KCC baseball sweeps Ancilla, Head Coach Laskovy gets 500th career win

KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy holds his hands up during a game.

The Kellogg Community College baseball team completed a four-game sweep of conference opponent Ancilla College this weekend, with a game-two mercy-rule win that gave Head KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy his 500th career win with the Bruins.

The 500-win milestone is the result of more than two decades of involvement with the KCC baseball program, including 15 years as head coach, leading the Bruins to several conference, state and National Junior College Athletic Association World Series appearances. Laskovy has also won several coach-of-the-year awards at every level of the game.

Congratulations Coach Laskovy!

Results from each of last week’s games against Ancilla follow.

Game 1, Friday, April 30 at home: KCC 3, Ancilla 0

Freshman pitcher Zach Marshall (Rockford/Rockford High School) pitched seven innings for the win in game one of the series, allowing just two hits. Leading the Bruins on offense were freshman infielder Hilario DeLaPaz (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Central High School), who went 1-2 with an RBI, and freshman infielder Justin Ratliff (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), who went 1-3 with an RBI.

Game 2, Friday, April 30 at home: KCC 10, Ancilla 0

Freshman Carter Woody (Syracuse, Indiana/Wawasee High School) threw a no-hitter in the five-inning game two to assist Coach Laskovy to his 500th win, striking out six as the Bruins mercy-ruled the Chargers.

KCC was led on offense in game two by sophomore infielder Connor Hnilo (Caledonia/Caledonia High School), who went 2-3 with three runs; freshman outfielder Tate Peterson (Grandville/Grandville High School), who went 2-2 with an RBI; sophomore Connor Brawley (Dowagiac/Lakeshore High School), who went 2-3 with two RBIs; and DeLaPaz, who went 2-3 with an RBI.

Game 3, Sunday, May 2, away: KCC 7, Ancilla 2

Freshman Al Thorington (Pinckney/Pinckney High School) pitched five innings for the win in the third game of the series, striking out 10. At the plate for the Bruins in game three, freshman outfielder Kyle Van Liere (Mattawan/Mattawan High School) went 3-4 including two RBIs, a home run and a double, while Brawley went 3-3 with two RBIs and two doubles.

Game 4, Sunday, May 2, away: KCC 12, Ancilla 6

Freshman Ashton Potts (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School) picked up the win in game four, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out three. At the plate for the the Bruins in game four, Peterson went 2-5 with four RBIs and a home run; Van Liere went 2-4 with two RBIs and a home run; and Hnilo went 2-4 with two RBIs and a double.

Prior to the team’s sweep of Ancilla, the Bruins split a home doubleheader against Grand Rapids Community College on April 27, dropping game one 18-3 but coming back for an 8-5 win in game two.

Up Next

The last week’s results leave the Bruins with a 15-7 conference record and a 25-9 record overall.

The team plays next beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, May 7, against conference opponent Mid-Michigan College in what could be the Bruins’ final home games of the season at Bailey Park in Battle Creek. All home games are free and open to the public.

For more information about KCC’s baseball team, including a full schedule, roster and links to official team and player photos available for download by fans and the press, visit www.kellogg.edu/baseball.

Head KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy can be reached at laskovye@kellogg.edu or 269-965-3931 ext. 2536.