Blissfield baseball sees tournament run end in regional final

Jun. 12—The No. 6-ranked Blissfield baseball team saw its solid season come to an end in the Division 3 regional title game, where the Royals lost 2-0 at second-ranked Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett on Saturday.

The Royals (35-7) mounted offensive threats in the second, third, and fifth innings, but could not come up with the key hit.

Junior left-hander Brenden Holland started for Blissfield and pitched a complete game. Holland held a potent Knights lineup without a run for the first six innings.

"He pitched very well," longtime Blissfield coach Larry Tuttle said. "He pitched out of a couple of jams. I'm very pleased with his performance."

Holland yielded seven hits and struck out two.

"He changed speeds and had a very good breaking ball," Tuttle said. "He toughed it out. He threw very well."

The Blissfield offense, which had scored an average of 14.3 runs per game in its three playoff wins, managed just three hits on Saturday. Seniors Gavin Ganun and Nolan Savich and sophomore Ty Cantrell had the hits for the Royals.

Liggett junior pitcher Kurt Barr struck out nine.

"We saw real good pitching," Tuttle said. "Their pitcher was outstanding. He was hitting 90 [mph]."

The Royals had their biggest threat in the bottom of the fifth when Cantrell singled and Ethan Stines was hit by a pitch. But Blissfield could not cash in as the game remained scoreless after five.

"That was our best chance," Tuttle said. "We had runners on first and second with the top of our order up. We just didn't get the big hit at the right time."

The game was scoreless through six innings before Liggett scored the game's only runs in the seventh, when Liggett doubled in two runs with two outs.

"We had a tough call in the seventh inning," Tuttle said. "We thought we had a double play. But the umpire called the guy safe at second."

Blissfield could not respond in the bottom half.

Holland avoided early trouble after giving up a double to start the game. Holland then struck out a batter and the Royals' defense ended the threat with a double play.

Savich singled in the second for the Royals, but Blissfield could not capitalize. Ganun singled in the third but was caught attempting to steal.

Holland did a masterful job to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, coaxing a pop-out to end the inning. Blissfield got out of another bases-loaded jam in the sixth with another inning-ending pop-out.

"[Holland] really learned how to pitch throughout the year," Tuttle said. "He did a fantastic job for us. He ended up being our top pitcher."

The normally reliable Blissfield defense turned two double plays, but the Royals made three errors.

Liggett, which was playing on its home field, scratched across two runs in the seventh to advance to the state quarterfinals. The Knights have won five state titles.

"We played on turf today, and that's their home field," Tuttle said. "We didn't play any games on turf. Our field is natural grass. That had a big bearing."

Blissfield also had to make an hour and 30-minute drive to play on the Knights' turf.

"We did an excellent job battling those forces," Tuttle said. "If we played them at our place, I like our chances."

The Royals, who were ranked as high as No. 3 in the state, won the league title in the competitive Lenawee County Athletic Association with a 13-1 record. Blissfield won a district title under Tuttle, who is Michigan's all-time wins leader (1,332).

Led by seniors Ganun, Zack Horky, and Ty Wyman, Blissfield had a 35-win season. The Royals, who have won seven state titles under Tuttle, reached the regional finals for the first time in 12 years.

"It's a great group of kids," Tuttle said.

Ganun and Horky will now play at Bowling Green State University. Ganun, a center fielder and pitcher, batted .452 with 79 runs scored, 20 doubles, 10 homers, and 42 runs batted in. Horky, a catcher, had a .453 average with 52 runs scored, 20 doubles, nine home runs, and 59 runs batted in.

Tuttle said his five seniors left a legacy.

"Their work ethic was something that rubbed off," he said. "That's a reflection of how important the sport is to them. The underclassmen see two kids going to Division I programs, and they see how hard these kids work. This senior class has been a real pleasure to work with and has been true representatives of our program. The five seniors are all 4.0 students and will make good citizens."

Tuttle, who wrapped up his 53rd season, said Blissfield baseball continues to produce winners on and off the field.

"The sport itself exemplifies how important baseball is in this small town," Tuttle said. "There have been a lot of kids that have gone on and become great citizens because of our program and the discipline that is instilled in them and the work ethic they have developed."

First Published June 12, 2021, 4:53pm