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KIRTLAND, Ohio (May 12, 2015) – Three sophomores from the Lakeland Community College baseball team were selected to the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) All-Conference team following the conclusion of their final season with the Lakers. AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) was named to the all-conference team for the second straight season while Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) and Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) earned their first all-league selection.
Strnad finished second in the conference with a .419 batting average in 19 games. He scored 17 runs on 26 hits in 62 at-bats and finished third in the OCCAC with a .486 on-base percentage. On the year, the center fielder led the Lakers in runs (32), RBIs (30), average (.376), and home runs (4) while rattling off a 16-game hitting streak midway through the season.
Flowers II finished second in the conference in hits with 28 and third in stolen bases with eight. Overall, he paced the Lakers with 50 hits including a team-high three triples. He led all players with 141 at-bats and ended the year with a .355 average.
Osko led the Lakers with 41 games played in his final season with the Blue and Gray. He scored 24 runs on 37 hits and finished second on the team with ten stolen bases and seven doubles. The second year short stop hit .333 in league games and .322 overall and was second on the team in walks with 18.
Jimmy White and Alex Anders of Sinclair Community College were named Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, while Tartan Pride head coach Steve Dintaman was tabbed Coach of the Year. For a complete list of the 2015 OCCAC Baseball All-Conference Team follow the link below.
Link > 2015 OCCAC Baseball All-Conference Team
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (May 2, 2015) – The Lakeland Community College baseball team finished the regular season by going 1-3 against visiting Owens to secure a third place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). The Lakers will take on the Express in the opening round of the double-elimination Sub-District Tournament hosted by Cuyahoga Community College beginning Friday, May 8. The winner of the Sub-District Tournament advances to the Region XII Tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan beginning Wednesday, April 13.
Game One: Lakeland 11, Owens 12
Visiting Owens broke open a 2-2 game with a six-run third inning to take a commanding 8-2 lead before the Lakers responded with a late rally that came up just short in the opener. Trailing 10-2 through five and a half innings, Lakeland responded with six unanswered runs to cut the deficit to just two with an inning to go.
The Express countered back with a two-run seventh to give themselves some breathing room before the Lakers threatened to pull even in their final at-bats. Lakeland scored three in the bottom of the seventh and had the winning run on base with two outs but was unable to knot the game at 12.
David Fach (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs while Jayce Dunlop (Port Elgin, Ontario) added two runs and a pair of RBIs in the setback.
Scott Wood (Stratford, Ontario) suffered the loss despite another complete-game effort on the mound. The sophomore allowed 12 runs but was only credited with five earned in seven innings to fall to 3-3 on the year.
The Express scored nine runs on 12 hits in Friday's finale to complete the sweep on day one of the two-day series. Jayce Dunlop registered two of Lakeland's six hits on the day including the hosts' only extra base hit of the day.
Daniel Strodtbeck (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) stalled at 2-4 overall after allowing nine runs (three earned) in seven innings. The freshman right-hander struck out three in the loss.
Game Three: Lakeland 8, Owens 1
Needing just one win over the weekend to secure third place in the final conference standings, Lakeland pulled out the victory in Saturday's opener thanks to Danny Fernandez's (Miami, Fla.) three RBIs. Eight different players scored runs in the win to move the Lakers to 15-27 overall and 8-15 in league play.
Marcus Bobb (Lake Wales, Fla. / Frostproof) went 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and a run scored while Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) and Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) each stole two bases in the victory.
Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami, Fla.) improved to 2-6 on the year with his first career complete-game victory. The freshman right-hander allowed just one earned run and struck out a career-high six for Lakeland.
Game Four: Lakeland 2, Owens 4 (10 Innings)
Marcus Bobb went 2-for-5 with an inside the park home run and a double, but visiting Owens snapped a 2-2 tie with a two-run 10th inning to final the series finale in extra innings.
Miguel Flowers II added three hits including a pair of doubles for the Lakers, who enter the Sub-District Tournament at 15-28 overall. Lakeland has advanced to the Sub-District Championship game in its last three appearances in the tournament.
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PARMA, Ohio (April 27, 2015) – The schedule for next weekend's NJCAA Division II, Region XII Sub-District Tournament was announced today by the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). The double-elimination tournament will begin on Friday, May 8 and will award a bid to the Region XII Tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan to the champion. The Sub-District Tournament will take place at Cuyahoga Community College's Western Campus located in Parma.
