Lake Orion’s Schaenzer headed for Valparaiso
ROUNDING TO THE NEXT CORNER: recent Lake Orion grad Cole Schaenzer will take his baseball talents to Valparaiso next school year. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
LAKE ORION — Cole Schaenzer might be more remembered around the community of Lake Orion for his heroics on the gird iron. But it is his baseball talents that will allow him to keep playing sports at the next level.
Schaenzer, a recent 2011 graduate of Lake Orion High School, signed recently with Division I Valparaiso of the Horizon League, where he will further his baseball career with the Crusaders. He is one of nine signees at Valparaiso.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher/outfielder chose Valparaiso over Appalachian State.
“I knew (after my visit) that I really liked the place,” said Schaenzer, who departed Lake Orion with a 3.75GPA and in the top 15 percent of his class. “I’m really excited about going down there and playing baseball. I’ve wanted to play college sports for a long time. If you asked me two years ago, I wouldn’t have said Valpo. But things changed.”
Schaenzer will be one of three Michigan players on the roster at Valpo for 2011-12 and the second player from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage region that will be on the roster. Former All-State Dream Team catcher Billy Cribbs (Rochester High) will be a senior at Valparaiso this fall.
In football, Schaenzer, a standout wide receiver, was moved to quarterback in the second quarter of the regional finals last November and he guided his team to a win over Utica Eisenhower for the regional championship. He got the starting nod and led the Dragons to a state semifinal win over Detroit Cass Tech and to a victory over Plymouth in the Division 1 state title game.
He earned All-OAA Red Division and All-Area Second Team status for his season-long performances.
That gained Schaenzer plenty of notoriety on the football field and around the community, which had enjoyed only three other state championships in school history –wrestling (1990), baseball (2007) and girls golf (2007).
Schaenzer’s skill-set on the baseball diamond was even more prevalent. As a senior, Schaenzer earned All-OAA Red Division, All-District and All-Area First Team honors. On the mound, he posted a 4-1 record and two saves with a 1.42 ERA in 29.2 innings of work with 28 strikeouts. At the plate, Schaenzer hit .380 with 28 runs scored, 14 RBI, and seven stolen bases.
Veteran Lake Orion baseball coach Andy Schramek felt Schaenzer is not only a quality athlete that works hard, but is a high-character player.
“Cole is a great athlete and leader. When you look at what he did in football, taking over the quarterback position midway through the playoffs and leading Lake Orion to the football (state) title. People forgot what a good wide receiver he was,” said Schramek. “In baseball, he’s the same way. Wherever we put him, he would excel. He’s the type of kid that you want on your team.”
Schaenzer leaves nest week to begin his career with the Crusaders.
“One I get settled in down there, I will go out there and show them what I can do and hopefully get some playing time as a freshman,” said Schaenzer. “I will most likely bean outfielder, but you never know.”
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