Photo by Patricia O’Blenes St. Mary’s Korey Hall (23) had an outstanding senior season, hitting .452 with 14 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 28 RBIs. He was recently named to the 2010 Dream Team by the MHSBCA.

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

ORCHARD LAKE — There were many different ways Nick Di Ponio could have summed up the year senior Korey Hall had in 2010.

He chose one few could argue with.

“There’s no way to replace what Korey did for us,” Di Ponio, the Orchard Lake St.
Mary’s baseball coach, said of his star center fielder.

“He’s one of those kids that does everything so well.”

Hall wrapped up his final season with a rare double — earning back-to-back appearances on the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Dream Team.

And though he played well enough to earn Dream Team recognition his junior year, his senior season was by far his best.

“He was very deserving, to say the least,” Di Ponio said with a laugh.

Hall finished 2010 with a .452 batting average, 14 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 28 RBIs. He walked 27 times, stole 18 bases, had a .559 on-base percentage and a .757 slugging percentage.

“It was another great year,” Di Ponio said. “We were the kind of team where if he was playing well, so were we. He led us in most offensive categories, and that’s not easy for a guy that usually hit in the lead-off position.”

“This means a ton,” said Hall, who’s set to continue his baseball career next spring at Wabash Valley, a junior college in Mount Carmel, Ill. “It’s a huge accomplishment, something I’ve worked very hard for.”

“I spent a lot of the offseason getting ready for my senior year. I wanted to be one of the strongest, fastest and most consistent players out there. It seems like all that work paid off.”
While his individual accomplishments are impossible to miss, Hall also enjoyed some noteworthy team success, as well.

He was called up to the varsity squad halfway through his freshman season and helped guide the Eaglets to the Division 2 state final — a 7-4 loss to Mount Pleasant High. Hall and St. Mary’s returned to Battle Creek and the final four his junior season, eventually falling to East Grand Rapids 6-0 in the D-2 final. His other two seasons ended in regional finals.

“These past four years have been such a great experience,” Hall said. “It was tough at first and took some adjusting, but overall, I had a lot of fun here.”

You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
St. Mary’s Korey Hall (23) had an outstanding senior season, hitting .452 with 14 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 28 RBIs. He was recently named to the 2010 Dream Team by the MHSBCA.