Photo Courtesy: Wayne State University

By: Kevin Piel 

ADRIAN, MI: After a lost 2020 campaign for the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League due to the coronavirus, the Michigan Monarchs will welcome new leadership in the dugout for the upcoming 2021 season. Monarchs owner Jim DeSana is excited to announce that Dominic Clementi was recently named the 12th skipper in Monarchs history.

Clementi currently works on Ryan Kelley’s staff at Wayne State University as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the baseball program. He is in his first season with the Warriors program in that role.

“I am thrilled to join the Monarchs organization and be a part of the growth and development of our team,” said Clementi. “I’m very thankful to Jim DeSana for allowing me to manage this squad and I’m very excited to see everyone on June 4th!”

Clementi is in his first year of coaching after graduating from the University of Michigan in the Fall of 2020. He finished up his bachelor’s degree while on the staff at Wayne State. Clementi majored in General Studies within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at Michigan.

Clementi was a star outfielder and designated hitter while lettering all four years with the Michigan baseball program. After swatting .409 in his first 18 collegiate games as a freshman, he led the Wolverines program and the entire Big Ten with a .368 batting average and a .485 on-base percentage. Clementi was honored with an ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region First Team selection and an All-Big Ten First Team selection for his efforts.

Clementi entered his Junior season as a Big Ten Conference Player to Watch at Michigan. He appeared in 38 games that season and in 15 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Clementi is a native of Hartland, Wisconsin. He held two varsity letters from his playing days at Arrowhead High School. He earned First Team All-Wisconsin honors, was two-time First Team All-Conference, and was part of a state runner-up squad.

Coach Clementi is super excited to see this 2021 Monarchs team on the diamond.

“I’m especially excited about this year’s group coming in,” said Clementi. “We have a big mix of homegrown guys along with players from all over the country and various programs. Being able to take bits and pieces from everyone’s background will serve us well in finding our identity and creating the most efficient and productive team.”

Coach Clementi and the Monarchs will open their season on the road on June 4th against a new GLSCL franchise, the Detroit Jet Box. The schedule will transition to the club’s home opener the following evening as the Monarchs tangle with the Muskegon Clippers at Siena Heights at 7:05 p.m.  

To keep up to date with your favorite baseball team, visit the Monarchs official website: http://lakeeriemonarchs.com . Be sure to follow the Monarchs on Twitter: @GLL_Monarchs, and on Facebook: /lakeeriemonarchs/.