Bay City Western defeats Brother Rice in baseball opener

On the opening day of the 2025 baseball season, No. 2-ranked Bay City Western defeated No. 1-ranked Brother Rice, 7-3. This match held special significance as it featured two top teams hoping to meet again later in the season. The game showcased two promising pitchers, Luke LaCourse from Western and Blake Ilitch from Brother Rice, both committed to Division I colleges. Their presence attracted numerous professional scouts to the game. Western started strong with a dramatic two-run homer from Jack Sequin. This helped set an early tone for the team. They quickly built a 3-0 lead after several strong plays, including a single by LaCourse and an RBI hit from Brayden Simmon. The Warriors maintained their lead, scoring additional runs in the third and sixth innings. Brother Rice made a push in the third with a two-run homer from Cole VanAmeyde and an RBI double from Broder Katke, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit. LaCourse shone on the mound, striking out seven batters in three innings. Jack Sequin later took over pitching duties, allowing only two hits and striking out six over four innings. Despite a solid effort from Ilitch, who struck out four batters in two innings, Brother Rice couldn't catch up.