March 5, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams both split games Sunday in competition in Florida, part of an early season road trip against tough competition.
The softball team, returning after a year without playing, opened its season with an 18-5, five-hit, five-inning loss to Mid Michigan College. But the team rebounded to beat its second opponent, 10-0 in five innings, giving Chuck White his first win as GRCC head coach.
The baseball team played a doubleheader against Chipola College, which competes in NJCAA Division I, and defeated it 17-6 in the first game, and was shut-out 13-0 in the nightcap.
In the softball game, Jaye Guichelaar went 2-for-3 in game one and Brynn McArthur and Lauren James each had two RBI to lead GRCC.
In game two, against West Virginia Wesleyan’s junior varsity team, Izabella Regner threw a gem, not allowing any runs while giving up just one hit and striking out 11. She also went two-for-three with two RBI. Annika Roersma had a team-high three RBI and James finished with two RBI. The team struck out just three times.
The baseball team had 14 hits in its first game, led by Joe Hoeks, Xander Reisbig and Tommy Reid, who all had three hits. Hoeks and Reisbig each had five RBI and a home run. Connor Foley picked up the win and Ethan London closed the game by pitching the final two innings.
In the second game, GRCC had just two singles, by Zacarias Salinas and Andres Rivera-Calderon.
Both teams will be back in action on Monday. The schedule is at www.grccraiders.com.
This story was written by Ben Brown.