Baseball team one win from title game

By Jayden Hewitt
Sports Editor

The LCC baseball team won 5-3 over Southeastern Community College in a game that was completed Thursday, June 1. The game had been suspended due to lightning on May 31 with LCC leading 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The game advanced LCC into an elimination game against Southeastern CC, with both teams carrying one loss. The Stars play again on Friday, June 2, with the winner going to the championship game of the NJCAA Division II College World Series. The elimination game will be played at David Allen Ballpark in Enid, Okla. at noon, Eastern Standard Time.

The game can be followed on either LCC’s website or the NJCAA website. The NJCAA website offers a purchase package to watch the game as well.

LCC’s opponent is yet to be determined. LCC Head Coach Steven Cutter broke down how the potential opponent might be.

“(It) depends on the game before us,” Cutter said. “If Heartland wins, then we need to beat them twice. If St. Johns River State wins, then everyone has one loss and the championship game, whoever gets there, is one game, winner take all.”

The Stars next game(s) could become a whole lot more difficult depending on the opponent, as winning twice would become a steeper challenge. It is a challenge that Cutter is up for going into the next game.

“We are in a good spot and will see what happens at some point tomorrow morning,” Cutter said. “Having a shot at being in the finals and playing for a national championship is pretty surreal. We are one of four (teams) that are left in town. Charter buses are no longer at the hotels as we drive to the ballpark. (It’s) some kind of special no matter what happens.”

Pitcher Nick Baker toed the slab for LCC and nabbed his fifth win in the 5-3 victory that ended on Thursday. Baker went four innings, allowing zero earned runs, just three hits and struck out two. Pitchers Gavin Walters, Elijah Stark, Braden LaRusso and Xander Hall all provided relief. Hall grabbed the save, his fourth of the year.

The slugging Stars managed to put up five runs. Infielder and recent MCCAA Western Conference Player of the Year award winner Shane Juday led the way and drove in two runs. Infielder and NJCAA All-Region XII team member Hunter Lay drove in a run. Outfielder Evan Mendoza and designated hitter Talon Rowe both drove in a run as well.