Jason Fracassa ends prep career as All-Star, MVP By Brad D. Bates DETROIT — Stevenson High’s Jason Fracassa ended his prep career the only way he could have — as a winner. After a career that left his name etched in the state history and record books, Fracassa took home wins in his final football and baseball games when his teams won the 30th annual Michigan High School All-Star Football Game June 19 and the 29th annual Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Baseball Classic June 21. “The football game was hard. Three practices a day, two team meetings — you ate, slept and practiced all day,” Fracassa said of the experience at the football All-Star game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. “Now I get to come here, sleep in, take a couple hitting practices. It’s a lot easier, a lot more relaxed.” Fracassa starred in the football All-Star game, leading the East on a fourth-quarter 96-yard drive for the 20-16 win. But after a week of football practice and a game in summer temperatures, the All-Star experiences seemed to catch up with Fracassa at the baseball game. “I’m came up trying to hit a home run, but I’ll take a single and 1-for-3,” Fracassa said in the visitor’s dugout at Comerica Park during the baseball All-Star game. He was able to shake off some of the effects of the football game to drive in a run during the East’s four-run first inning that propelled the team to a 12-2 win. “This is my first time playing at Comerica, and it’s amazing,” Fracassa said. “Everyone is having a great time. Obviously, we’re having fun with the East winning. It’s just a great experience.” Along with earning an All-Star appearance in baseball, Fracassa was named to the Division 1 All-State first team, as well as the MHSBCA’s Dream Team, which recognizes the state’s top players across all four divisions. He was also recognized by the coaches that know him best, as he was named MVP of the Macomb Area Conference Red Division after leading his team to a 6-4 record and a share of the 2010 championship. “After every MAC game we played this year, the coach came up to me and said what a great season I had,” Fracassa said. “It meant a lot for coaches to come up to me and congratulate me. (The MAC is) a good community to be in, and everyone is happy for everyone else.” Fracassa has committed to play baseball and football at Northwood University. And while he earned All-State honors twice in baseball, football may be where Fracassa is remembered most. He leaves with eight state records, including career marks for passing yards (10,615), passing attempts (1,104), completions (656) and passing touchdowns (97). He also helped Stevenson receiver D.J. Mershman, who will join Fracassa in playing football at Northwood, to three state records — career receiving yards (3,741), receptions in a season in 2009 (98) and receiving yards in a season in 2009 (1,896). You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (58/6) 498-1029. 
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