The Week Ahead: Catholic League Heating Up

Brother Rice baseball

The Warriors are playing some pretty good baseball this season. While most teams in the area haven’t even played 10 games, Brother Rice already has 13 wins. On Friday, they play Catholic League rival Divine Child in a doubleheader at home, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Back on April 6, Brother Rice split a doubleheader at Divine Child (5-4, 5-7) and the loss in the second game is the only blemish on the Warriors' 13-1 record. In the Catholic League, Brother Rice has dominated the Central Division so far and will look to extend their lead against a Divine Child team that has won the Division 2 title two of the last three seasons.

Marian lacrosse 

The Mustangs improved to 4-1 last week and face a couple of big challenges this week. The Marian girls play at division rival Cranbrook-Kingswood at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Cranbrook was one win away from reaching the Division 2 finals last season, but lost in the semifinals to Okemos.

Then on Friday, Marian plays Birmingham United at 7 p.m. on the road. Birmingham United (5-0) beat Marian in regionals 16-13 last season and Marian will try to get some revenge by handing BU its first loss on season.

Groves baseball

Seven games? In six days? That’s what the Falcons (3-2) are facing this week. They have three Oakland Activities Association Blue division games and two doubleheaders.

Groves starts out the week with the first of the OAA Blue games against Harrison at 4 p.m. Monday, then visit Royal Oak at 4:30 p.m Tuesday. Its other division game is against Lahser at 4 p.m Friday. The Falcons' two doubleheaders are both at home; the first is against Clarkston at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday and then they close out the week with two games against Lakeland  at 11 a.m and 1 p.m.

After losing to Seaholm last week, coach Jim Crosby said the biggest problem the Falcons have this season is not being able to practice outdoors. The weather has prevented them from getting outside, creating some inconsistency. As the weather clears up, Crosby expects the team's performance will pick up.

“We just haven’t been out here getting our work in,” Crosby said. “Haven’t been in the gym too much and when you get outdoors it’s a different story.”

Country Day softball 

The Yellowjackets have three games this week. Monday they play Ferndale at 4:30 p.m. at home and then on Thursday they have a doubleheader at Brandon starting at 4 p.m. Country Day made it to the state quarterfinals last season in Division 2 and a trip back this year could be in the cards.

Ferndale is coming off a tough week. The Eagles lost a doubleheader to Southfield-Lathrup on Wednesday by a combined score of 34-3 (19-3, 15-0). They will need to try and keep Country Day's Jessica Collins off the bases; the shortstop isn’t slowing down after being named all-state last year and has a career batting average over .500. 

Seaholm soccer

A loss to Andover last week dropped the Maples under .500 to 2-3-1. Seaholm will have two chances to bounce back this week, but both games will be on the road. They play at Crestwood at 7 p.m. Tuesday and then against Southfield-Lathrup at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.