Kellogg Community College’s baseball team is ranked 13th in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s first preseason poll, released late last month.
The poll ranks the Top 20 teams in the NJCAA’s Division II based on expected athletic performance and calculated in part by preseason voting by association coaches.
Eric Laskovy, head coach for the KCC Bruins, said the ranking is a testament to the program’s strong tradition.
“That said, we know it’s more important how we finish,” Laskovy said. “This group had a team GPA of 3.29 this fall and is currently working hard every day. We are excited and have high expectations for this spring.”
In addition to the national ranking, NJCAA Division II Baseball District Predictions project KCC to be the No. 1 team in the association’s Region 12, which includes 20 colleges in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Right-handed KCC sophomore Tyler Bradner (Howell/Howell High School) is listed among the district’s Top Returning Pitchers, while sophomore outfielders Travis Bolin (Watervliet/Watervliet High School) and Benny Clark (Schoolcraft/Schoolcraft High School) and sophomore catcher Alex Goodwin (Midland/Midland High School) are listed among the district’s Top Returning Position Players.
The Bruins finished the 2013-14 season with a 34-21 overall record, placing third in their Michigan Community College Athletic Association conference and second in the NJCAA Region XII Tournament. The team also tied for the 10th highest GPA out of more than 400 NJCAA baseball teams in the nation for the season, receiving All-Academic Team honors in both the MCCAA and NJCAA.
For more information about KCC baseball, visit www.kellogg.edu/baseball or contact Coach Laskovy at 269-965-3931 ext. 2536 or laskovye@kellogg.edu.
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