Successful Opening Weekend For The Red Hawks

On Saturday, Mott Community College traveled to compete against the Red Hawks. It was a back and forth first game with the teams tied at four at the bottom of the third inning. In the fourth, Mott began to struggle on the mound and Lake Michigan took advantage and scored 12 runs. The Bears tried to answer back in the top of the fifth but the Red Hawks sealed the deal ending the game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jonah Sibley started the game and allowed four runs, two hits, but struck out two Bears. Clayton Bixby took the win even though he allowed five runs off of seven hits. Cameron Dalrymple and Kyle Veersma had multiple hits for the Red Hawks. Veersma and Kyle Ratliff hit two over but it was Lance MacDonald that hit the grand slam in the fourth that helped seal the 19-9 win in five innings.  

In the second game, the Red Hawks came out aggressively scoring eight runs in the first inning. It was a scoreless second inning while both teams scored one run in the third and two in the fourth inning. The Bears tried to take the lead in the fifth, but only could push three runs across the plate. Mott was able to score one in the sixth but Lake Michigan answered back scoring two in the bottom of the inning. The game was called in the top of the seventh due to darkness which gave the Red Hawks their second win. (13-7) Matthew Engler took the win for the men only allowing three runs off of four hits while striking out four batters. Caleb Schmitt, Michael Sibbersen, and Jarrett DeLand all had multiple hits but DeLand drove in four runs off of his two hits. 

On Sunday, the men hosted Aquinas College JV and was able to squeeze out two more wins. In the first game, the Red Hawks were able to chip away at the Saints by scoring one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and four in the fifth inning. The solo run for Aquinas, in top of the seventh, was not enough to compete with the Red Hawks 8-1 win. Marshall Leishman took the win for the men, as the lefty only allowed two hits, no runs, and struck out six. Michael Sibberson, Kyle Veersma, and Jarrett DeLand all had multiple hits. 

In the second game, it was the Saints that came out running scoring one in the first, five in the second, and three in the fourth inning. Lake Michigan remained persistent and did not back down even when it seemed like the chips had fallen against them. The men scored two in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, five in the fifth, and one in the sixth. The Red Hawks were able to keep the Saints scoreless in the seventh to seal the 11-9 win. Will Roberts started on the mound and allowed eight runs off of five hits while striking out five batters. Kyle Ratliff, Cameron Dalrymple, Lance MacDonald, and Jarrett DeLand all had multiple hits. 

The men host Lansing Community College on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Lakeshore High School. The games will be streamed on the Lake Michigan College YouTube channel.