Mid Baseball Completes Pre-Season Games
Kissimmee, FL - After opening the season with a split against Lake Michigan College, the Mid Michigan Lakers baseball team headed south in search of sunshine and momentum. A 1-1 start quickly turned into a strong showing at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida, where the Lakers went 5-3 over six days and eight games, returning home with a 6-4 overall record as they prepare to enter conference play.
Mid Michigan began the week against MCCAA East opponent Macomb Community College, dropping the opener 10-0 before bouncing back with a 9-7 win in game two. Giddeon Sacco improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory, while Dillon Croff earned a bases-loaded save, ending the game on a 1-2-3 double play. Offensively, Matt Blazejewski reached base four times, Amir Orr tallied a single and double while scoring twice, and Donovan Heugh delivered a pinch-hit triple that drove in the game-winning run.
On Sunday, the Lakers were tested by No. 4-ranked Kirkwood Community College. Mid Michigan battled through six competitive innings in game one, trailing 3-1 in the sixth before defensive miscues opened the door for Kirkwood, resulting in a 12-2 loss. The struggles continued in game two as Kirkwood completed the sweep, dropping the Lakers to 1-3 on the trip.
The Lakers responded in a big way on Monday, erupting for a 17-7 win over Alexandria Tech (Minn.). Trey Boven earned his first win of the season, tossing five innings and striking out eight. Chris Williams showed great patience at the plate, drawing three walks and scoring three times, while Alex Barber contributed two hits and four RBI.
Wednesday's matchup with Erie Community College turned into one of the most memorable games of the season. In the opener, Mid Michigan staged a remarkable comeback to win 16-15 in extra innings. Trailing 14-3 in the third inning, the Lakers chipped away with consistent offensive pressure. Ethan Wetzel played a key role out of the bullpen, delivering four shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out five.
The comeback was fueled by small ball execution, highlighted by multiple sacrifice bunts. Ty Schultz brought the Lakers within one with a squeeze bunt in the sixth, and Amir Orr followed with another squeeze in the seventh to tie the game. After Dillon Croff tossed a scoreless eighth inning, Donovan Heugh delivered the final blow with a squeeze bunt that scored Schultz for the walk-off win. Schultz and Williams each recorded three hits, and Mid Michigan executed eight sacrifice bunts in the game. Wetzel earned the win, while Croff picked up his second save of the season.
The Lakers carried that momentum into game two, securing a 12-0 victory behind a complete-game one-hitter from Donovan Heugh, who also contributed offensively with three hits and three runs scored. Nick Weiss added a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone early.
Mid Michigan closed out the trip on Thursday with a 15-4 win over Lake Region State (N.D.). Weiss delivered a strong start on the mound to earn the win, while the offense exploded for 13 runs in the fifth inning to break the game open. Heugh led the charge with two home runs and six RBI, while Schultz, Williams, Orr, and Payton Paiz all turned in multi-hit performances.
Originally scheduled games against Owens Community College and Alma College were canceled due to weather and field conditions. The Lakers will now shift their focus to Sandusky, Ohio, where they will compete in the MCCAA Round Robin this weekend. Mid Michigan opens play Friday against Delta College and Bay College, followed by matchups with Alpena and Muskegon on Saturday, before wrapping up the weekend against defending MCCAA North champion Grand Rapids on Sunday.