In 1995, an exceptional coach named Dave Ray saw the need for travel baseball in the Novi area and founded the Novi Heat. Our first team made history by winning the North Central US Regional in Minnesota and earning a spot in the 12U AABC World Series in Puerto Rico, ranking among the top 8 teams in the country out of over 2000. Competing against the best in the world, this team set the stage for a tradition of excellence that continues today.
Under Dave Ray’s leadership, the Novi Heat consistently succeeded in top tournaments nationwide. Following Dave’s initial success, Doug Harrington and John Slack each served as Directors, expanding the program to include more age groups from 9U to 14U. The Novi Heat teams continued to excel locally, regionally, and nationally.
In the early 2000s, Craig Bonnell coached teams that consistently placed or won championships for six consecutive years, including a top 3 finish in the CABA National Championship and a top 5 finish in the AABC World Series. Teams led by Rick Green (current Novi HS Varsity Coach) and Joe O’Connor also reached the finals in the World Series, sending nine players to NCAA college baseball. Tom Estfan took over in 2005, leading the Novi Heat to compete at the highest levels, including a state runner-up finish at the USSSA Open State Tournament.
Dave Beaton served as Novi Heat Director from 2006 to 2014. By 2009, his teams had won four out of five KVBSA Division championships, swept four tournament championships at 10U, and claimed six championships and five runner-up titles at the AAA or Major level during the 11U-13U years. His tenure saw an impressive 194 victories and a 75% overall winning percentage over five years, marking some of the highest accomplishments for community travel baseball in Michigan.
Ken Perpich took over as Novi Heat Director in 2014. Under his leadership, the program continued to thrive. In 2016, an 11U team won the Youth Nationals tournament in Kentucky and the USSSA AA World Series in Canton. In 2017, our 12U Gold Novi Heat team went 6-0 in pool play at Cooperstown Dreams Park, earning the #11 seed out of 104 teams. In 2021, we sent three teams to Cooperstown All Star Village, with all teams performing exceptionally well in bracket play.
In 2021, Coach Ben Abler’s team earned the #6 overall seed at Cooperstown, the highest ever for any Heat team, with outstanding pitching and defense. At 13U, Coach Abler’s team won the USSSA AA State Championship and finished the season ranked #1 in the state and #6 in the country.
In 2023, Novi High School won the Division 1 State Championship, featuring 16 former Novi Heat players who had learned the game the right way with our core values: Heart, Effort, Attitude, and Team. All three captains from this team are now playing in college.
Over the years, the Novi Heat baseball program has continued to grow and improve. We have established a board of directors, acquired a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility, conducted annual coaches clinics with top area coaches and college players, and offered extensive training and development opportunities for our players. Our Gold level teams have competed at the national level for several years.
Founded in 1995, the Novi Heat is built on the core values of Heart, Effort, Attitude, and Team. More than 20 years later, these values remain strong throughout our organization, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for many years to come. Join the Novi Heat family and be part of a legacy of success!