Baseball team has won 20 straight

By Jayden Hewitt
Sports Editor

The LCC baseball team extended its winning streak to 20 games with a pair of road victories over Lake Michigan College on April 8, winning 14-0 in the first game and 3-1 in the second.

The slugging Stars have scored three or fewer runs just five times this season. Head Coach Steven Cutter spoke about playing good overall baseball when runs are at a premium.

“That was a rare game (the 3-1 win) for our potent offense, but all the credit to Lake Michigan's pitching staff,” Cutter said. “We hit the ball hard. Just on that day, they were mostly right at defenders.

“Our pitching staff was excellent again, and we did what we could to scratch a few runs across. Outstanding teams do a great job of picking each other up on both sides of the ball.”

LCC pitcher Hunter Shaw was dominant in the first game and earned the win. He pitched five innings, allowing just one hit and no runs with 11 strikeouts.

Stars pitcher Elijah Stark continued the streak of dominance in the second game, notching a win in six innings of work. Stark allowed one run, two hits and struck out four. Pitcher Macoy West shut the door with a one-inning save.

Catcher Noah Bright had a big doubleheader at the plate for LCC with three hits, four RBIs and a home run. Cutter spoke about Bright lighting it up at the plate as of late.

“Noah is outstanding for us behind the plate as a catcher, and offensively he continues to be dynamic,” Cutter said. “Early on, he was pressing a bit too much. He has settled down his mindset and experienced even more clarity in his at-bats now.”

The weather has been noticeably rough, even damaging the Stars’ home field. Cutter spoke about his team’s response to having games canceled, postponed and not playing at the Stars’ home field since April 4.

“The primary intent of our program is to focus on the things within our capacities,” Cutter said. “The weather, our field flooding and many others are great examples of things we cannot control.

“The best programs and coaching staffs are full of problem solvers, which is the same with our program. We continue to strive to get better daily, no matter the hurdles in the way.”

The wins moved LCC to 23-5 on the year and to 9-0 in the MCCAA’s Western Conference.