The 2024 high school baseball season is in the rearview mirror but it has left a slew of memories in its wake. The Metro Detroit area’s top players were a big part of those lasting memories.

In an area of Michigan filled with baseball talent, it is time to recognize the top players from around Metro Detroit.

DETROIT – The leader of a conspiracy to sell cocaine and counterfeit pills over the dark web was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison.

Victor Hernandez, 31, of Detroit, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to distribute illicit substances, a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, his distribution of counterfeit pills, and the use of firearms in furtherance of the crime.

Hernandez was sentenced on Wednesday, June 26. As part of his sentencing, Hernandez was ordered to forfeit the proceeds from his crimes in the form of a $3.1 million money judgment.

Hernandez’s sister, Carolyn Hernandez-Taylor, also pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to 60 months.

Court documents revealed Hernandez ran a dark web vendor site under the moniker “Opiateconnect,” selling illicit scheduled drugs, including cocaine and various counterfeit drugs.

The counterfeit pills were made to look like alprazolam, the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States (including under the brand name Xanax), used to manage panic and anxiety disorders. However, they were, in fact, uncontrolled research chemicals that were not scheduled for human consumption.

Federal investigators worked for months to determine the identity of “opiateconnect” and the location he was using.

That investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Hernandez’s house in Detroit, where agents discovered a clandestine drug lab capable of producing upwards of 20,000 pills per hour.

They also found around three firearms, a “tub” containing approximately 600 grams of cocaine, thousands of pressed counterfeit alprazolam pills, $340,000 in cash, and more than $1 million in cryptocurrency.

—> Police break down how 2 women, 2 men in Metro Detroit helped move trash bags of drugs sold on dark web

DETROIT LAKES

— The Detroit Lakes Post 15 legion baseball team welcomed East Grand Forks Post 157 to Washington Ballpark for a Wednesday night doubleheader.

Post 157 dominated the series from start to finish as they took down Detroit Lakes 12-1 in Game 1 and 15-2 in the second contest.

EGF clicked on all cylinders with lights-out pitching and red-hot bats in both games. Detroit Lakes struggled at the plate throughout the night tallying eight hits combined.

“I think we just showed that we were lacking the pitching tonight,” Detroit Lakes co-head coach Zack Oistad said. “When you have seven games in a week, your pitching can run dry at times. We have two more games on Friday so we were stretched thin tonight. The bats didn’t show up either so we have some things to work on.”

Post 15 started off the opening game with a bang as Noah Rieber blasted a solo home run to dead-center field to take a 1-0 lead. Chaz Eckhoff started on the mound for Detroit Lakes. He threw four and one-third innings, allowed nine runs on nine hits, and struck out four batters.

EGF ace Carson McDonald threw a complete game for Post 157. He was efficient on the mound as he threw 87 pitches and 61 were called for strikes. McDonald allowed one run on four hits and fanned 11 batters.

“Their pitching was excellent tonight,” Oistad said. “We got down a bit and lost any momentum that we had. They threw strikes and their defense made all of the plays when we made contact.”

Alex Spect came in for relief and threw two and two-third innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out one batter. Connor Beswick, Kael McArthur, Eckhoff, and Rieber all recorded a hit and Rieber had the lone RBI.

In Game 2, EGF got out to an early lead. Henry Peeters started on the mound for Detroit Lakes and struggled with his control as he walked seven batters. EGF scored two runs in the opening inning. They scored nine runs on four hits in the top of the second to take an 11-0 lead. EGF added a run in the third and three runs in the fourth to take a 15-0 lead. Detroit Lakes scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to trail 15-2.

“We just want the guys to have fun at the end of the day,” Oistad said. “The game of baseball is meant to be fun and we want to get better for the future. I want them to go up to the plate and not watch strike three go by. I want them to be all right with their approach and just shake off the bad at-bats. Stay confident in themselves and do what they’ve been doing for a long time.”

GAME 1: EAST GRAND FORKS 12 DETROIT LAKES 1

EGF – 0 0 2 5 2 1 2 X X – 12

DL – 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1

DETROIT LAKES BATTING – E. Rieber: 0-3; Eckhoff: 1-2; Spect: 0-1; N. Rieber: 1-3, RBI, R; Martin: 0-3; Beswick: 1-3; Wilson: 0-2, BB; Hansen: 0-3; McArthur: 1-2; Bartnes: 0-2

WP: McDonald (EGF); LP: Eckhoff: DL)

GAME 2: EAST GRAND FORKS 15 DETROIT LAKES 2

EGF – 2 9 1 3 0 X X – 15

DL – 0 0 0 2 0 X X – 2

DETROIT LAKES BATTING – N. Rieber: 1-3; McArthur: 1-2; Erickson: 0-1; Eckhoff: 0-2, BB; Wilson: 0-1, 2BB; Hansen: 0-3; Martin: 1-1, R, BB; E. Rieber: 1-3; Peeters: 0-1; Spect: 0-1; Bartnes: 0-1, R, BB

WP: Stassen (EGF); LP: McArthur (DL)

Cooper Kanthak is a sports reporter for the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Perham Focus and Wadena Pioneer Journal. Cooper graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in journalism and minored in digital and social media. He is originally from Pipestone, Minnesota, and has a passion for all things sports. You can reach Cooper at ckanthak@forumcomm.com.