The Hillsdale College baseball team is looking to take a big step forward in the upcoming 2023 season with an experienced lineup returning in the spring.
That group will be reinforced by a solid five-player recruiting class joining the Charger program this fall.
Hillsdale welcomes Max French (Grand Ledge, MI/Lansing Christian), Corwin Hemmingsen (Cave Creek, AZ/Scottsdale Christian), Patrick MacLean (Birmingham, MI/Brother Rice), Logan McLaughlin (Milford, MI/Milford) and Jacob Simmons (Delphos, OH/Jefferson) to the fold as a balanced class that, as head coach Tom Vessella's first full class, represents the future of the Charger program.
French is a versatile infielder who stood out at Lansing Christian in the state of Michigan, guiding the Pilgrims to their first-ever MHSAA Division 4 district title in the sport as a junior in 2021 while hitting .440 with a 1.160 OPS, 11 doubles and 21 RBIs for the campaign. During his career, French earned first team All-GLAC, first team All-District, first team All-Region and first team All-State honors, and posted a .401 batting average with 21 doubles and a 1.110 OPS. French also played travel ball with Michigan Prime and the Michigan Aces, and is an impressive student, earning entry into the National Honor Society and earning the Scholar-Athlete award in high school.
Hemmingsen comes to Hillsdale as an exciting catching prospect after a dominant final high school season in the state of Arizona in 2022, where he led Scottsdale Christian to an AIA 2A state title and was named the 2A state player of the year by both MaxPreps and the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association. In a rematch in the 2022 2A final against defending state champion Benson, Hemmingsen played a critical role in avenging his team's 2021 state final loss to the Bobcats, driving in the tying run in the bottom of the sixth to set up a 6-5 Eagles victory. Hemmingsen hit .507 his senior season with a 1.562 OPS, including 10 doubles, five home runs and 49 RBIs, and also starred on the travel circuit with Sticks Southwest, Canyon Thunder and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A standout student as well, Hemmingsen was named the AzBCA Academic All-Star for the entire state of Arizona in 2022 and also earned membership in both the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.
MacLean is a powerful right-handed pitcher, much like his older brother, Tommy, who is on the Hillsdale College roster already and was a starter for the Chargers in the 2022 season. Playing in the Catholic High School League, the premier high school baseball conference in the state of Michigan, MacLean bounced back strong from Tommy John surgery as a senior in 2022, helping lead Brother Rice to a MHSAA D1 District Championship and posting a 1.27 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .081 batting average against. Also a standout on the travel scene for the Oakland Bulldogs, MacLean is an excellent student, making the honor roll all four years at Brother Rice, earning CHSL All-Academic honors, and multiple academic excellence awards.
McLaughlin is another intriguing right-handed arm to add to the Charger pitching staff, with some additional experience as an infielder as well. Playing at Milford, another MHSAA Division 1 school in the rugged Kensington Lakes Activities Association, McLaughlin was a four-year varsity starter for the Mavericks that earned first-team All-KLAA and All-District honors as a senior, while also being recognized as the team MVP and Pitcher of the Year. McLaughlin struck out 75 batters with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 50.1 innings pitched as Milford's ace as a senior, and also hit .380 with 18 RBIs as the Mavericks' leadoff batter. A standout on the travel circuit with Hawks Gold, McLaughlin also made his mark in the classroom, earning the 2022 President's Education and Milford Academic Excellence Awards, as well as the LVC Scholar Athlete Award for four consecutive years.
Simmons is a hard-hitting catcher with upside, coming from Jefferson High School in Delphos, Ohio. While starring for the Wildcats, Simmons earned All-Conference and All-District honors in both his junior and senior seasons and finished his high school career with a batting average of .342, including 12 doubles, 10 triples and 37 RBIs in two varsity seasons. Simmons also was a strong player on the travel circuit with the Locos Express, and a well-recognized student, earning Gold Scholar Athlete awards all four years of high school and earning membership into the National Honor Society.
Hillsdale's five incoming freshmen join a large slate of decorated returners for the Charger baseball program, which brings back eight of its nine everyday hitters in the lineup, all four of its regular starting pitchers and its top bullpen arm from the 2022 team. With big goals in 2023, the Chargers are hoping that blend of veteran leadership and promising young talent will push the program back above .500 and back into contention for the G-MAC title in the season to come.
Photos Courtesy of the Athletes. From left -- French; Hemmingsen; MacLean; McLaughlin; Simmons