Host Cuyahoga will open the tournament against Vincennes University (Ind.) on Friday morning at 10 a.m. Lakeland will face Owens at approximately 12:30 p.m. to conclude the opening round of games. The loser of game one and game two will meet in an elimination game at 3 p.m. followed by the two earlier winners facing off in the tournament semifinals.
Outside the 2013 season, when the Lakers captured a conference championship and the league's automatic berth in the Region XII Tournament, LCC has advanced to the Sub-District title game every year dating back to 2012.
Lakeland concludes the regular season with a game series this weekend against visiting Owens beginning on Friday, May 1 and concluding one day later.
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KEYSER, W. Va. (April 29, 2015) – Visiting Lakeland dropped to 14-25 overall with a pair of non-league defeats at host Potomac State College of West Virginia on Wednesday afternoon.
Game One: Lakeland 1, Potomac State 8
Konstandinos Kafes (Brampton, Ontario) went 2-for-3 with a double and drove in the Lakers only run of the day in game one. David Fach (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) scored in the top of the third inning to trim the deficit to 3-1 before the hosts added two in the fifth and three in the sixth to stretch their lead.
Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami, Fla.) suffered the loss on the mound and dropped to 1-6 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) in four innings of work.
Game Two: Lakeland 0, Potomac State 10 (5 Innings)
Potomac State used a six-run second inning to take an 8-0 lead through two and complete the sweep in game two. Lakeland failed to get anything going offensively and finished the game with just two hits.
Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) fell to 4-3 on the year after allowing seven runs (four earned) in less than two innings.
The Lakers close out the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) regular season this weekend when they host Owens on Friday (May 1) and Saturday (May 2) beginning at 1 p.m.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (April 22, 2015) – Freshman short stop Halle McKinley (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) and sophomore third baseman Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) were named Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) Player of the Week for softball and baseball, respectively, last week.
Flowers II went a whopping 12-for-16 (.750) from the plate over four conference games against Cuyahoga Community College. In those 16 at bats, he produced one double, five RBI and two stolen bases.
Flowers II is hitting a team-high .402 with 19 runs, three doubles, three triples, one home run, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases for Lakeland (13-18, 6-8 OCCAC).
McKinley went 19-for-35 (.543) from the plate over 10 games last week. She produced 14 runs, three doubles, one triple, four home runs, six RBI, two walks and three stolen bases. In OCCAC play, she went 11-for-23 (.478) over six games while producing eight runs, two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, two walks and three stolen bases.
For the season, McKinley is 33-for-80 (.413) with eight doubles, 26 runs, one triple, six home runs, 11 RBI, five walks and seven stolen bases. She leads the team in runs, hits, home runs, and slugging percentage.
Release courtesy of Nicholas Huenfeld, OCCAC Sports Information.
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PARMA, Ohio (April 18, 2015) – The Lakeland Community College baseball team won three of four games over the weekend at Cuyahoga including both games on Saturday to improve to 13-16 overall and 6-6 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). The Lakers move into second place in the OCCAC and will play first place and nationally-ranked Sinclair eight times over the next six days.
Game One: Lakeland 4, Cuyahoga 9
John Izquierdo's three RBI triple broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning as Cuyahoga got to Dominic Edwards (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in the opener. The Lakers answered the Challengers' four-run third with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, but the hosts roared back with three more in the fourth to stretch the advantage to five.
Miguel Flowers II went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) added a pair of hits and scored twice for Lakeland (10-16, 3-6 OCCAC).
Game Two: Lakeland 4, Cuyahoga 3
Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) earned his team-best fourth win of the season with a complete-game effort in game two to help the Lakers salvage a split on Friday afternoon. Straley went the distance for the second time in as many starts and improved to 2-0 against OCCAC foes on the year. The right-hander scattered eight hits and allowed three earned runs while striking out a pair in the victory.
Lakeland scored one run in each of the first four innings to take a 4-1 lead before holding off a late challenge from Cuyahoga to pick up the win. Miguel Flowers II drove in two runs while Ryan Osko doubled and scored once for the Lakers.
