There's something special happening in Stockbridge.
"It's like I feel a fire starting to kick in with them," said head coach Chris Robinson.
The Panthers are 18-11 overall, which is easily the best record anyone on this team can remember.
Helping spark the turnaround is freshman Carson Robinson.
Carson was born without a left hand, but baseball is in his family's blood and it definitely didn't skip a generation.
"My dad played at a high level and my grandpa was a scout for the Los Angeles Angels and played for the Padres," Carson said. "I started when I was about seven and then it all clicked. It's been pretty much my life since then."
Though he plays competitive travel ball, this year is actually Carson's first for the school. But he's taken the prep scene by storm, ranking at the top of virtually every pitching category in Mid-Michigan, with no plans of letting up.
"It motivates me to be better. I want to beat the guy that's below me or above me. I want to exceed and be better than him."
Carson's never viewed having one hand as an ailment. That's just how it's been his entire life.
But it does mean doing things a little bit differently. He's had a terrific support staff including his dad, who is a former pitcher and doubles as his coach.
"The grips, the pitches, the locations, we work on that constantly and he's finally starting to listen to me, But the way he does everything, I mean I couldn't teach him that, with the glove transition and everything," Chris Robinson said, referring to the way his son begins with his glove on his left forearm, pitches the ball and slides his right hand into the glove.
The maneuver might remind you of another one-handed pitcher: Flint's Jim Abbott, who spent ten years in the Majors and threw a no-hitter in 1993.
Carson's not met Abbott, but he has impacted his baseball life. It started when Carson's mom reached out at an early age.
"She got in contact with the right people and he gave us tips, gave us drills to work with him on," Chris said. "It was amazing and we didn't think it would happen, but thank God it did."
"He'd given me some drills to do, Carson added. "I got this tennis ball to throw up against the garage. I didn't stop until I got it. That's one thing about me, I don't stop until I get it."
It's no surprise it's Abbott who he models his game after.
"If I have extra time in school or at lunch or if I'm bored, I'll just pull up videos of him on YouTube and just watch. See what we have in common and see what's different. That's who I compare myself to."
Carson is still a freshman and has his whole high school career ahead of him, but he did say he'd love to throw for the University of Michigan, the same school where Jim Abbott's number is retired.
As for the remainder of his freshman season, he and his coach say they think this Stockbridge team has the talent to win a district title
