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Top baseball prospect in Michigan giving back to kids in need

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Top baseball prospect in Michigan giving back to kids in need


ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – If you head over to the Motor City Baseball Academy in Rochester Hills, there’s a good chance you’ll find Broder Katke throwing the ball around with his younger brothers, Theo and Henry.

The 15-year-old catcher out of Bloomfield Hills has quickly risen the ranks among some of youth baseball’s top talents.

Currently ranked as the No. 1 baseball player in Michigan (No. 2 nationally-ranked catcher & No. 14 overall best player in the class of 2027), Broder will begin his high school baseball career this fall at Detroit Country Day.

In March, Broder committed to playing college ball for Duke in 2027.

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“Being a catcher, you always got to be super engaged in the game,” Broder Katke said. “The part where you fail more than you succeed, it’s almost like a challenge. Just being able to work towards always trying to succeed more than you fail, which probably won’t happen. But, it’s a good goal.”

Behind all the stats, the rankings and the accomplishments, Broder knows that baseball is a pathway to doing more with a bigger platform.

Last year, as a star catcher for a 13U select team that showcases some of the best youth baseball players in the nation, Broder met with patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

He says he was so touched by what he saw during his time there, that for this year’s Select Fest, he plans to take a swing at fundraising at least $3,000 through social media donations for children battling cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

“Being able to see those kids last year was an eye-opening experience,” Broder says. “Those kids came and visited us, and they don’t really know what their futures will be like. Obviously, they don’t have the opportunity to play baseball … and I can’t take anything for granted and help these kids as much as I can.”

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Tony Leonard, Broder’s coach since he played in 9U, says Broder’s attitude toward causes like these won’t just make him successful on the diamond but on anything he sets his mind.

“For me … for the baseball end of it, he’s [Broder] awesome,” Leonard says. “But to me, it’s more than that. This kid is going to go, whether he goes to the MLB, or whatever he does, he’s going to be very successful in life. And somebody is going to be lucky if he works for you because he’s a hell of a young man.”



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Michigan

Quick-thinking teen rescues driver who plunged into a Michigan lake: ‘Hard to get out’

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Quick-thinking teen rescues driver who plunged into a Michigan lake: ‘Hard to get out’


A teenager put his life on the line Tuesday to save a driver who plunged into a Michigan lake.

John Agnello, 15, was fishing with his mother near the Lake Saint Clair marina when he watched the car soar into the water.

“I just see a car just go flying in the air. It was about 15 yards into the water, already that far,” Agnello told WLIX 10.

John Agnello, 15, was fishing with his mother near the Lake Saint Clair marina when he watched the car soar into the water. Local 4 WDIV/YouTube

The quick-thinking teen and another man jumped into the water and made a beeline for the car — which was rapidly sinking below the surface and trapping the woman inside.

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The water pressure on the car door kept the duo from opening it.

Instead, they were able to instruct her to lower her windows before they dropped below the surface, leaving just enough time for them to pull her out.

After Agnello and the other unidentified hero brought the woman to shore, the determined teen climbed into the submerged car to make sure no one else was trapped inside.

“The only part that kind of scared me was I was under the water inside the car because I was feeling around in there. It kind of got hard to get out, but everything was fine,” Agnello recalled.

The quick-thinking teen and another man jumped into the water and made a beeline for the car — which was rapidly sinking below the surface and trapping the woman inside. Local 4 WDIV/YouTube
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Local 4 WDIV/YouTube

Fortunately, the car was empty.

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Police said the driver was taken to a local hospital.

What caused the crash is still under investigation, St. Clair Shores police said.

Police said the driver was taken to a local hospital. Local 4 WDIV/YouTube

As for Agnello, he is trying not to let his heroism go to his head.

“I think that’s just how my family raised me, just to take action and all that stuff,” he said.

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Michigan Football: Sophomore defender leading critical position battle

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Michigan Football: Sophomore defender leading critical position battle


With fall camp set to kick off next week, head coach Sherrone Moore indicated that a sophomore defender is currently leading one of the most critical position battles heading into 2024. Speaking with reporters at Big Ten Media Days this week, Moore shared his thoughts about the Michigan secondary. Along with feeling great about the depth, he also singled out sophomore Jyaire Hill as the current leader to start at the cornerback spot opposite Will Johnson.

“Feel great about the depth,” Moore said on the secondary during Big Ten Media Days. “Obviously, you’ve got Will Johnson who is the best corner in college football. Opposite of him it could be a number of guys. The guy right now looks like Jyaire Hill, but Aamir Hall, Ricky Johnson has come in, Myles Pollard is making a push to get better. We’re excited about all those corners, we’ve got a lot of depth there.”

Jyaire Hill

Jyaire Hill breaks up a pass during Michigan’s spring game / Christopher Breiler

Considering how often his name was mentioned throughout spring ball, It’s not all that surprising that Hill is currently leading in that battle. At 6-2, 185 pounds, the scrappy sophomore has the size, speed, and mentality that are required to excel at the position. Having only appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2023, the biggest knock against Hill right now is his lack of experience. The good news is that the young corner has spent a year in the program learning from the top cornerback in all of college football.

Although Hill is the current leader, it’s worth noting that Amir Hall – the FCS All-American corner from Albany – is set to enter the battle when camp kicks off next week. Hall, who’s entering his fourth season of collegiate football, has the same characteristics that make Hill such an appealing option at the position – but he also provides the experience.

Elsewhere in the secondary, there will be other critical position battles during fall camp. Not only does Michigan return veteran talent like Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson, but the Wolverines also added two transfer portal safeties in Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) and Wes Walker (Lousiville).

“Safety you’ve got Makari Paige obviously, unfortunate with Rod [Moore] and the injury there but feel like we’ve got some guys who have come in and can really help,” Moore said. “Having Quinten Johnson back is huge, Zeke Berry has really, really taken the steps necessary. Had a great, great spring. and excited to see him. We’ve got two transfers in the secondary with the safeties with Jaden [Mangham] and Wes Walker. We’ve got a lot of competition. As we say, the depth chart is ever-flowing. We never stop. We’ll continue to see who wins the job.”

– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –

‘He’s going to be a force’: Kalel Mullings to make a big impact in 2024

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Sherrone Moore shares five Michigan freshmen that have impressed him so far

Rocky roads to lead to major payoff for Donovan Edwards, Michigan in 2024





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Man dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan

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Man dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan


CHICAGO — A man has died after he was found unresponsive in Lake Michigan early Saturday morning, police said.

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The man, 36, was found near 31st Street Harbor around 4:30 a.m., according to Chicago police. Divers pulled him from the lake, and he was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

SEE ALSO: Search to resume for missing man after yacht sinks in Lake Michigan near 31st Street Harbor

In a separate incident on Friday, a yacht carrying 16 people capsized and sank in the same area. All but one of those people made it out of the water. A search continues for that missing person.

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Details surrounding the incident are unclear, and the situation is under investigation.

Source: Sun-Times Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2024.)

ABC7 contributed to this article.



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