Rudyard's Baseball Season Ends At Semi's
Bulldogs Fall to Rangers in Division 4 Tourney
By David Latva

The Rudyard Bulldogs' "Field of Dreams" on the baseball diamond ended in the Division 4 semifinals as the Reading Rangers took the victory with a 6-3 win in Battle Creek Friday, June 15.

The Rangers, members of the Big 8 Conference and eventual state champions this year, scored three runs in the first inning before the Bulldogs pitching settled down and held Reading at bay during the next five innings.

Reading built a 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh before Rudyard answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, however, the Bulldogs' effort fell short.

Craig Wallis led the Bulldogs offense with two hits, while James Perry, Paul DeWeese, Ben Harter, and Brett VanSloten added single hits.

The Bulldogs completed their most successful season with a 19-8 overall record and reached the final four for the first time in the history of Rudyard high school baseball.

"This was not our best won-lost record, but after a 2-6 start, our pitchers cut down on the walks and our hitters starting hitting the ball," said Bulldogs Coach Ron VanSloten. "Before the season, I wrote down some goals and one was to reach Battle Creek for the final four."

Jon Norton is the only senior on the Bulldogs roster, and with a junior varsity program, Rudyard has the potential to be just as good next year, if not better.

"A lot of things have to fall in place to advance to the final four, but the group of athletes returning could reach those goals," said Coach VanSloten.

Coach VanSloten is in his 14th season with Rudyard varsity baseball and has groomed a strong program that includes for than 50 boys in the ages nine-to-11 division.

Rudyard Baseball Reaches

Milestone With Q-Final Win

Rudyard reached a school milestone with its 7-2 quarterfinal win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary Eagles in Gaylord Tuesday, June 12, becoming just the second Upper Peninsula team in the history of the state's baseball tournaments to reach the semifinals, which was a follow-up to Escanaba's advancement to Battle Creek in 2006.

The Bulldogs, 19-7 on the season, battled Reading (21-8) in one semifinal match-up while Allen Park (19-7) faced Climax Scott (29-4) in the second semifinal game.

Reading won the state championship with a 10-4 win over Allen Park.

Craig Wallis did not pitch during the regular season after suffering a rotator cuff injury, but the junior returned to the mound and was impressive, completing the game after allowing four hits, striking out eight.

The Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, as James Perry and Wallis recorded runs batted in (RBI) and increased the lead to 3-0 before the Eagles scored to cut it to 3-1 after four innings.

Rudyard built a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning and closed out the offense with two runs in the seventh inning as Paul DeWeese contributed two RBIs.

Bulldogs stats: James Perry and Craig Wallis, one hit, two runs, one RBI; Paul DeWeese, one hit, one RBI; Josh McCollum, one hit, two runs; Aaron Diepenhorst, one run; Jon Norton, one hit.

LaCoursiere, Wallis Pitch

Rudyard to Regional Title

The pitching combination of Josh LaCoursiere and Craig Wallis advanced Rudyard to the Division 4 regional championships with a 6- 2 victory over Rogers City and a 12-4 win against Central Lake at Johannesburg-Lewiston Saturday, June 9.

Bulldogs Down Hurons in

Rematch

With SAC Rival Rogers City

Rudyard led 4-0 after two innings before Straits Area Conference rival Rogers City answered with two runs to slice the margin to 4-2 after four innings, but the Bulldogs notched single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to post the win.

"This was a huge win for our program," said Coach VanSloten. "We lost a twinbill to the Hurons during the regular season and we felt then that, to advance along the tournament trail, we must defeat Rogers City."

Bulldogs Offense Explodes in

Regional

Win Against Central Lake

Rudyard captured its third regional title in five years with an eight-run win over Central Lake.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the second inning, as Josh McCollum earned two RBIs and Jon Norton added one RBI.

Rudyard established a 6-1 lead after three innings with RBIs from Peter Lawlor, Brent VanSloten, and Norton. The Trojans cut the lead to 7-4 before Wallis delivered a three-run home run in the sixth inning to ice the win.

Bulldogs stats: Craig Wallis, two hits, three runs, four RBIs; Jon Norton, two hits, two runs, two RBIs; Josh McCollum, one hit, two RBIs; James Perry, two hits; Peter Lawlor, one hit, one run, one RBI; Brent VanSloten, one hit, one RBI; Paul DeWeese, one run.

Honors For Rudyard Baseball

District Titles: 2003-04-05-06- 07

Regional Champions: 2003-04- 07

All-SAC: Craig Wallis, James Perry, Pete Lawlor, Jon Norton.

All-District: Craig Wallis, Josh McCollum, James Perry

Pete Lawlor, Jon Norton.

All-Region: Craig Wallis, James Perry, Josh McCollum.

All-State: Craig Wallis