TITAN OF A HITTER: Local coach Scheffer inducted into UD-M Hall of Fame

Lawrence Scheffer is pictured with his University of Detroit Mercy Athletic Hall of Fame plaque.
During his prodigious baseball career at the University of Detroit-Mercy, Westland native Lawrence Scheffer once launched a home run so far, the ball bounced off the wall of the UD-M field house and back onto the diamond.
The long-distance tater was one of just 33 Scheffer hit during his illustrious collegiate career — a number that places him third all-time in homers for the program that was sadly shuttered in 2004 due to budget cuts.
Scheffer, who has been a successful high school baseball coach in metro Detroit for close to two decades, was inducted into the University of Detroit-Mercy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized as one of the best players to ever play for a great program,” said Scheffer, who played minor league baseball following his successful stint at UD-M. “I played for some great coaches — including the legendary Bob Miller — and with some amazing teammates.”
Wants to see Titans program restored
Scheffer admitted he was saddened by the elimination of the Titans’ baseball program in 2004.

“I have told the school’s leadership that I will do anything they need me to do to help restore the baseball program,” said Scheffer.
Included in Scheffer’s Hall of Fame introduction was this: “One of the most feared hitters to wear a Titan uniform, Lawrence Scheffer was a three-time All-MCC selection, including First Team as a junior and senior, and was also tabbed All-Region as a senior.”
Scheffer is tied for first in school history with 50 doubles and is third in home runs and RBI (154).
The Hall of Famer racked up Titan single-season records in slugging percentage (.792), home runs (18), total bases (137) and is third in RBI (58). He hit a robust .320 each of his last three seasons at UD-M, including .370 as a senior.

Proud dad
The father of former Plymouth High School two-sport standout Austin, Scheffer has been a successful varsity head baseball coach for the past 10-plus seasons at his alma mater Westland John Glenn, where he crafted a 117-77 record, and Livonia Churchill, where he recently led the Chargers to the KLAA East Division title.
While a player at Westland John Glenn, the Scheffer brothers (Lawrence and Aaron) led the Rockets to the 1991 Western Lakes Conference title — the last time John Glenn has captured a conference title.
Following a stellar minor league baseball career, Aaron Scheffer pitched briefly for the Seattle Mariners.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
