TRAVERSE CITY — There was a time when Sam Wildfong contemplated giving up baseball.
He was all of 8 years old.
Wildfong told his parents he wanted to quit after an 0-for-5 game.
“Well, if you want to, you can, buddy,” his dad said.
It didn’t take, thankfully.
Now, Wildfong is a Division 1 commit and earns the Record-Eagle’s baseball Player of the Year after a season in which he was one of the country’s most productive high school hitters and helped lead Traverse City St. Francis to back-to-back Division 3 state championships.
“He’s just a tremendous contact and power hitter,” TCSF baseball coach Tom Passinault said, “which is a rare combination.”
Pretty rare, indeed.
Wildfong’s 65 runs batted in were among the top 10 high school totals across the country, coming in fourth among teams that report their statistics on GameChanger/MaxPreps. That number also led all of Michigan.
“All the guys ahead of me that let me get all those RBIs,” Wildfong said. “I’m thankful they put me in those positions.”
Wildfong generally hit cleanup, with Colton Peterson, Tyler Thompson and Lanse Vos ahead of him.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Wildfong signed his commitment paperwork for Columbia University at Brennan’s Restaurant while his family was on vacation in New Orleans, and the restaurant’s general manager came out to congratulate him.
He’d also received interest from Princeton, Yale, Michigan, Hillsdale, Hope and Kalamazoo College, among others. Wildfong said Columbia coaches said they’d let him try out to both catch and pitch when they start play this fall.
Wildfong was a monster in the postseason, going 12-for-19 with 11 RBI, eight runs, three doubles, a home run, walk, hit-by-pitch and one stolen base in six games.
His postseason was interrupted by an injury in the regional finals against Sanford-Meridian when he was playing first base, and a bunt was rolling foul before hitting a rock and coming back into the field of play. The Meridian runner ran into Wildfong in a violent collision in the sixth inning.
The initial impact was bad enough, pushing Wildfong’s shoulder inward. But the runner also caught him with a knee to the head shortly thereafter.
The Gladiators trailed the Mustangs 9-6 after the top of the sixth and rallied to win the game 11-10 on Evan Belanger’s walk-off sacrifice fly. The Glads would defeat Hancock 15-2 in five innings in the quarterfinal game that followed, minus Wildfong.
“Having to watch my team of four years sucked,” Wildfong said. “I knew we could do it. I had all the faith they would get the job done.”
Wildfong returned from the separated shoulder less than a week later and proceeded to go 4-for-7 with three RBI, three runs and a double in the state semifinals and finals.
“Tyler (Endres) was dealing and we were hitting the ball all over the place,” Wildfong said. “We hit the ball so well as a team and that helped us go out the way we wanted to.”
Wildfong said he expects to be back in the full swing of things for fall ball. He’s felt good enough to pick up a summer job with TC Insulation helping with spray-foam insulation.
“No. 1 is his versatility,” Passinault started his answer when asked for Wildfong’s best attributes. “We were able to catch and pitch him, third base, first base, outfield. He can really move around.”
He played every position at least once, including second base in a 2024 playoff game and shortstop last year when Tyler Thompson was dealing with an injury.
“I just love being on the field,” Wildfong said. “I’ll play wherever I can help us.”
The Glads were only 16-13 his freshman year, losing to Benzie Central in the first round of the playoffs as Wildfong missed 10 games, including the playoffs, with a broken thumb. This year, TCSF mercied the Huskies 15-0 in the opening round of districts.
He missed 10 games as a sophomore with a ruptured appendix. The Hancock game as a senior was the only other game he’d miss in St. Francis’ back-to-back title runs.
As a senior, Wildfong batted .529 with 65 RBI, 16 doubles, four home runs, 44 runs, 14 steals and struck out 69 batters in 43.1 innings with a 2.58 ERA and .120 opposing batting average as a pitcher.
Wildfong’s career numbers are just as impressive. He batted .454 over 127 games and 420 plate appearances, with an on-base percentage of .560, 32 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 104 runs, 57 stolen bases, 71 walks, 24 hit-by-pitch and 133 RBI. As a pitcher, he struck out 267 batters across 177 innings with a 1.72 ERA and .147 opposing batting average.
His RBI total puts him 54th in MHSAA history, batting average at 85th and 55th in being hit by pitch.
St. Francis returned its entire pitching staff from its 2025 championship team, but the offense — led by Wildfong hitting cleanup — would carry this year’s team to an even more convincing title.
