Harrison Township

L’Anse Creuse baseball team’s season ends in 5-0 loss to Anchor Bay

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Erin Sanchez Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrapped up the season with a regional semifinal loss. Pictured is senior pitcher Tyler Phillips. Photo by Erin Sanchez Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrapped up the season with a regional semifinal loss. Pictured is senior pitcher Tyler Phillips.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse baseball coach Bob Walmsley didn’t mince words about what led to his team’s 5-2 loss to Anchor Bay June 9 at L’Anse Creuse in a Division 1 regional semifinal.

“You have to hit the ball. It’s that simple,” Walmsley said of the Lancers Michigan High School Athletic Association playoff setback.

L’Anse Creuse (26-12) managed just four hits in the regional semifinal. Two of those hits came during a seventh-inning rally that saw the Lancers score their two runs and load the bases before back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and the game.

Senior center fielder Raleigh Wilson said he liked the fight his team showed in its final at-bat. He said being down 5-0 late in a game is a tough hole for a team to dig itself out of.

“Being on this team has meant a lot to me,” senior captain and four-year varsity player Jesse McKinney said. “I’ve learned a lot about so many things. I wish it wasn’t over.”

Walmsley said he and his teammates hope to get past that point next season. He believes they have a shot because 15 of 23 players could return for 2013.

“It’s too early to tell exactly how we’ll do next year, but I think we’ll have a pretty good team,” Walmsley said. “We set a goal to win a district title, and we did that. After that, anything can happen.”

In winning a D-1 district crown, L’Anse Creuse knocked off Roseville 4-1 June 4 after inclement weather pushed the games back a couple of days.

On its way to the final, L’Anse Creuse bested St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 11-9 May 29 in a district quarterfinal before downing St. Clair Shores Lakeview 3-1 June 4 in a district semifinal.
 

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.