LCC offense clicking; defense needs fine tuning

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

LCC's baseball team split a doubleheader against Mott Community College in Flint on March 25. The first contest resulted in a 12-7 LCC loss, while the Stars prevailed in the second game 10-5.

After splitting the games against the Bears, LCC's record moved to 16-5. The Stars have won three out of four against Mott.

Outside of the Bears' third inning in the first game, the Stars dominated in Flint. But that third inning was filled with 10 of the 12 runs Mott scored. It also consisted of three wild pitches, a home run and an error.

Stars Head Coach Drew Huard said the defense is better than what fans saw in the opener.

"I think we lost our focus a little bit; we lost some of the things we know we have to do," Huard said. "We know we got a lot of talent on this team; we just have to not beat ourselves so much.

"We kind of beat ourselves as far as making errors; making uncharacteristic plays that this team normally doesn't make."

LCC did bounce back strong in the nightcap. After four innings, Mott was up on LCC 3-2. In the fifth, the Stars scored two. In the sixth, they scored two more.

LCC put the nail in the coffin in the final inning, scoring four runs. Freshman catcher Alex Strickland drove in the last three runs with a game-clinching double.

Strickland said the team's concentration on a play-by-play basis needs to improve.

"We just got to be more focused throughout the game," Strickland said. "We can't take any pitches off (and) be focused on every pitch. You got to be thinking the ball is coming to you every pitch."

Sophomore Drew Stavischeck finished with two hits – a double and a triple – and two RBIs.

Huard said Stavischeck turned around the game for the Stars.

"He had a good game," Huard said. "He put the barrel on the ball. And with (Stavischeck) he's such an asset with what he can do with his athleticism, as far as running and the impact he can make when gets on base.

"Our team was kind of down from the (opener) … He really picked our team up and got us some momentum we really needed with the big hit he had when he hit his triple."

The Stars' next home doubleheader is on Tuesday, April 3 is against Grand Rapids Community College. The action starts at 2 p.m. at Westside Park in Lansing.