The Hope College baseball team closed the chapter on the 2024 season on Saturday, along with the successful and impactful coaching career of Stu Fritz.

The Flying Dutchmen lost to Adrian College, 8-3, in the MIAA Tournament title round on Saturday at Kalamazoo College to finish with a 22-20 overall record.

The game marked the 1,164th and final one for Fritz, who is retiring as a coach and professor of kinesiology.

"My heart is full. I leave at this time having had the honor to coach at an incredible institution and walk alongside so many fantastic young men through our baseball and football programs, specifically," Fritz said when he announced his retirement in January. "Victories on the field have been fulfilling, but more importantly, seeing players victorious in their lives as men has been my wife Carol's and my biggest blessing."

Over 31 seasons, Fritz guided the Flying Dutchmen baseball program to a 674-500-3 overall record (.580) and 10 MIAA regular-season championships. 

Hope's longest-tenured and most successful baseball coach led the Flying Dutchmen to a 453-247 record in MIAA play (.647).

Fritz mentored thousands as a coach and a professor whose specialty was assessing future physical educators. He also served as assistant football coach for 17 seasons and as president of the American Baseball Coaches Association

On Saturday, Hope needed to win twice to capture the tournament title. Adrian (29-14) did not let the Flying Dutchmen repeat the same success on the mound they had while throwing back-to-back, complete-game shutouts during Friday's elimination rounds against Alma College and Kalamazoo.

The Bulldogs jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, then erupted for a five-run second that chased starter Graham O'Gorman (Champaign, Illinois / Champaign Central HS) after just 1.1 innings.

AJ Miranda led Adrian's 12-hit attack by going 4-for-4 with two RBIs.

Junior third baseman Al Money (Midland, Michigan / Midland) cut Adrian's lead to 7-1 in the fifth when he beat out an Adrian double-play attempt and allowed senior shortstop Devin Meeuwsen (Rockford, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) to score.

In the sixth, senior first baseman Owen Krizan (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) scored when Adrian rightfielder Linken Hayward misplayed a single from senior catcher Andrew Pickett (Carmel, Indiana / Brebeuf Jesuit Prep).

The two teams traded runs in the seventh. Money scored on an RBI double to right from sophomore rightfielder Jace DeMann (Byron Center, Michigan / South Christian).

Watch Stu Fritz's talk at Hope College chapel