The Gladiators hit .360 as a team this year, compared to .290 a season ago.
St. Francis outscored its opponents 84-21 in this year’s title run, with the Sanford-Meridian game the only postseason contest decided by less than seven runs. The 9-0 championship win over Kalamazoo Christian was the only playoff game in which the Gladiators didn’t score in double digits.
The 390 runs TCSF scored this season are tied for 24th in state history, up from 252 in 2025. Matthew Kane led TCSF in RBI last year with 38 — also winning Player of the Year — to Wildfong’s 65 this time around. Exactly one-third of those 390 runs — 130 for those who don’t want to do the math — came with two outs.
“It’s been amazing to have these friends all four years and cultivate these friendships,” Wildfong said. “I’m definitely going to miss that in college.”
LARGE SCHOOL DREAM TEAM
Hitter of the Year: Will Neveau, TC Central
Pitcher of the Year: Aris Knoll, TC West/Grant Sivier, TC Central
Defensive Player of the Year: Carson Spica, TC Central
Coach of the Year: Pat McDonald, TC Central
Freshman of the Year: Beau Boulter, Gaylord
Dylan Aukeman, Petoskey, P, Jr.
Becket Blake, Petoskey, C, Sr.
Calum Collins, TC West, 1B/P, Jr.
Josias Ferrett, Gaylord, OF/1B, Jr.
Aris Knoll, TC West, P, Sr.
Zayden Mullins, Gaylord, C, Jr.
Will Neveau, TC Central, 1B, So.
Brady Ripmaster, TC Central, OF, Sr.
Brady Shepherd, Gaylord, IF, Sr.
Grant Sivier, TC Central, P, Sr.
Trey Sparks, Cadillac, IF, Jr.
Carson Spica, TC Central, SS, Jr.
Cam Stoops, TC West, SS/2B, So.
Zach Wodek, Petoskey, IF, Jr.
Elijah Young, Petoskey, OF, Sr.
SMALL SCHOOL DREAM TEAM
Hitter of the Year: Jayden Hresko, Elk Rapids
Pitcher of the Year: Carson Gillison, Frankfort
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyler Thompson, TC St. Francis
Coach of the Year: Tom Passinault, TC St. Francis
Freshman of the Year: Spencer McNitt, Glen Lake
Coy Breithaupt, Buckley, SS, Sr.
Josh Bunek, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, SS, Sr.
Nelson Catanese, Frankfort, C, Jr.
George Coffel, Manton, IF, Sr.
Tanner Crick, Glen Lake, SS, Sr.
Tyler Endres, TC St. Francis, P, Sr.
Aiden Evans, Frankfort, 1B, Sr.
Braden Fluty, Elk Rapids, OF, Sr.
Grady Harless, Bear Lake, SS, Sr.
Myles Harless, Bear Lake, P, Sr.
Colton Haverkamp, McBain, OF, Sr.
Blake Helsel, Manton, C, Sr.
Jayden Hresko, Elk Rapids, SS, Sr.
Ty Kolly, Inland Lakes, IF, Sr.
Jayden Lanning, Mancelona, P, Sr.
Nick Lemieur, Harbor Springs, P, Jr.
Cody Linna, Mesick, SS, Sr.
Ryan Naumcheff, Mancelona, SS, Sr.
Colton Newman, Bear Lake, IF, So.
Spencer McNitt, Glen Lake, OF, Fr.
Ben McShannock, Harbor Springs, SS, Sr.
Will Paulus, Harbor Light, P, Sr.
Colton Peterson, TC St. Francis, C, So.
Caiden Phillips, Harbor Springs, 2B, Sr.
Max Reynolds, Charlevoix, SS, Sr.
Cal Royce, Gaylord St. Mary, OF, So.
Lane Sanchez, Benzie Central, SS/P, Sr.
Austin Schwartz, Grayling, IF/P, Sr.
Jaeden Simpson, Mesick, 1B, Sr.
Tyler Thompson, TC St. Francis, SS, Sr.
Daniel Urman, Harbor Light, SS, Jr.
Lanse Vos, TC St. Francis, P/1B, Jr.
Sam Wildfong, TC St. Francis, P/C, Sr.
Hunter Wilkinson, Kalkaska, OF, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
William Alexander, Manton, OF, Sr.
