The Kellogg Community College baseball team opened its season Sunday splitting a doubleheader with Ivy Tech Community College in Stevensville, dropping a rainy game one 3-2 and dominating game two 16-1.
Information about each game follows.
Game 1: Ivy Tech 3, KCC 2
Freshman pitchers Jayden Dentler (Allegan/Otsego High School) and Ben Hubert (Komoka, Ontario/Medway High School) led the Bruins from the mound. Dentler pitched three innings with no hits, striking out six. Hubert pitched two innings, giving up two hits with no earned runs.
The Bruins were led at the plate by freshman catcher/infielder Eli Hilliard (Waterford/Waterford Kettering High School) and sophomore infielder Connor Hnilo (Caledonia/Caledonia High School), who each hit 1-3.
Head KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy said it was tough to lose after giving up only three hits, but there was “a lot of value in the loss.”
“Our pitching and defense were solid,” Laskovy said. “The game didn’t come around often, and when it did we didn’t execute.”
Game 2: KCC 16, Ivy Tech 1
Freshman pitchers Al Thorington (Pinckney/Pinckney High School) and Zach Marshall (Rockford/Rockford High School) led the Bruins from the mound in game two. Thorington earned the win, striking out seven over three innings. Marshall pitched one inning, striking out one.
The Bruins were led at the plate by sophomore pitcher/outfielder Connor Brawley (Dowagiac/Lakeshore High School), who hit 4-5 including three doubles and six RBIs. Freshman outfielder Tate Peterson (Grandville/Grandville High School) hit 3-5, including two RBIs, and freshman outfielder Drew Mitchell (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) hit 1-1, batting in two in the process.
Coach Laskovy called it a “nice bounce-back win behind very good pitching, solid defense and an improved offensive approach.”
“Monster game from returning Captain Connor Brawley,” Laskovy said. “Thorington set the tone on the mound, holding it down until our offense could get going.”
Up Next
As of this writing, the Bruins next take the field Friday, March 12, against Macomb Community College in Detroit. The team’s first home game is Sunday, March 21, at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.
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 269-965-3931 ext. 2536 or laskovye@kellogg.edu.