MacKenzie and Pickens represent Brother Rice on 2010 Dream Team By Mike Moore BIRMINGHAM — The list is designed to highlight a select few, the absolute best of the very best, if you will. With that said, Birmingham Brother Rice baseball coach Bob Riker wasn’t the least bit surprised when he learned two of his players — Pat MacKenzie and Jimmy Pickens— would occupy spots on the 2010 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Dream Team, a collection of 23 players from across the four divisions in the state. “These two guys are winners, pure and simple,” Riker said. “Whatever they do, they do to be successful. For me as a coach, when you’re working with 11 new guys like we did this season, we don’t have the type of success like we did without guys like Pat and Jimmy.” Four years worth “He wasn’t the biggest of guys, but he had the strength and the mentality to play on varsity,” Riker said. “He was one of those guys you wanted, one that you had to have playing on your team.” MacKenzie’s versatility was impossible to miss. He began his freshman year in the outfield before settling in at second base. As a sophomore, he started at third, and for the past two seasons was the team’s shortstop. “As a player, you strive to be the best you can, and that’s all I ever did,” MacKenzie of Royal Oak said. “Being named to the Dream Team is, really, a dream come true. I’ve always believed in myself as a player, but it was still surprising to be named.” In what Riker called “another typical year,” Mackenzie batted .459, had 13 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 25 RBI and 32 stolen bases. He walked 37 times, struck out just 13 times, had an on-base percentage of .609 and a .789 slugging percentage. In all, he led the Warriors in 11 of 16 offensive categories. “He’d get the big hit at the big times,” Riker said. “More importantly, he was the guy who inspired the guys around him to be better. That’s the mark of a true leader.” “Some of the best memories I’ll ever have came playing for this program,” said MacKenzie. He’ll continue his career at Central Michigan University next spring. Healthy Pickens After graduating the depth from their pitching staff like the Warriors did following the 2009 season, there may not have been a more important piece to this year’s success — a 24-12 record — than Pickens, a junior catcher who worked masterfully with the teams younger and inexperienced staff from behind the dish. He wasn’t too bad next to it, either. “Jimmy is a guy who can completely change a game all by himself,” Riker said. “He can carry a team based on the way he plays. He might strike out three times in a row, and then in his fourth at-bat he’ll launch a ball over the fence and completely alter everything.” The West Bloomfield resident hit .418 this season with 13 doubles, six triple and five home runs. He scored 39 runs while picking up 19 stolen bases, 34 walks and 31 RBI. He finished with a .581 on-base percentage and an .827 slugging percentage. Riker said he didn’t have defensive stats, but added “teams didn’t run on us because of Jimmy.” “Honestly, I was surprised to even get All-State,” Pickens said. “My dad called me to congratulate me, and I was like, ‘on what?’ Then he told me about the Dream Team selection. … It’s all pretty incredible.” Pickens also knows the weight such an honor will carry next year, when he’ll be one of the team’s unquestioned leaders. “I can’t wait,” he boasted. “We’re going to be young, but we’re going to be very talented. It’s going to be fun working with the younger guys and seeing what type of year we can put together,” You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038. |
