Algonac baseball is 'hungry' after last season's Division 3 state runner-up finish

ALGONAC — During the past two seasons, the Algonac baseball team has accomplished more than most programs have in their existence.

It all started with the Muskrats' first-ever regional title in 2022. Then came 2023, which saw everything from a preseason No. 1 ranking to their long-awaited debut at McLane Baseball Stadium in East Lansing at the state finals.

Yet Algonac's quest for the ultimate accolade — a state championship — ended with a 7-1 loss to Bridgman in the Division 3 final.

Ten months have passed since then and high school baseball is back. If logical progression exists in sports, surely, this should be the year the Muskrats reach the mountain top, right?

Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, it's time for them to start climbing.

"Our focus, first and foremost, is the (Blue Water Area Conference)," Algonac coach Scott Thaler said. "And doing well in the BWAC. After that, it's just trying to win every single game. If that's district or regional (play), that's great.

"But the underlying part of it is that our seniors are hungry. They want to get back (to the state final). We have four captains that are seniors this year. I talked to them, after the (state final), and basically put the ownership on them. I said, 'It's your guys' team now. You guys will take us as far as we go next year.' "

"That state championship loss definietely pushes us," senior pitcher Josh Kasner said. "But at the same time, we know we're not the same team as last year. We have a lot of new kids and everybody has to step up. So, we want to get back there. But we realize we're a whole different team this year."

The Muskrats are 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the BWAC entering Thursday. Yes, this group is much younger than last year's squad that finished 37-4. But that's okay, because Algonac isn't short on star power.

"We still have two of the best pitchers in (Division 3)," said sophomore outfielder Cole Thaler, who is also Scott's son. "And we have good senior leadership."

It's hard to argue with those claims, specifically the former, because Cole is referring to Kasner and junior pitcher Bryce Simpson.

Kasner, a University of Michigan signee, was named to Division 3 All-State First Team by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) in 2023.

MORE: 22 baseball players to watch in the Blue Water Area this season

He was also the hero of last year's state semifinal against Lansing Catholic, which Algonac won 4-1. In addition to throwing a complete game with seven strikeouts, the righty also hit the go-ahead, three-run homer in the third inning.

Following Kasner in the rotation is Simpson, a left-handed pitcher who burst onto the scene into 2023. As Scott Thaler told the Times Herald earlier this month, the situation is "never too big" for the junior. Simpson was named to the St. Clair All-County team last season and received a BWAC All-Conference honorable mention.

"We have most of our pitching back," Kasner said. "So that should help us. Especially in close games at the end of the year."

Lessons learned from a deep postseason run should aide the Muskrats as well.

"Even though we had to have some juniors step up this year, the kids that we have returning — seven of them played in that championship game," Scott Thaler said. "Six of them started ... so they have that experience."

One of those seven was Cole Thaler, who put the experience to use Monday against Armada. It was his walk-off single in the seventh inning that gave Algonac a 4-3 victory.

"I just knew I had to do my job and put the ball in play," Cole Thaler said.

A job well done. And yet, the Muskrats still have a lot to do.

"I'm big with defense," Scott Thaler said. "I think our defense has let us down these first couple weeks. That's what we really harp on here is baserunning and defense. And that's been our weak point these first couple weeks. So I want to make sure that gets dialed in. Because defense is going to win you a lot of ball games."

Seven of Algonac's 10 games have been decided by two runs or less. The team is 5-2 in those matchups and 3-0 when the difference is one run.

That's a stressful way to win, especially from a coach's point of view. But these Muskrats, like their predecessors, seem to thrive under pressure.

"It's their resiliency," Scott Thaler said. "They find a way to get it done. Even though it's a little bit late (in the game) for my taste, they find a way to get it done."

Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendenWelper.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Algonac baseball is 'hungry' after Division 3 state runner-up finish