Holland named Lenawee County Baseball Pitcher of the Year
BLISSFIELD – Brenden Holland has come a long way in a short time.
The Blissfield graduate wasn’t considered the ace of the Royal staff when his junior year started, but his senior year concluded by playing at Comerica Park in Detroit in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game.
“At the beginning of last season nobody in our league had ever heard of me and I probably was the fourth option on our team as a pitcher," Holland said. "By the end of this season I'm playing in the East-West All Star game. To come this far in just two years and to know all my hard work has paid off means so much to me.”
Holland can add another feather to his cap. He is the Daily Telegram’s 2022 Lenawee County Pitcher of the Year.
Holland was smooth on the hill this season for the Royals. He opened the season by beating Whiteford, who would go on to win the Tri-County Conference and Division 3 district title. After a loss to Wyandotte Roosevelt, Holland won his last eight decisions of the season, finishing 9-1 with a 1.12 ERA in 14 games started. He pitched 81 1/3 innings, striking out 111 batters and walking 26.
“I think the season I had was a testament to all the hard work I've put in to be better every single day,” Holland said.
In seven of those games, he allowed four hits or fewer. He struck out 13 against Columbia Central, 12 against Hillsdale and 10 against Whiteford. Against LCAA champion Onsted, Holland went seven innings, giving up three hits and two unearned runs. He had a no-decision against regional champion Clinton in a game he pitched seven innings and allowed six hits and one earned run.
He also had a win against 30-win Hudson, another district title team.
“He was impressive all season,” said Blissfield coach Eric Schmidt. “He kept us in every game he pitched.”
Holland could also hit. He batted .327 with 35 hits in 107 at-bats and had 19 RBIs. He had 10 multi-hit games, drew 21 walks, and scored 34 times.
In two seasons pitching for the Royals, Holland won 15 games and struck out 174 batters.
Holland will pitch for Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, next season.
Playing in the all-star game at Comerica Park was a huge highlight of his career, joining a select list of Royals to have appeared in the postseason classic.
“It was incredible,” Holland said. “It was an honor to have been on the same field and in the same game as the best players in the state and to represent Blissfield and the LCAA was also really special to me.
“It's something not many people get to say they've done, and definitely a once in a lifetime experience so for that I'm extremely thankful.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Blissfield's Holland named Lenawee County Baseball Pitcher of the Year
