April 14, 2023, CENTREVILLE Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team won both games of a doubleheader against Alpena Community College to win its eighth consecutive game.
The softball team split its twin bill. Hurler Izzy Regner picked up another win, and it credited with 11 of the team’s 14 victories.
The GRCC golf team also had a good day, dominating a field of six teams on Friday, winning by 20 strokes at the Glen Oaks Invitational Tournament.
In the baseball game, Jerad Berkenpas, Connor Foley and the rest of the team defeated Alpena 11-0 in sixth innings and then 17-4 in five innings.
Berkenpas picked up his fourth win in the opener, allowing just three hits while striking out eight. Xander Reisbig, Trevin Laming and Fernando Rivera-Calderon all hit home runs. Rivera-Calderon's two-run blast ended the game in the bottom of the sixth.
GRCC (16-10, 11-1) scored the first nine runs of the nightcap, and finished the game with 19 hits. Tommy Reid and Laming each had three hits and a double.
Foley picked up the victory after allowing just two earned runs while striking out five.
In the softball game, Regner struck out 11 and gave up just three hits. Jaye Guichelaar and Brynn McArthur combined for four hits and four RBI.
In the nightcap, GRCC (14-12, 6-6) led 2-1 after one inning and 3-2 after three innings. But Alpena took advantage of Raider errors and scored the next eight runs of the ball game. Only six of the 14 runs were earned for GRCC starter Macy Huver.
Offensively, GRCC outhit the Lumberjacks 16-12, led by Guichelaar who went 4-for-5. Lauren James, McArthur, Madi Lemke and Annika Roersma each had two hits. One of Roersma's hits was an inside-the-park home run - her first of the season.
Both teams return back to conference play as they take on Alpena Community College in a triple header on Saturday, with the first game starting at 11 a.m.
In the golf tournament, Drew Harrington was the medalist for GRCC, as he finished with a 1-under 71, while making three birdies. Teammates Brad VandenHout and Ty Marchlewski tied for second shooting 73s. They each had four birdies.
Sam Foss shot a 75 to finish sixth and Zach Basiaga shot a 78 to finish in ninth place.
This story was reported by Ben Brown.