After earning All-State honors as a sophomore last year, Clare’s Gabe Denton didn’t exactly have a ton of room for improvement.
He got better anyway.
The junior catcher helped the Pioneers finish 13-1 in the Jack Pine Conference, good for a tie with Meridian for the pennant. At the end of the league campaign, Clare was 22-2 overall and ranked No. 4 in the state’s Division 3 polls.
Batting No. 3 in the order, Denton had a .563 average with five home runs, 15 doubles and a team-high 38 RBI.
His slugging percentage of 1.031 is a number that jumps off the page, but Pioneers coach Skeet Colosky has a stat he likes even better.
“Gabe has only struck out four times this year, and he’s got 20 walks,” Colosky said. “He’s got a nice approach at the plate, he hits for power and he’s got a pretty good eye, which is an improvement from last year.”
None of which is much of a surprise.
“Gabe has been with us all three years, and he’s been hitting in the three spot the majority of the time,” Colosky said. “He plays a ton of summer ball and he’s really a student of the game. He does a great job working with our pitchers, too. A lot of colleges are looking at him, but he hasn’t committed anywhere yet.”