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2023 Spring Team Preview: Blissfield

BLISSFIELD - Blissfield finished with a 23-14 record in 2022, the first season after Eric Schmidt replaced a legend as head coach of the Royals.

“I just tried to put my own stamp on things,” Schmidt reflected on taking over for Larry Tuttle, the winningest coach in Michigan history who won 1,332 games since taking over the program in 1968. “It wasn’t about reinventing the wheel, I just wanted to put my spin on it and bring in some new energy.”

Schmidt, who was pitching coach at Blissfield for five years prior to taking over the program, believes the 2023 season can be a good one.

“We lost some pieces that will be tough to replace in general, but we have a lot back that I’m excited about,” Schmidt said. “We had three sophomores, four juniors and a freshman in the mix last year, so getting that year under their belts will help. The team before that was stacked, so last year served as a learning curve. This year we hope to reap the rewards.”

It will start on the mound according to Schmidt.

“We’re deep in pitching this year,” Schmidt noted. “We don’t have that true ace, but we have two or three gop guys and a lot that will give us quality innings. We should be deep and not have to worry about running pitch counts up.”

Junior left-hander Jack Deatrick was 6-3 with a 2.60 ERA striking out 61 in 58 innings and is expected to be at a top of staff that lost ace Brenden Holland to graduation. Now at Lourdes University, the southpaw was 9-1 with a 1.05 ERA.

Junior Ethan Stines returns after going 4-4 with a 40 Ks in 36 innings while sophomore Blake Woods is also back after not permitting an earned run in seven innings on the mound.

“Our defense and pitching should be solid,” Schmidt related. “One thing I look forward to is that this team is tight. We have team chemistry and that’s a huge part of helping seniors succeed. A lot of kids will get chances to earn playing time and I look forward to the competitive environment to make everyone better.”

Gabe Jones, a Jackson College commit ranked 43rd among 2023 catchers in Michigan, is back to lead the Royals after hitting .458 with 17 doubles, three home runs, a .542 on-base percentage and a .700 slugging percentage.

Dove Eitzen, who had a .940 fielding percentage in 2022, returns at third base to anchor an infield that also returns senior shortstop Landon Duval. Junior Chet Meyer and Wood are contending for middle infield duties along with Duval.

“We’re trying to figure out what combination works the best,” noted Schmidt.

Deatrick, senior Zach Recker and sophomore Kipp Fisher, who showed power while hitting .259 last year, are potential players at first base for the Royals. Recker, the 24th-rated 2023 first baseman in Michigan, is a Glen Oaks commit.

Stines is back in center field following a .280 season with senior Ty Cantrell in left. A wide receiver football commit to Ohio Wesleyan, Cantrell batted .304 out of the leadoff spot with a .426 on-base percentage.

Junior Tyler Ganun, Meyer and Deatrick are others in the outfield mix, with Meyer, “our fastest kid” according to Schmidt, playing center when Stines is on the mound.

“The biggest key is our offensive production,” Schmidt said. “The top of our lineup will be good, but what will the entire lineup do? Our pitching and defense will be solid, but we will need to manufacture runs when we need to. That will be one determining factor to how successful we will be.”

Defending champion Onstead along with Clinton and Hudson are considered to be the top teams in the Lenawee County Athletic Association according to Schmidt, a league won 40 times by Blissfield under the direction of Tuttle, who also brought home seven state championships, 23 regional crowns and 33 district titles.

“Us four are likely the top contenders,” Schmidt concluded. “Last year was one of the most competitive years ever in the league from top to bottom and it looks the same this year.”

The season begins on March 23 against Whiteford before a spring break to Davenport, Fla, something not done by the Royals since Schmidt, a 2011 Blissfield grad, was a freshman.

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