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With 2024 now in the past, Prep Baseball Michigan is eagerly anticipating bringing the state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2025. Starting in February, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2025 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2025 Team Preview, click here.

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2025 Spring Team Preview: Beal City

MOUNT PLEASANT - A three-peat will be a tough task for Beal City after losing six of nine starters from last year’s state championship team.

“The keys for us will be pitching and how quickly we can pick things up,” explained head coach Brad Antcliff, who enters his 13th season as head coach of the Aggies with a 375-78-5 overall record. “We need to relax and just play.”

It was a dominating 2024 season for Beal City, which won the Division 4 state finals 10-0 over Norway behind a no-hitter from Cayden Smith after Josh Wilson did not permit an earned run in a 5-1 semifinal victory over Maple Valley.

Both of those pitchers have graduated, however, Smith now playing at Central Michigan. That means Owen McKenny and Blake Walcutt will need to pick it up on the mound after each threw 20-plus innings a year ago. McKenny, a Hope College commit, was 4-1 with 35 strikeouts in 20.1 frames and a 3.79 ERA while Walcutt was 2-1 with 25 Ks in 20.2 innings with a 4.07 ERA.

“We return a few players that have logged a lot of innings, but we will be young as well,” pointed out Antcliff, who has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Smith (10-0, 0.57 ERA, 61.2 innings, 112 strikeouts) and Wilson (8-3, 2.30 ERA, 51.2 innings, 54 Ks), last year’s one-two punch on the mound.

Cuyler Smith, the 14th-rated sophomore shortstop in Michigan, did not allow an earned run in 5.1 innings and is being counted on to play a much bigger role this season. 

McKenny, the 40th-ranked senior shortstop in Michigan, is expected to lead the way at the plate after hitting .369 with 51 runs, 35 RBIs, 28 walks and 33 stolen bases last year while batting in the two-hole. Walcott, a junior, carried a .341 average while scoring 35 runs.

Senior Cole Tilmann rounds out the starters back after hitting. 265 with 23 runs last season. 

Junior Garrison Zuker, an all-state defensive back in football, returns after hitting .412 in 17 at-bats in 2024 with sophomore Eric Elias, who had three hits in six ABs last year, another player being counted on this season.

But the holes are big, starting with Smith, a member of the All-State Dream team after hitting .443 with 56 runs scored. Wilson, a three-time all-state first baseman, batted .449 and must also be replaced along with center fielder Jack Fussman, a two-time all-state player who hit .400 with 46 runs and 45 RBIs. Catcher Jake Gauthier, right fielder Bennett Gilde and third baseman Lane Gross are other regulars gone from a 32-6 team. Gauthier finished with a .417 average last season, Gilde .295 and Gross, who is now playing football at Adrian, .404.

“We have tough-nosed kids that love to compete,” Antcliff said in describing a program that has captured six state championships, 1993, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2023 and 2024.

As for winning another league title, Antcliff points to Evart, McBain and Pine River as other top contenders.

“We have a hard-working group that loves to compete,” Antcliff said. “Our goal is to always win the conference and make a postseason run.”

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