Charger Football Recruit Korte Capping Stellar HS Baseball Career

Thursday, May 26, 2005
By Steve Vedder
The Grand Rapids Press

Of all the impressive career numbers he's amassed, there's one that sticks out like a 90 mph fastball for Catholic Central senior Tom Korte.

He's partial to the number because it measures not only ability but consistency, which if there is a legacy that Korte would like to leave behind after four extraordinary years on the Cougars baseball team it's that.

The number that sticks out to Korte is a remarkable .462 career average that makes him one of the top three dozen hitters ever to play Michigan high school baseball.

"Yeah, it's probably my batting average," Korte said. "Because the last four years have been pretty consistent. I've hit the ball well all those years -- that's what sticks out. I haven't been an up-and-down player."

Soon to be a four-time All-City third baseman, Korte, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 230 pounds, has been anything but that.

According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Web site, Korte's career .462 batting average in 364 at-bats ranks 25th on the all-time list regardless of class. It's also eighth in Division 2.

According to the Web site, no other West Michigan ballplayer even has a career mark of at least .450.

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