Game Three: Lakeland 8, Cuyahoga 2
Sophomore Scott Wood (Stratford, Ontario) hurled his second career complete-game victory to propel Lakeland to a 9-4 victory in Saturday's opener. The lefty gave up a solo home run in the first inning before settling in and allowing just one unearned run the rest of the way. Wood struck out a pair and scattered five hits to improve to 3-1 on the season and 2-0 in league play.
Miguel Flowers II went 4-for-4 with an RBI while Danny Fernandez (Miami, Fla.) belted a two-RBI double for Lakeland (12-16, 5-6 OCCAC). AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) made the most of two walks by scoring twice and Jayce Dunlop (Port Elgin, Ontario) added an RBI double in the win.
Game Four: Lakeland 14, Cuyahoga 4 (6 Innings)
Lakeland's bats came alive in the series finale as the Lakers matched a season-high with 20 hits to run rule Cuyahoga. Michael Capel (Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic) led the way with four RBIs, the final two coming in "walk off" fashion as the sophomore first baseman singled to score Strnad and Flowers II to end the game.
Lakeland surrendered a pair of early runs but responded with a run in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit in half. The Lakers blew the game open with a six-run second inning, scoring all six runs with two outs to take a 7-2 lead after two.
Cuyahoga threatened to get back in the game after scoring twice and loading the bases in the top of the third. Freshman left-hander Dakota Caldwell (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) induced an inning-ending fly out to Strnad in center field and strand three on base. Caldwell threw 3 1/3 innings of no-hit relief to keep the Challengers at bay.
Flowers II capped a stellar series by going 4-for-5 in the finale. The sophomore third baseman hit .750 in four games over the weekend and moved his season average to a team-best .402 on the season. In 12 conference games he is batting .438 (21-for-48) with 10 RBIs and six runs scored.
Danny Fernandez stayed hot in game two with three hits and three RBIs while Jayce Dunlop doubled and drove in two for Lakeland. AJ Strnad scored four runs including the last one to move his season total to a team-high 25 on the year.
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NORTH EAST, Pa. (April 8, 2015) – After taking a two-run lead in extra innings, the Lakeland baseball team gave up a game-ending grand slam to fall 9-7 to host Mercyhurst North East in non-league action Wednesday afternoon. The Lakers stall at 10-15 overall entering this weekend's four game series with conference-leading Sinclair.
Nicolas Lozano (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) reached base in all five at-bats, finishing with two hits including a double and a home run while driving in two and scoring twice.
Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) went 3-for-4 with two triples while Seth Vellucci (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Jackson) went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the loss.
Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami, Fla.) fell to 1-4 on the season after surrendering the game-winning home run in the 10th.
Lakeland will host nationally-ranked Sinclair on Friday (April 10) beginning at 1 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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Chaz Verrico (left) with head baseball coach Howie Krause.
KIRTLAND, Ohio (April 5, 2015) – Lakeland Community College head baseball coach Howie Krause announced the signing of Chaz Verrico to a national letter of intent on Monday afternoon. Verrico becomes the fifth member of the class of 2015.
A four-year letterman at Rochester Area High School in Rochester, Pennsylvania, Verrico earned First Team all-section honors as a sophomore and junior. A Fab-9 all-star as a junior, he won bronze and gold medals at the Keystone State Games held annually in York.
The son of Sadie Fusco and Brad Verrico, Chaz plans to major in accounting at Lakeland.
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PERRYSBURG, Ohio (April 5, 2015) – The Lakeland Community College baseball team moved to 10-14 overall and 3-5 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play after going 2-2 over the weekend at Owens. The Lakers rode a pair of strong pitching performances by Scott Wood (Stratford, Ontario) and Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) while AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
Lakeland scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at five before Owens plated the game-winner in the bottom half of the inning to halt the visitor's rally. Konstandinos Kafes (Brampton, Ontario) went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored while Jayce Dunlop (Port Elgin, Ontario) added a double and a run for the Lakers (8-13, 1-4 OCCAC).
Dominic Edwards (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) suffered his second loss of the season after allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Tyler Straley's first complete-game of the season helped the Lakers (9-13, 2-4 OCCAC) salvage a split on day one. The freshman right-hander allowed one earned run on four hits while striking out five to improve to a team-best 3-1 on the season.
Lakeland broke open a 1-1 game with two runs in the top of the seventh as Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) and Konstandinos Kafes each scored in the decisive inning. Kafes finished with two hits and two runs scored while Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South), AJ Strnad, and Osko each drove in a run in the victory.
