The awards and accolades continue to roll in for the 2011 Division I baseball state champions, Rockford Rams. The Rams were recognized by the West Michigan Whitecaps, the single-A minor league affiliate for the Detroit Tigers. Rockford was only the second West Michigan high school baseball team to win the Division I title in the last 40-plus years, and the Whitecaps recently took time out to recognize the feat.
The pre-game ceremony capped the last few weeks of post-championship season recognition for the state champs. Not only did the Rams finish number one in the state of Michigan, but they were recently recognized by USA Today as the number eight team in the Midwest region, which included baseball hotbeds such as Oklahoma and Kansas. The region also includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota and Michigan. The Rams were also ranked in the top 100 teams nationally by USA Today.
Rockford had many All Conference, All District, All Region and All State players. One player, Joe Kropiewnicki, was selected as an All State Dream Team player. Ram Head Coach Ian Hearn earned Coach of the Year honors for Division I in Michigan as well. In addition to the recognition, the state championship game pitting Rockford against Temperance-Bedford has been replayed twice on Fox Sports Network (FSN) television.
Ram baseball fans have plenty to cheer about and memories that will last a lifetime. Congratulations, once again, to the fine young men and outstanding coaches for Rockford Baseball.
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