EAST LANSING — Rudyard had its postseason run end in the Division 4 state semifinals in a 10-3 loss to Riverview Gabriel Richard on Thursday.
The Bulldogs trailed by four entering the bottom of the sixth, but put together three runs to pull within one entering the seventh. Austin Warner, Tate Besteman and Brett Mayer all scored in the inning.
But in the final inning, Gabriel Richard went off to six runs to build a 7-run lead and ultimately win the game.
“It’s something that no one else can take away from us, what we’ve done and we’re still going to be talking to each other after high school. It’s not like it’s just going to drop off and it’s a family. It’s something that you’re just never going to forget,” Rudyard senior EJ Suggitt said.
The Bulldogs end the season with 28 victories and only seven losses. They made their fourth state semifinal appearance in program history.
“Has there ever been a team in the U.P. that’s made it to three final fours — one in basketball, one in football and one in baseball? Name one. I can’t,” Rudyard head coach Billy Mitchell said. “And that makes me so proud of those guys. It makes me so proud of our school and of our programs in general.”
Riverview Gabriel Richard will face Beal City on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the Division 4 state championship.
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