Indian squeezed out of regional title

Tied 1-1 and in an extra inning at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division II regional championship baseball game at Carleton Airport on Saturday, June 8, Tecumseh’s season came to an abrupt end when Milan squeezed out a run to end the game with a 2-1 victory.The Big Reds came from behind after the Indians took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning by tying the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Indians stranded two base runners in the top of the eighth and Milan went on to win the game in the bottom of the frame after loading the bases and running a suicide squeeze for the game-winning run.Tecumseh head coach Tom Bullinger said he felt the Indians were the stronger team but emphasized, “We just couldn’t get any sort of rally going in the finals. Andrew [Wood] did a great job in keeping us in the game, we just couldn’t help him out with our offense.”Wood (6 1/3 ip, 1 run, 7 hits, 2 K’s, 0 BB) pitched until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Indians allowed a runner on base by error and Wood gave up a single that put runners on the corners when Tecumseh coach Bullinger replaced his left-handed starter with right-hander Jacob Britt (1ip, 1 run, 2 hits, 1 BB). Milan scored a run on a passed ball and closed out the seventh inning with a tied ball game.The Indians’ offense produced nine hits, led by Britt (2-for-4), Wood (2-for-4), Ben Vannatter (1-for-4, double, run) and Grant Anschuetz (1-for-3, RBI).Tecumseh easily beat Battle Creek Harper Creek 5-0 in the semifinal with Phil Carey (7 ip, 2 hits, 8 K’s, 1 BB) pitching his ninth win of the season (9-1).“Phil was outstanding on the mound again,” said Bullinger. “He works so fast and does a great job in keeping guys off balance.” Tecumseh recorded five hits. Vannatter (2-for-3, double, RBI, run), Britt (1-for-2, 2 RBI double), Eric Eldred (1-for-2, RBI) and Casey Hunt (1-for-3, RBI) each had hits.“It’s always hard to say goodbye when the season is over, especially when you have quality kids like we do, Bullinger said. “We have kids who work hard in the classroom and on the field. Our captains (Jacob [Britt], Spencer [Adams], and Eric [Eldred]) did a great job in leading by example.”Tecumseh finished its season with an overall record of 25-11.