Game Three: Lakeland 3, Owens 0
Scott Wood's career day propelled Lakeland (10-13, 3-4 OCCAC) to a victory in Sunday's opener. The sophomore struck out a career-high seven batters and allowed no runs on five hits in his first career complete-game to improve to 2-1 on the season.
AJ Strnad and Seth Vellucci (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Jackson) each doubled and drove in a run while David Fach (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the win.
Game Four: Lakeland 2, Owens 10
The Express jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning of play and never trailed as the hosts evened the series at two apiece with a victory in Sunday's finale.
Daniel Strodtbeck (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) dropped to 2-2 on the season after taking the loss on the mound. Miguel Flowers collected a team-high two hits and also drove in a run in the setback.
AJ Strnad went 1-for-3, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. The sophomore centerfielder has reached base safely in 18 straight games and is hitting a team-best .329 on the year.
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PARMA, Ohio (March 30, 2015) – The Lakeland baseball team salvaged a split with host Cuyahoga behind Daniel Strodtbeck's (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) complete-game victory in game two to end a four game slide and wrap up the series with a victory.
Game One: Lakeland 7, Cuyahoga 11
Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) hit a two-run home run while Nicolas Lozano (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Lakeland. The Challengers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one inning and never trailed the rest of the way.
Jayce Dunlop (Port Elgin, Ontario) collected a pair of RBIs and Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Lakers (7-12, 0-3 OCCAC).
David Contreras (Bryan, Texas) fell to 1-1 on the season after taking the loss on the mound.
Game Two: Lakeland 8, Cuyahoga 5
Strodtbeck improved to 2-1 on the season with his first complete game of the season. The freshman right-hander scattered eight hits and struck out four, settling down after a three-run first inning threatened to blow the game open.
Lakeland responded with two runs in the top of the second and took the lead after a four-run fifth made it 6-4. The visitors tacked on one run in each of the final two innings to pick up their first conference victory of the season.
Danny Fernandez's (Miami, Fla.) third home run of the season came in the form of a two-run shot while Konstandinos Kafes (Brampton, Ontario) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in the victory.
AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake) extended his hitting streak to ten games after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. The sophomore outfielder has reached base in 14 straight games.
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PARMA, Ohio (March 29, 2015) – The Lakeland Community College baseball team fell to 7-11 on the year and 0-2 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) after opening league play with a pair of losses to local rival Cuyahoga on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers will look to even the series with the Challengers on Monday (March 30) beginning at 4 p.m.
Game One: Lakeland 6, Cuyahoga 16 (5 Innings)
AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake) went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs while Michael Capel (Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic) hit a solo homer to pace the Lakers. Cuyahoga jumped out to a 13-0 lead through the first three innings before adding one in the fourth and two in the fifth for the victory.
Dominic Edwards (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) suffered his first loss of the season on the mound after surrendering 10 runs in two innings. Only one of those runs was earned.
Game Two: Lakeland 5, Cuyahoga 7
Lakeland bounced back in game two despite allowing Cuyahoga to build an early 4-0 lead through after two innings of play. The Lakers scored four in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead, but allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh to lose in walk-off fashion.
Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) took the no-decision after allowing five runs on seven hits while Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami, Fla.) suffered the loss to drop to 1-3 on the season.
Strnad homered for the second consecutive game while driving in a team-high four runs in the setback. Jayce Dunlop (Port Elgin, Ontario) went 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and a run scored for Lakeland.
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LIMA, Ohio (March 25, 2015) – AJ Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) drove in two runs while Michael Capel (Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic) went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored but the Lakeland baseball team surrendered three late runs as the University of Northwestern Ohio rallied for a 5-4 win on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lakers erased a two-run deficit with two runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings before the host Racers responded with one in the eighth and two in the ninth to steal the victory. With the loss, Lakeland drops to 8-9 overall entering this weekend's Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) opener at Cuyahoga.
Kosta Kafes (Brampton, Ontario) scored twice and drove in one while Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) recorded an RBI and three walks in the setback.
Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami, Fla.) earned the start on the mound but took the no-decision after allowing one unearned run in three innings of work. Freshman Dakota Caldwell (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) was tagged for the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in the final 2 1/3 innings of relief.
