Tecumseh 2026 baseball season ends with regional title game appearance
· Yahoo Sports
TECUMSEH — A combination of dominant pitching, timely hitting and experienced leadership helped Tecumseh put together one of its strongest seasons in recent years in 2026.
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Under coach SEC White Coach of the Year Tom Bullinger, the Indians finished 24-11 overall, capturing the Southeastern Conference White Division title for the first time since 2022 and earning their first district championship since 2021, advancing all the way to the Division 2 regional final.
Tecumseh’s postseason run was fueled by a veteran core that delivered in key moments, led by all-region selections Rocco Williams and Connor Bullinger.
The Indians opened district play with a statement win over rival Adrian, blanking the Maples 7-0 in the semifinals. Tecumseh broke the game open with a six-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run single from Kyle Barden. Austin Kane added a base hit that turned into a run during the rally, and a wild pitch scored two more runs.
Williams controlled the game on the mound, tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout. He struck out four, threw 55 strikes on 77 pitches and kept Adrian off balance throughout.
Tecumseh followed with an 11-0, run-rule win over Milan in the Division 2, District 51 championship game. Williams again led the charge, going deep and finishing with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Jeremy Bennett added two hits, including a double, and scored twice, while Zeke Schmidt drove in two runs and Logan Ware scored twice. Dirk Ysassi delivered a strong start, pitching five shutout innings while allowing two hits and striking out two.
The Indians carried that momentum into the regional semifinals, edging New Boston Huron 4-3. Williams went the distance once again, allowing one earned run and striking out three while fending off a late rally.
Tecumseh used a two-run seventh inning to secure the win and advance to the regional final. Williams tripled and drove in a run while also scoring, Bullinger added a run, and Bennett and Chance Gormley each recorded two steals. Schmidt and Lex Glover each contributed an RBI in the victory.
The season came to an end in the regional championship game at Eastern Michigan University, where Tecumseh fell in extra innings to Dearborn Divine Child on a walk-off in the eighth inning.
Ysassi turned in a strong outing in the finale, pitching seven innings while allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. Avery Kane worked the eighth inning, allowing one earned run. At the plate, Cruz Torres had two hits and scored in the third inning on a Bullinger RBI, while Schmidt, Glover, Williams, Bullinger and Bennett all contributed offensively throughout the game.
Tecumseh’s success was built on both individual accolades and team depth. Bullinger and Williams earned both all-region and all-district honors, while Schmidt, Glover, Williams, Bullinger and Bennett were named first-team all-league.
Ware, Ysassi, Bryce Radant and Kyle Barden each received honorable mention recognition.
Williams anchored the pitching staff with a standout season, recording seven reported wins with 55 strikeouts. He posted a 1.007 ERA and a 1.068 WHIP while also leading the team offensively with a .580 slugging percentage. He totaled 33 hits, including 12 extra-base hits and a home run, while driving in 35 runs, scoring 30 and stealing 29 bases. Williams also recorded a no-hitter in April.
Bullinger paced the offense with a .394 batting average, collecting a team-high 41 hits while also hitting two home runs and leading Tecumseh with 33 stolen bases.
Bennett added a home run and finished with 29 hits, 30 runs and 31 stolen bases, along with 12 extra-base hits. Glover contributed 27 hits and scored 22 runs, while Schmidt added 23 hits, 20 runs and 20 RBIs. Kane produced 17 hits and 16 RBIs to go with a home run.
Barden recorded 26 hits and anchored the defense with a team-high 140 putouts, while Kane followed with 135 and Sam Abbot added 50. Kane also threw out 11 base runners from behind the plate.
The Indians were strong defensively as well, turning multiple double plays throughout the season. Williams and Barden each had four, Bullinger recorded three, and Torres and Glover added two apiece.
On the mound, Ysassi and Ben Andrews provided key depth behind Williams, each collecting at least four wins and 25 strikeouts.
Tecumseh graduates a large senior class, including Bullinger, Bennett, Williams, Ware, Kane, Radant, Max Roehrig and Ysassi.
Despite the losses, the 2026 season stands as one of the program’s strongest in recent memory, highlighted by a conference title, a district championship and a deep postseason run that came just one win shy of a regional crown.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Tecumseh baseball closes 2026 with district title and regionals