Six Rudyard players receive MHSBCA All-State honors

RUDYARD — Six Rudyard players were recognized on the recent Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team.

Senior Brett Mayer landed Division 4 All-State First Team honors, while seniors EJ Suggitt (first base) and Tate Besteman (outfield) and sophomore Cam Peterson (infield) were voted to the All-State Second Team. Senior Austin Warner (catcher) and sophomore Aiden Bickel (infield) received honorable mention.

Rudyard won a district title, regional and quarterfinal, advancing to the state semifinals in Division 4 this season and finishing 28-7-1. The Bulldogs fell 10-3 against eventual state champion Gabriel Riverview Richard in the semifinals at Michigan State. 

“I was able to be at the All State meeting as a member of the MHSBCA board, but I did not have a vote,” Rudyard coach Billy Mitchell said. “To hear the four coaches on the All State committee talk about our players the way they did, it was very humbling. 

“As a team we put work in to help us get better,” Mitchell said. “We had 6 a.m. optional practices, lifted weights before practice and it all paid off. When you are named All State it’s not by accident. We were the only baseball team in the UP to have multiple players named First or Second Team All State. That says a lot about the tradition of success in our program.”

Mayer put together a 13-1 pitching record for the Bulldogs this season, with a 1.59 earned run average and 108 strikeouts. Suggitt compiled a batting average of .511 and led the team with 46 hits and seven home runs. Rudyard had many players with impressive batting averages as Besteman hit .379, Brett Mayer .375, Warner .357, Peterson .354  and Bickel .324.

Brett Mayer, Suggitt, Besteman, Peterson, Warner, Bickel and coach Mitchell also previously received All-Region and All-District honors. Rudyard sophomore outfielder Eli Sprague also was named to the all-District Team. 

Suggitt played in the the MHSBCA All-Star Game at Comerica Park Monday, while Mitchell was one of the coaches in the game.

Within the span of one week, Suggitt will have participated in three all-star game. He played in the U.P. All-Star Classic baseball game at St. Ignace on June 18, and in the MHSBCA All-Star baseball game Monday, and is scheduled to play in the U.P. All-Star Football Game Saturday, June 25 at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

There were two MHSBCA All-Star games this year at the 41st annual event, held at Comerica Park. The two games gave the players, who are all seniors, more time on the field and opportunities to shine. Suggitt played in the early game for the West Team and Mitchell was one of the coaches for the West. The West team won 5-0, and with a roster of 18, each player got two at-bats. Suggitt played first base and in his two at-bats he drew a walk, scored a run and struck out once.

“Coaching at Comerica Park was an amazing experience,” Mitchell said. “I tried to slow everything down and just soak it all in. I was joking around with the other coaches and told them I could have spent the whole night hitting pregame infield and outfield. The baseball talent in Michigan is at an all time high in my opinion.

“Coaching EJ one last time in the All Star Game is a special moment for me,” Mitchell said. “EJ has worked hard and deserved to be in the All Star Game. I am honored to share this special game in both of our careers. It’s a night we both will be telling stories about for a long time.”

Contact Sports Editor Rob Roos at rroos@sooeveningnews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @rroosTEN.