John Raffel
Sports Scene
Beal City and Shepherd were each two wins shy of a three-peat state title bid last season.
Both baseball teams make no secret of the fact that they’d like another shot at getting a state crown.
Beal City was Division 4 state champ and Shepherd was Division 3 state champ in 2009 and 2010. Both schools lost in the state semifinals a year ago.
Coach Brad Antcliff’s Beal City team has gotten off to a strong start,coming off a season in which it lost four starters. But five starters return from a team that lost 5-1 to University Liggett School in the semifinals.
“We graduated Brandon Holsworth, our No. 1 pitcher, a 12-game winner,” Antcliff noted. “We still return Ryan Marshall who did well as a sophomore. Drew Bechtel is back for his fourth year and is our starting catcher. Ty Rollin, a sophomore, brings us some experience from the JVs.
“Hopefully we can continue to have a good program.”
Bechtel, who batted .449 last season, feels that “this year’s team has all the potential to be [as strong] as we’ve been the last three years. We’re young, but a lot of guys have experience. We have the talent to do the same amount of damage as we have the last few years.”
The key is for the pitching staff to throw strikes “and let the defense work for them,” Antcliff said.
It’s a long season, but Antcliff admits that the team wants to set itself up for a strong June.
“We just want to get better every day, but it’s always in the back of our heads,” he said. “Any team in the state of Michigan wants to make trip to Battle Creek [for the state finals.] That’s what it’s all about. We need to get better every day. That’s our main focus right now.”
Bechtel acknowledged that his team is hungry.
“We weren’t happy with what happened last year,” he said. “It was bittersweet to make it there. Our goal is to win a state title. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we expect to do. We want to make a long run in the tournament and play baseball how we should.”
He had a great season in 2011, but Bechtel wants to be even better this season.
“I want to be a leader,” he said. “With the new bats, it’s hard to tell what your numbers might be. Right now, I’m in the leadoff spot. I want to help our team win. As long as we win, nothing else matters.”
The new bats “are similar to a wood bat,” Bechtel noted.
Defensively, he wants to work with the pitchers and help the Aggies have a strong battery by the time playoffs come.
Bechtel will be playing Division I baseball for Oakland University. He committed last summer with the Golden Grizzlies.
“I like their coaching staff,” he said. “I felt I’d have a shot right away to contribute.”
SHEPHERD
The Bluejays, under coach Jack Nartker, got off to a 4-0 start. Like Beal City, they won the 2009 and 2010 titles before falling in the semifinals a year ago.
“I think [prospects] are pretty good,” Nartker said. “We have 10 seniors. We have quite a few kids back from last year. We’ve only played four games but have only made three errors. I’ve been happy. We’ve beaten some pretty good teams. We’ve beaten Clare. So far so good.”
Chris Williams has been the team’s top hitter so far. It’s his third year on the varsity.
“He has signed with Muskegon Community College,” Nartker noted. “He plays first base when he’s not pitching.”
Williams remembers the mood of the squad when it lost in the semifinals.
“A lot of us were disappointed,” he said, “and getting shutout for the first time.”
Shepherd lost in the semifinals to Bridgman 3-0. But it’s a new season.
“We have lots of offense compared to last year,” Williams said. “We have a solid lineup. Pitching-wise, we have to get better. Defense, we’re just as good as last year.”
The key for the team will be pitching, Williams said.
“Our hitting is pretty good,” he said. “Scoring runs will be a key with the new bats. I haven’t seen a difference between the new and old bats. We’ve been hitting with a lot of power with the new bats.”
Avery Hohlbein is the team’s outstanding shortstop and another key player for Shepherd.
He’s in his second season and is figuring that the Bluejays could win as many as 30 games.
“Our pitching needs to get better,” Hohlbein said. “I have a lot more confidence than I did last year. I played summer ball. It helped me a lot. It’s made me that much better.”
The team is also sparked by leadoff hitter Derek Starks, who started at the end of his sophomore season.
The Bluejays definitely wouldn’t mind going after another state title.
“We’ve talked at the beginning of the year that’s there’s probably 15 to 20 teams that think they have a real chance to win. I would include this group in it. I think we have enough talent,” Nartker said.
“I have one junior right now. We’ll be a young team next year.”