Coach Brad Antcliff and his Beal City Aggies were close to their third state baseball title in the last five years.
But University Liggett School, making its third title-game appearance in the last three seasons, was not to be denied. It outlasted the Aggies 3-2 in eight innings in the Division 4 state championship game.
The Aggies ended the season at 35-3.
Antcliff’s seven-year record is 226-40. “I love these kids,” he said. “These kids will run through a wall. I love Beal City. These kids are awesome and work hard every day. That’s all I can ask.”
The Aggies posted Division 4 state titles in 2009 and 2010. The next two seasons were also outstanding, but Beal City wasn’t able to make it in to the title game. This year, it beat Glen Lake 15-0 on June 14 to get into the title game held June 15 at Brown Stadium in Battle Creek.
The Aggies had several chances to win, but the ball didn’t bounce their way. They left the bases loaded four times, including in the seventh and eighth innings.
“That was a fun baseball game to be a part of,” Antcliff said. “My kids better not hang their heads. That was awesome. They did what they needed to do to have a chance to win.”
“We’re both even-steven ballclubs, both well-coached,” said Knights coach Dan Cimini. “Both are great programs and are storied programs that have gotten here the last seven years. They should be super proud. I’m super proud to be able to play against a team and coach like that.”
The Aggies had a 1-0 lead midway through the game and trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. They tied it, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.
Late in the game, a pop fly that the Aggies couldn’t handle was key in Liggett’s offense. Antcliff, and others, thought that the infield fly rule should have been called, and he said he didn’t get an explanation. The umpires apparently ruled the pop fly was far enough from the infield not to be called.
“It’s going to hurt for awhile,” Antcliff said. “We knew they were good. We played a good baseball game.”
Beal City was 14-0 in league action and won the Highland Conference.
“What an awesome ride by these kids,” Antcliff said. “We went down to beat the defending state champs at Decatur [3-2 in the quarterfinals.] We just fell short today.”