Petoskey hoping to put the pressure on, swipe another couple wins Saturday
CHEBOYGAN — There are a lot of ways to get into the mind of an opponent and put the pressure on.
The Petoskey baseball team isn't waiting around to do so in 2025. They're pushing the envelope and turning up the pressure on the base paths.
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And opponents are crumbling to the pressure along the way.
With 132 steals as team this season, it's the most bags the Northmen have swiped in at least over a decade, after 95 last season and nearly as many as 2022 and 2023 combined. Over the previous seven seasons, Petoskey had averaged just 74.
Their 92.96% success rate is also the highest since an even 93% in 2021.
'It feels good because I've definitely been one of the top guys doing it and it feels good to be (running) more,' Petoskey senior Drew Olson said. 'I just like being aggressive and it puts the runners in scoring position.'
Petoskey senior Drew Olson has taken 28 bags on the base paths this season, leading the charge for a team that's taken more than 130 for the season.
Olson leads the way with 28 steals for the season, often out of the No. 2 hole for the Northmen. His 28 are the most for a Petoskey player since Keaton Walker's 28 in 2019 and the first time a PHS player has eclipsed 20 in a season since Walker.
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Olson might be leading the charts, but he's not alone. AJ Speigl has taken 25 bases and Haden Janes owns 23 steals. Three more have taken double digits.
Petoskey's Speigl: The colors might have changed, but Petoskey's Speigl is still coming up big in postseason
While he hasn't been opposed to sending guys in the past, Petoskey head coach Shawn Racignol wants to take advantage of the speed he feels this group possess.
'I'd say this has been the best overall team speed that we've had,' Racignol said. 'There's not a guy in the lineup that can't swipe a bag. We've just got to have the right situation and try to minimize the risk and maximize the reward. When those situations come up during the game, we just have to push that button.'
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Simply put, if the opportunity is there, take it. In Racignol's eyes, that's smart baseball, but only when the reward keeps outweighing the risk.
'It's been a nice addition to keep pressure on the defense,' Racignol added. 'We've done that with the bats, we've done it on the bases, with small ball. It's just another way to add pressure and we'll go to it if we're able to go to it.'
One thing that's helped with the amount of steals is Petoskey's highest on-base-percentage (.445) since 2021 (.450) and their first time with over a .400 OBP since 2022.
Guys have just had more opportunities this season.
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'We've just got to get on base, that's the main thing,' Olson said.
Petoskey: Petoskey baseball can go home again, advance to hosted Division 2 regional final
After 18 steals in an all-state season a year ago and playing around the infield, Olson, who has stuck primarily to second base in 2025, has given himself more opportunities with his best season at the plate.
He's batting .382 with a .462 OBP, to go with 40 runs scored and 24 RBIs. He also carries a 100% rate on 28 steal attempts and has struck out just nine times in 122 plate appearances.
While Petoskey's steals are up, so too are the hits and on-base-percentage for guys like Haden Janes in the lineup.
As someone who knows his game and doesn't try swinging for the fence, Olson has been one of the most consistent players in the lineup, which included taking two bags against Kingsford in a Division 2 regional semifinal victory Wednesday, June 4.
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'I feel great,' Olson said. 'I just have to do what I do best, hitting hard ground balls and stealing bases.'
It's not like the Northmen have been swiping against nobody this season. They've been putting together one of their best seasons against one of their most challenging schedules.
East Jordan: East Jordan holds off late Inland Lakes rally, tops Bulldogs in regional semifinal
Gaylord St. Mary: Snowbirds still flying: Gaylord St. Mary baseball tops Alcona, onto D4 regional finals
And, that schedule continues at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7 at Turcott Field in Petoskey with a Division 2 regional championship game for the Northmen, potentially followed by a 3 p.m. quarterfinal.
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The No. 9 ranked Northmen will face either Ludington (8-18) or No. 2 Standish-Sterling (33-4). No. 12 Fruitport (28-5) already has its spot in the noon regional final and will face either Frankenmuth (21-12) or Saginaw Swan Valley (22-7).
Looking to move on again Saturday, Petoskey's Drew Olson believes they just have to keep playing their game, in the field and on the bases.
If Petoskey is hoping to steal a couple wins Saturday, Olson believes they just have to keep doing what they've been doing.
'We're making the routine plays in the field, we've just got to get on base,' he said. 'It's the same kind of approach. Get the ball out and swing away.'
Then, swipe away.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey baseball's aggressive play on base paths has them lifted to regional finals
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