Tyler Appold, Gaylord, SS, Sr.
Sully Atkins, Glen Lake, P, So.
Tanner Basinski, Johannesburg-Lewiston, P, Sr.
Jackson Bennett, Mancelona, P, Sr.
Barrett Bielas, Kingsley, P, Jr.
Heath Bradley, Mancelona, C, Jr.
Brandon Brindle, Onekama, C, Sr.
Jacob Brown, Onekama, OF, Sr.
Charlie Cameron, Gaylord St. Mary, 1B, Jr.
Gus Carper, Inland Lakes, C, Jr.
Jaiden Carstens, Manton, P/1B, Sr.
Cooper Chittle, Manton, P/C, Jr.
Cash DePauw, Inland Lakes, P, Sr.
Jack Dewey, TC Central, SS/2B, So.
Ethan Draper, Elk Rapids, 1B, So.
Nolan Essenberg, Ellsworth, IF, So.
Carson Gillison, Frankfort, P, Jr.
Wyatt Hanel, Inland Lakes, OF, Sr.
Barron Hellowell, Cadillac, OF, Jr.
Xavi Hernandez, Frankfort, OF, Jr.
Braxton Heuker, Cadillac, 2B, Jr.
Clayton Heuker, McBain, OF, Sr.
Nolan Hodges, Kingsley, OF, Jr.
Jake Ingersoll, Kalkaska, IF, Jr.
Alex Jetter, TC St. Francis, OF, Sr.
Drew Kornacki, Cadillac, 1B, Sr.
Braxton Lesinski, TC St. Francis, OF, Sr.
Rylan Lewis, Frankfort, SS, Sr.
Max Muladore, Ellsworth, C, Jr.
Wyatt Olmstead, TC Central, IF, So.
Jacob Peplinski, Glen Lake, C, Sr.
Kasen Pollington, McBain, 1B, Sr.
Zach Porter, Kalkaska, P, Sr.
Tate Russell, Petoskey, IF, So.
Tyler Shumaker, Bellaire, IF, Jr.
Eli Switalski, Gaylord St. Mary, IF, So.
Brady Turner, Glen Lake, 1B, So.
Brady Wilson, East Jordan, OF, Jr.
Bennett Zeller, Onekama, IF, Fr.
Braylen Zimmerman, Manistee, P, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Max Beal, East Jordan, OF, Sr.; James Bunek, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, P, Jr.; Luciano Carrella, Frankfort, OF, Sr.; Thaddeus Cosens, Harbor Springs, C, So.; Tyler Dontz, Kingsley, OF, Sr.; Jackson Eastman, Lake City, SS/P, Fr.; Mitchell Falk, Onekama, 1B, Sr.; Ryder Folgmann, TC West, OF/DH, So.; Lucas Greenier, Gaylord St. Mary, C, So.; Max Huspen, Grayling, 2B, Jr.; Joe Jacobson, Gaylord St. Mary, OF, So.; Landyn Kequom, Bear Lake, P, Sr.; Chase Kurtzhal, Manistee, IF, Jr.; Logan LaCourse, TC West, C, Sr.; Oliver Mitchell, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, OF, Sr.; Colton Newman, Glen Lake, SS, So.; Andrew Osborne, Mesick, P, Sr.; Clayton Osborne, Mesick, 3B, Jr.; Logan Osbourne, Benzie Central, OF, Jr.; Cooper Rutledge, Grayling, 3B, Fr.; Edwin Ryder, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, OF, Jr.; Kelson Schultz, Forest Area, SS, Jr.; Keegan Shannen, Manistee, OF, Sr.; Landin Sowa, Manistee, IF, Sr.; Issac Stroh, Mesick, C, Sr.; William Webb, East Jordan, IF, Jr.; Hunter Whiteford, Easter Jordan, P, Jr.
Recent Player of the Year winners 2026 Sam Wildfong, TC St. Francis 2025 Matthew Kane, TC St. Francis 2024 Jack Griffiths, TC West 2023 Ian Robertson, TC West 2022 Wyatt Danilowicz, TC West 2021 Wyatt Danilowicz, TC West 2020 No season 2019 Jake Riggs, Brethren 2018 Brett Zimmerman, Frankfort 2017 Joey Muzljakovic, TC St. Francis 2016 Alex Strickland, TC West 2015 Jordan Swiss, Petoskey 2014 Thomas Waning, Glen Lake