Link >> Box Score
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VINCENNES, Ind. (March 23, 2015) – The Lakeland baseball team went 3-1 over the weekend, defeating South Suburban once and Lake Michigan twice while dropping a close one to host Vincennes to move to 7-8 overall on the season.
Game One: Lakeland 4, South Suburban 3
Miguel Flowers (Canton, Ohio / Canton South), Michael Capel (Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic), and Seth Vellucci (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Jackson) each went 2-for-4 with an RBI as Lakeland broke open a tie game with two runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat South Suburban on Saturday afternoon. Dominic Edwards (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) went 7 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits but took the no decision after surrendering the tying run in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore Scott Wood (Stratford, Ontario) threw 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first victory of the season.
Danny Fernandez (Miami, Fla.) went 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored for Lakeland.
Game Two: Lakeland 8, Lake Michigan 3
Freshman Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) struck out a career-high nine while allowing just one earned run to improve to 2-1 on the season. Nicolas Lozano (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) paced the Lakers offensively, going 2-for-2 with a homerun, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
Anthony Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) added a pair of hits and two runs scored in the victory, Lakeland's third straight to inch closer to the .500 mark as it nears its conference-opener at Cuyahoga this weekend.
Game Three: Lakeland 6, Vincennes 7
Host Vincennes University rallied from a two-run deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth before scoring the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh to rally for a 7-6 victory and hand Lakeland its first loss of the weekend.
Daniel Strodtbeck (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs from the cleanup spot to lead the Lakers offensively. Miguel Flowers reached base in all four at-bats and scored a pair of runs while Anthony Strnad drove in two in the loss.
Tanner Smith (Willoughby, Ohio / Willoughby South) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up the deciding run in the bottom of the seventh.
Game Four: Lakeland 13, Lake Michigan 2 (5 Innings)
The Lakers offense came alive in the final game of the weekend as they registered 13 runs on 11 hits to earn the sweep of Lake Michigan. Ryan Osko (Lorain, Ohio / Lorain) scored three runs and drove in three from the lead-off spot while Marcus Bobb (Lake Wales, Fla.), Fernandez, and Strnad each recorded two RBIs for Lakeland. Kosta Kafes (Brampton, Ontario) went 1-for-3 with two runs scored in the victory.
Daniel Strodtbeck held the Red Hawks to just two hits and one unearned run in four innings of work. The freshman struck out two before handing the ball off to Wes Siekris (Markham, Ontario), who struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to close out the game.
Lakeland returns to action on Wednesday (March 25) when it travels to the University of Northwestern Ohio for a non-conference double-header before opening league play at Cuyahoga on Friday (March 27).
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BOLIVIA, N.C. (March 10, 2015) – The Lakeland baseball team finished the week 1-3 against host Brunswick Community College following a 9-2 loss on Tuesday afternoon. The Lakers will look to bounce back on Wednesday (March 11) when they play a double-header against Florence-Darlington Tech in Florence, South Carolina before heading to Myrtle Beach for their final four games of spring training.
Freshman Marcus Bobb (Lake Wales, Fla. / Frostproof) recorded two of Lakeland's four hits on the day while also stealing a base. Brunswick opened a 3-0 lead through the first two innings before Lakeland answered with two of its own in the top of the third.
Bobb and Marcus Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) kept the inning alive with back-to-back, two-out singles before scoring on an error to pull the visitors within one.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Brunswick blew the game open with a three-run fifth and then tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.
Daniel Strodtbeck (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs (three earned) on ten hits. The freshman right-hander struck out six in the setback.
Link >> Box Score
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BOLIVIA, N.C. (March 8, 2015) – The Lakeland baseball team bounced back from a pair of close losses on Saturday with a convincing 10-0 victory over host Brunswick on Sunday afternoon. The Lakers, who improved to 1-2 overall on the young season, scored ten runs on six hits while Tyler Straley (Uniontown, Ohio / Uniontown Lake) hurled a one-hitter in six innings of work.
Miguel Flowers II (Canton, Ohio / Canton South) and Anthony Strnad (Eastlake, Ohio / Eastlake North) each scored three runs while Daniel Strodtbeck (Westlake, Ohio / Westlake) drove in three in the victory.
