Novi Detroit Catholic Central Claims D-1 Baseball Championship with Convincing Victory

EAST LANSING — Bennett Thompson, the senior second baseman for Novi Detroit Catholic Central, faced a critical decision at the start of the 2026 MHSAA baseball season. After suffering a UCL tear in his throwing elbow during his first pitching inning, he could have opted for immediate surgery as he prepares for his upcoming collegiate career at Michigan State. Instead, Thompson has chosen to delay the procedure until June 16, allowing him to contribute to his team's success and secure another championship trophy.

Thompson played a pivotal role in Catholic Central's impressive 7-0 victory against Rochester Adams in the Division 1 state championship held at McLane Stadium on Saturday. "I chose to wait until the end of the year," Thompson stated. "Because I wanted to help my team win a state championship like we just did."

This triumph marks the Shamrocks' fourth state title overall and their first since 1999, culminating a six-year effort under coach Ryan Rogowski, who has been committed to restoring the program’s former glory. As the team gathered along the third base line for the trophy presentation, players and coaches embraced, celebrating a significant milestone. The excitement peaked when senior right-handed pitcher Micky Laser, who delivered a complete-game shutout, was surrounded by his teammates. "It was surreal," Laser remarked. "That's what I've dreamed of."

From the outset, Catholic Central established dominance, with Thompson hitting a triple on the very first pitch. He quickly scored on a follow-up triple from senior shortstop Dylan Fairchild, who is headed to Cincinnati. The Shamrocks maintained their momentum by adding two more runs in the second inning, highlighted by another triple from Jaxon Gatt and another two-run triple by Fairchild.

In total, Catholic Central recorded four triples and five extra-base hits throughout the game. "What a hitting performance," Rogowski exclaimed. "Can we hit the ball, or what? Them Shamrocks can hit." The team continued to add runs, finishing with ten hits, while Thompson, Fairchild, and Luke Fairchild each notched multiple hits. Meanwhile, Rochester Adams' previously potent offense struggled against Laser, who effectively managed the game with minimal strikeouts but significant control, allowing no runs.

Adams coach Andrew Lamkin acknowledged the challenge posed by Laser's performance, stating, "We have to give [Laser] a lot of credit. They out-hit us. They took it to us right at the beginning and nobody's really done that this year." With this championship, Catholic Central capped a remarkable year, having secured six MHSAA state titles across various sports.