The Kellogg Community College baseball team came home with a vengeance Monday, destroying the competition in a 20-0 blowout over Macomb Community College in the team’s first home game since the season was cut short due to COVID-19 last year.
The shutout was the first game in a doubleheader that also saw the Bruins victorious in game two with a 7-4 win over the Monarchs.
Freshman pitcher Jayden Dentler (Allegan/Otsego High School) took the win in game one, striking out eight over five innings pitched and allowing just a single hit.
Freshman outfielder Tate Peterson (Grandville/Grandville High School) had banner day at the plate, batting 3-3 including a home run and a grand slam, with six RBIs. Freshman outfielder Kyle VanLiere (Mattawan/Mattawan High School) hit 2-3, including a home run and three RBIs, and sophomore infielder Connor Hnilo (Caledonia/Caledonia High School) hit 3-4.
“Jayden Dentler flashed frontline stuff taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning,” KCC’s Head Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy said. “Tate Peterson set the tone with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. Great at-bats up and down the lineup as our offense has continued light up the scoreboard.”
Freshman pitcher Al Thorington (Pinckney/Pinckney High School) pitched for the win in game two, throwing 3.2 innings with three hits and one earned run.
At the plate in game two, sophomore catcher/outfielder Caleb Anspaugh (Schoolcraft/Schoolcraft High School) hit 1-3, a home run with two RBIs. Dentler hit 2-2, including an RBI, and freshman infielder Justin Ratliff (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) hit 1-3 with an RBI.
The Bruins were on the road this afternoon, Tuesday, March 9, to play the JV squad of Davenport University in Grand Rapids. As of this writing, the team’s next home game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 21, against Jackson College 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.