Seth Vellucci (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Jackson) opened the scoring the top of second inning with a sacrifice fly to score Danny Fernandez (Miami / Archbishop Coleman Carroll) before a three-run third for Lakeland. The visitors put their first five batters of the inning on base before Strodtbeck's 2-RBI double plated Strnad and Flowers. Two batters later Michael Capel (Mentor, Ohio / Lake Catholic) drove him in with an RBI single to make it 4-0.
The Lakers tacked on four more runs in the top of sixth before Flowers third run of the game made it 10-0 in the top of the seventh.
The offense provided more than enough support for Straley, who improved to 1-0 on the mound with a stellar effort in his first start of the season. The freshman right-hander allowed just one hit while striking out five before handing the ball off the sophomore Tanner Smith (Willoughby, Ohio / Willoughby South) in the seventh, who retired the Dolphins in order to end the game.
Lakeland returns to action on Tuesday (March 10) with games against Spartanburg Methodist and Brunswick.
Link >> Box Score
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BOLIVIA, N.C. (March 7, 2015) – The Lakeland baseball team opened the season with a pair of tough losses to host Brunswick Community College on Saturday afternoon as it begins the 2015 campaign in spring training.
Game One: Lakeland 2, Brunswick 6
Freshman Marcus Bobb (Lake Wales, Fla. / Frostproof) provided the only scoring with a 2-RBI single in the top of the fifth inning as the Lakers dropped the 2015 opener 6-2. Lakeland was unable to rally from an early deficit after allowing runs in the first two innings of the game.
Sophomore Kyle Tucker (Lorain, Ohio / Amherst Steele) suffered in the loss on the mound, allowing four unearned runs and walking four in his season debut. Classmate Wes Siekris (Markham, Ontario / Bill Crothers) allowed a pair of earned runs in three innings of relief.
Game Two: Lakeland 2, Brunswick 3
Dillon Stewart's walk-off single proved to be the difference as Brunswick erased an early 2-0 deficit to hand Lakeland its second loss of the day in nine innings.
Danny Fernandez (Miami / Archbishop Coleman Carroll) put the Lakers on the board with a two-run home run in the top of the third inning. Fernandez took Brunswick's Patrick Corcoran deep for his first homer of the season to make it 2-0. The Dolphins trimmed the deficit in half in the bottom of the third inning on Stewart's RBI double before knotting the game at two in the bottom of the sixth.
Eddie Oropesa Jr. (Miami / Felix Varela) suffered the loss after two innings of relief. The freshman right-hander allowed one earned run on two hits to fall to 0-1 on the season. Sophomore Dominic Edwards (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) took the no-decision after making his first start of the season. Edwards went five strong innings, allowing five hits and striking out three in his debut.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 21, 2015) – Chad Matton, a senior middle infielder at St. Thomas of Villanova High School in LaSalle, Ontario, signed a national letter of intent (LOI) to join the Lakeland Community College baseball program in the fall.
A three-sport student-athlete, the Tecumseh, Ontario native competed scholastically in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned seven varsity letters including four in baseball while also earning two MVP awards in baseball and one in football.
The son of Anna and Kris Matton, he will major in Communications at Lakeland.
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ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (January 21, 2015) – Peyton Pacella, a senior at Riverside High School in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, has signed a national Letter of Intent to join the Lakeland Community College baseball team for the 2015-16 season.
Pacella won back-to-back Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state championships with the Panthers as a freshman (2012) and a sophomore (2013). The 5'11" catcher is the son of Hope and Richard Pacella and plans to major in management at Lakeland.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 20, 2015) – Sophomore pitcher Michael Bear (New Castle, Ind.) has been recognized as one of the top returners in the Region according to an NJCAA Division II preview released today by the national office.
As a freshman, Bear led the Lakers in starts (11), wins (5), complete games (8), strikeouts (48), and ERA (3.98) en route to All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) honors. He propelled Lakeland to a victory over Vincennes University in the opening round of the Sub-Region XII Tournament and finished the season with a 5-1 record.
Bear and the Lakers open the 2015 season in Millington, Tennessee on February 27.
Link >> North Region Top Returners
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Cody Eder (left) and Zach Meese (right) signed a national Letter of Intent to join head coach Howie Krause (center) and the Lakeland baseball team next season.
