On Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team defeated Alpena Community College, 17-6, 5-4, 5-4 and 10-0 at Veterans Field in Ossineke.
Game One
In the pitching department, sophomore right-handed pitcher Lucas McKinney got the start for GRCC in their first game on Friday, improving to 6-1 on the season, throwing four innings, two strikeouts and giving up six runs on three hits and six walks.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Andrew Pohlmann came into the game in relief for McKinney in the fifth inning, throwing two innings and three strikeouts, giving up no runs on one hit and three walks.
In the scoring department, after the Lumberjacks took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo homerun, GRCC freshman left fielder Ty Sandwick singled to shortstop in the second inning, allowing sophomore right fielder Aaron Bess to score, 1-1 Raiders.
Also in the second inning, freshman third-baseman Xavier Allen doubled down the left field line, scoring Sandwick, 2-1 Raiders. Once again, freshman second baseman Austin Gates singled to right field allowing Allen to score, 3-1 Raiders to end the second inning.
In the fourth inning, Gates doubled, allowing Sandwick to score, 4-1 Raiders. In the same inning, sophomore center-fielder Trevin Laming singled through the left side allowing Gates to score, 5-1 Raiders. Also in the fourth, freshman first baseman Camden Seth doubled to right center, allowing freshman shortstop Chad Fisher Jr., and Laming to score, 7-1 Raiders.
In the fifth inning after the Lumberjacks tacked on a pair of runs to cut the Raiders’ lead to 7-6, the Raiders answered back after sophomore designated hitter Dylan Nguyen homered to right center, making it 8-6 Raiders. Sandwick followed that up with a ground out to shortstop, allowing freshman pinch runner Collin Fridsma to score, 9-6 Raiders.
Unfortunately for the Lumberjacks, the Raiders would have an offensive clinic in the sixth inning as Fisher Jr. would single up the middle allowing Laming to score, 10-6 Raiders. Freshman catcher Joey Hysell also singled up the middle allowing Bess and Fisher Jr. to score, 12-6 Raiders. Sandwick joined the hitting party with a double to left center allowing Fridsma and Nguyen to score, 14-6 Raiders.
Also in the sixth, Gates would single through the right-side allowing Sandwick to score, 15-6 Raiders. Gates would then advance to second on a throwing error by the pitcher, allowing Allen to score, 16-6 Raiders. Fisher Jr. then singled, a fielding error by an infielder allowed Fisher Jr. to advance to second allowing Gates to score, 17-6 Raiders. 17-6 was the final score in six innings.
Game Two
Seth got the start as pitcher and threw seven innings and six strikeouts, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Logan VanSurksum came into the game in relief of Seth, improving to 2-1 on the season and throwing two innings, striking out two and giving up no runs on one hit and one walk.
In the third inning, the Raiders took a 1-0 lead thanks to a single to left field by Fisher Jr. allowing Allen to score. In the fourth inning, Sandwick singled to right field allowing Fridsma to score. 2-0 Raiders.
After the Lumberjacks scored four straight runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead, GRCC answered back in the fifth inning with a single to center field by Nguyen, scoring Fisher Jr., 4-3 Lumberjacks.
In the sixth, the Raiders tied the game after a single by Allen scored freshman first baseman Jacob Pitt, game was tied at 4.
In the ninth inning, the Raiders retook the lead after Fisher Jr. flew into a double play from center field, catcher, to pitcher, allowing Sandwick to score, 5-4 Raiders. GRCC won 5-4 in nine innings.
Game Three
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Colton Blankstrom got the start throwing seven innings and five strikeouts, giving up four runs on eight hits and no walks.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Thano Klett came in relief for Blankstrom, improving to 1-0 on the season and throwing one inning and one strikeout, giving up no runs on no hits and no walks.
After the Lumberjacks took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Raiders answered back with a groundout to third base by Nguyen that scored Fisher Jr., 2-1 Lumberjacks.
In the second inning, the Raiders tied the game 2-2 after Laming reached first base on a fielder’s choice by the shortstop, scoring Sandwick.
In the fifth inning, the Raiders took their first lead of the game as Bess homered to right center, 3-2 Raiders. Also in the fifth, Hysell singled to left field, allowing Nguyen to score, 4-2 Raiders.
After the Lumberjacks tied the game 4-4 in the seventh, the Raiders answered back in the eighth with a single to left field by Fisher Jr. allowing Gates to score, 5-4 Raiders. GRCC would win 5-4 in eight innings.
Game Four
Freshman right-handed pitcher Canyen Veldhouse improved to 5-1 on the season after throwing six innings, striking out nine and giving up no runs on four hits and one walk.
In the first inning, Nguyen doubled to center field, scoring Bess and Laming, 2-0 Raiders. Sanwick then singled through the left side allowing Nguyen to score, 3-0 Raiders. Pitt then singled to right field, scoring Fridsma, 4-0 Raiders. Also in the inning, Allen reached first base on a fielder’s choice by the second baseman, scoring Sandwick 5-0 Raiders. Then Gates singled to right field, scoring Allen, 6-0 Raiders.
In the second inning, Gates walked which allowed Sandwick to score 7-0 Raiders.
In the third, Sandwick singled to right center, allowing Bess to score, 8-0 Raiders.
In the fourth, Gates singled through the left side, scoring Allen, 9-0 Raiders.
In the sixth inning, Laming flew out to right center field, scoring Allen, 10-0 Raiders.
The Lumberjacks had no answers for the Raider hitting in this one as GRCC blanked Alpena 10-0.
Up next, now 23-10, 16-0 in the conference, GRCC will return home to face Kellogg Community College in a nine-inning game on Tuesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. at Belknap Park.
