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Division 3 Team Of The Week: Week 3 - Blissfield

BLISSFIELD - Winning is nothing new to Larry Tuttle. The long-time head coach, who has been in charge of the Blissfield program since the 1968 season, has his squad off to another strong start this year with a 14-1 record, earning the Royals Prep Baseball Report Division 3 Team of the Week accolades.

Two wins each over Ida (13-1 and 17-11) and Sand Creek (18-11, 13-1) last week also his Tuttle’s win total for his career at 1,311.

“It’s about the program,” Tuttle said in regard to approaching the all-time state mark of 1,315. “That’s the reason where we’re at. It’s about the ballclub. They’re the ones that win games, I’m the one losing them.”

A five-man senior class, led by Bowling Green commits Gavin Ganun and Zack Horky, is a big reason why Blissfield has a promising outlook when it comes to the postseason in 2021. Ganun, the fifth-rated 2021 outfielder in Michigan, is hitting .488 out of the leadoff spot with four home runs and 19 RBIs. Horky, the second-ranked senior catcher in the state, has a .429 average in the two-spot of the batting order with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 20 RBIs.

Senior Ty Wyman gives Tuttle another future college athlete with basketball on the horizon. The three-hole hitting shortstop is averaging.383 with three homers and 21 runs batted in.

“They all lettered as freshmen,” Tuttle noted about the trio. “They know the game and understand the game.”

Each also pitches with Ganun, who has played second base most of the season, the leader with a 4-0 record and 1.52 ERA. Wyman is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA while Horky has also seen time on the mound when Tuttle pulls him out from behind the plate.

“They have really stepped it up on the hill as far as giving us pitching depth,” related Tuttle.

Senior Nolan Savich, a Glen Oaks College commit who plays third base, shortstop and second base, gives Blissfield another solid arm with more help coming from junior left-hander Brenden Holland, who is 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA.

“Our pitching has kept us in games up to this point and our hitting has improved the last couple weeks,” Tuttle said. “But defense is our strong point. It’s helped hold us in most of our games.”

Blissfield has a .940 fielding percentage to date with 28 errors in 15 games, six miscues coming in one game.

“Two errors or less is one of the goals we shoot for,” Tuttle pointed out.

A fifth senior, Scott Jackson, is another upperclassman helping the Royals overcome inexperience from missing the 2020 season.

“Losing a year’s experience has really affected the quality of baseball around this part of the state,” Tuttle explained. “Our only guys with experience are seniors who were playing when they were sophomores. But I’m pleased with the underclassmen and the way they are coming around and playing the game,”

Big tests are ahead this week with Ottawa Hills on tap Wednesday while an important league doubleheader is slated for Thursday with Clinton. A twinbill against Belleville caps off the week on Saturday.

“The biggest key for us is going to be defense and pitching,” Tuttle said. “Normally in high school baseball you can score runs. More than 50 percent of my wins are due to walks, errors and hit-by-pitch. It’s not often you get three straight hits. So what we need to do is continue playing defense and, hopefully, our pitching holds up. We know we can score runs.”

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