.arbiterlive.com/

PBR / Prep Baseball Report - https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/

Field Level - FieldLevel - The college sports recruiting platform




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