Kirtland, Ohio (January 15, 2015) – Zach Meese (Jackson Township) and Cody Eder (Jackson) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to play baseball at Lakeland Community College for the 2015-16 academic year. The duo helped Massillon Jackson win its first state championship in school history when it defeated North Royalton 5-1 in the Division I title game last spring. Jackson finished the year with a 26-5 record.
Cody Eder, a 5'11" right-handed pitcher and second baseman, is the son of Julie and Todd Eder and plans to major in business management.
The Polar Bears begin their Division I title defense on Tuesday, March 31 when they host St. Ignatius at 5 p.m.
The Lakers open their 2015 campaign on Friday, February 27 in Millington, Tennessee.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 15, 2015) – Freshman second baseman Marcus Bobb (Frostproof, Fla.) is listed as one of the top newcomers in the region according to the NJCAA preview released today by the national office. Bobb joins five other Region XII freshmen to make the list but is the only honoree from the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
The Lakers open their season on February 27 in Millington, Tennessee.
Link >> Top Newcomers
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BALTIMORE, Md. (September 2, 2014) – Former Lakeland Community College standout pitcher Ryan Dennick (North Olmstead, Ohio) made his major league debut on Tuesday night for the Cincinnati Reds. Dennick entered the game against the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth inning and pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning, which included his first career big league strikeout, for the Reds.
Dennick played one season at Lakeland for head coach Howie Krause before transferring to Tennessee Technical University (NCAA Division I) where he went 8-2 and recorded six saves during his two year career. In 2009, he was selected in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals organization after helping Tennessee Tech claim its third straight Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) tournament championship.
Link >> Video
- Brandon Easton - Minnesota Twins (Gulf Coast League)
- Giancarlo Saia - Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pa.)
- Matthew Wheeler - Malone University (Canton, Ohio)
- Ryan Queener - Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, Ohio)
- Todd Queener - Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, Ohio)
- Brian Sharkey - Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, Ohio)
- Mason Wisner - Shawnee State University (Portsmouth, Ohio)
- Anthony Connacher - Wheeling Jesuit University (Wheeling, W. Va.)
- Nick Toth - Lourdes University (Sylvania, Ohio)
- John Gora - Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, Tenn.)
Coaches Bios
| General Information | |
| Email: | baseball@lakelandcc.edu |
| Contacts | |
| Howie Krause Head Coach | Baseball |
| Greg Gerland Assistant Coach | Baseball |
Coaches Bios Description
The 2014 season marks Coach Krause's 13th year leading the Lakeland baseball program. A three-time Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) coach of the year (2004, 2005, 2013), Krause has guided the Lakers to five conference championships since taking the head coaching reigns in 2002. Additionally, five student-athletes have earned All-American honors from the NJCAA including a pair of first team selections during his tenure. Prior to his appointment he spent one year as an assistant with the program under Chris Mongiardo.
In 2013, the Lakers claimed the college's first conference title since 2008 and earned an automatic bid to the Region XII tournament as the top seed from in the south district. Lakeland swept the OCCAC postseason awards including the Coach, Player (Wil Shortreed), and Pitcher (Brandon Easton) of the Year. Three members of that team were also named to the OCCAC All-Academic Team for earning a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
An Eastlake North High School graduate, Krause played under head coach Spark Sankal. He played collegiate baseball at Florida Southern where he helped the Moccasins win the 1995 NCAA Division II National Championship. He also helped FSC finish as the national runner-up in 1994. Following his collegiate career, Krause spent two seasons in the minor leagues with the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins organizations.
His biggest success has been placing his players into high profile four-year programs when their time at Lakeland is finished. He and his wife Colleen reside in Concord Township.
Conference Championships: Five
- 2004
- 2005 [fall]
- 2006 [fall]
- 2008
- 2013
All-Americans: Five
- Aaron Cone, First Team, 2003
- Chris Steinborn, First Team, 2002
- Wil Shortreed, Second Team, 2013
- Kyle Shaffer, Third Team, 2008
- Brad Coon, Third Team, 2003
The 2014 season marks Greg Gerland's tenth year on the Lakeland coaching staff. Since 2005, Gerland has helped the Lakers claim four Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championships while serving as the pitching coach. In 2013, Gerland's staff posted a conference-best 4.65 ERA to help Lakeland claim a share of the regular season title. Freshman Brandon Easton was named OCCAC Pitcher of the Year at season's end before being selected in the 24th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins organization.
A Euclid High School graduate, Gerland played collegiate baseball at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. In his three years with the Bulldogs, Gerland went 24-11 from the mound and helped the Bulldogs claim three conference championships (1992, 1994, 1995). CU also made two trips to the NAIA World Series where it finished as national runner-up in 1994 and third in 1995. He is tied for fifth in school history in career wins with 24 in three seasons and holds the single-season shutout record with four as a senior. He ranks eighth in career strikeouts (171) and fifth in innings pitched (235.2) in his three years with the program.
Upon graduating from Cumberland with a bachelor's degree in education he spent one year with the Atlanta Braves organization during the 1995-96 season.
Gerland, a Corporate Sales Auditor for Progressive Insurance, currently resides in Euclid.
Web Content Display
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Hometown | High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matton, Chad | SS / 2B | 5' 11" | 175 | FR | Windsor, Ontario | |
| 2 | Bobb, Marcus | 2B | 5' 7" | 155 | SO | Lake Wales, FL | |
| 3 | Force, Drake | C | 5' 7" | 160 | FR | Chesterland, OH | |
| 4 | Medina, Alex | C | 6' | 175 | FR | Miami, FL | |
| 5 | Posipanka, Ray | OF | 5' 10" | 170 | FR | Eastlake, OH | |
| 6 | Vellucci, Seth | C | 5' 10" | 195 | SO | Massillon, OH | |
| 7 | Ward, Anthony | OF / LHP | 5' 10" | 170 | FR | Willowick, OH | |
| 8 | Martinez, Obrayan | RHP | 5' 11" | 187 | FR | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | |
| 9 | Kalinowski, Rob | RHP | 6' | 185 | FR | Willowick, OH | |
| 10 | Munoz, Anthony | OF | 6' | 180 | FR | Miami, FL | |
| 11 | Miller, Anthony | RHP | 6' 2" | 185 | FR | Ft. Wayne, IN | |
| 12 | Milo, Jay | RHP | 6' 4" | 190 | FR | Willowick, OH | |
| 13 | Fernandez, Danny | OF / 1B | 5' 10" | 180 | SO | Miami, FL | |
| 14 | Harpe, Glavine | RHP / 1B | 6' 2" | 220 | FR | Ft. Meade, FL | |
| 15 | Kafes, Kosta | OF | 6' | 195 | SO | Brampton, Ontario | |
| 17 | Oropesa, Eddie | RHP | 6' 1" | 175 | SO | Miami, FL | |
| 18 | Smith, Andrew | LHP | 6' 1" | 165 | FR | Oviedo, FL | |
| 19 | Mendez, Luis | LHP | 5' 11" | 200 | FR | Kissimmee, FL | |
| 20 | Pash, Hogan | RHP | 6' 1" | 190 | FR | Bowling Green, OH | |
| 21 | Neale, Dave | P / 1B | 6'3" | 195 | FR | Brecksville, OH | |
| 22 | Bear, Michael | RHP | 6' | 187 | SO | New Castle, IN | |
| 23 | Fach, David | 2B / 3B | 5' 8" | 150 | SO | Massillon, OH | |
| 24 | Samuels, Adam | RHP | 6' 1" | 185 | FR | Pembroke Pines, FL | |
| 25 | Pacella, Peyton | C | 5' 11" | 200 | FR | Elwood City, PA | |
| 26 | Zabarsky, Kyle | RHP | 6' 2" | 210 | FR | Willoughby, OH | |
| 27 | Flounders, Jake | LHP / OF | 6' | 160 | FR | Massillon, OH | |
| 28 | Straley, Tyler | RHP | 6' 2" | 220 | SO | Uniontown, OH | |
| 30 | Hearl, Jacob | 3B | 6' 1" | 190 | FR | Felsmere, FL | |
| 31 | Veneri, Anthony | OF | 5' 9" | 180 | FR | Kirtland, OH | |
| 33 | Capel, Mike | 1B / C | 6' 2" | 295 | SO | Mentor, OH | |
| 34 | Chambers, Jeremy | OF / SS | 6' | 190 | FR | Bowling Green, OH |
Head Coach: Howie Krause (14th season)
Assistant Coach: Greg Gerland (14th season)