Baseball report

The CLC Raider baseball team continued its early season series with Mesabi Range at the Metrodome on Feb 28th.  Mesabi dropped CLC by the score of 10-2. Jared Hoemberg [Bertha-Hewitt HS] had two hits and an RBI and Josh Edwards [Nevis HS] chipped in a RBI Single. In the second game, Mesabi also topped CLC 12-4.  Jaron Hanson [Brainerd HS] had a single and a double with an RBI.  Justin Kostecka [Pequot Lakes HS] had an RBI basehit and Nick Jasmer [Bertha-Hewitt HS] had a two run single to plate the Raiders last two runs. "It was good for us to get out and play and see how the players respond to competition.  We need to improve our pitching and defense and be consistent in making plays, commented Coach Pat Held. CLC's next action is March 10 as the team begins the spring break southern trip with a double header at Connors College in Warner, OK.

Tournament webcast

This weekend's MCAC-Region 13 men's basketball tournament, in which the Central Lakes College Raiders will be participating, will be broadcast live on the Internet. Go to www.webcast50.com to view all the action. Click on College, click on Anoka-Ramsey Community College, and click on Watch Live Event.

Raiders win Division

The Central Lakes College men's basketball team was handed the Southern Division season championship Saturday when previously-winless Ridgewater (0-11) upset M State, 81-69, while the Raiders ousted Rochester from its share of the title, 69-54. Heading into the Saturday showdown, CLC, Rochester, and M State (Fergus Falls) were all at 8-3 in the Division. The Raiders clinched the top seed of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference tournament March 2-4 with their 9-3 mark (24-3 overall, ranked fourth in NJCAA DIII poll). The starting line-up of Michael Farrington (shown, 15), Maurice Hernandez (13), Brandon Davis (12), Ronnie Kornbaum (11), and Kwamaine Johnson (10) provided a sizzling first-half comeback after the Yellowjackets started out the aggressor with motivation. CLC's reserve strength played a major role vs. the less-supported Yellowjacket bench. CLC led, 35-20, at the half on 52% shooting and much better free-throw accuracy than in the second half. For the game, the home team shot 51% and 33% from 3-pointland. The visitors made just 2 of 17 from outside the arc and shot only 31%, largely due to outstanding CLC defense and rebounding (39-32 edge). Michael had four big steals and Kwamaine provided 5 key assists, while Mo handled the rebounding with a game-high 13, all on the defensive end. Next: MCAC tournament at Anoka-Ramsey (Coon Rapids) Friday-Sunday, where a state championship carries with it the ultimate prize: A trip to New York for the Elite Eight national tournament March 15-17.
Women end season
The CLC women finished their season with a well-played effort but their seventh straight loss, a 71-58 setback to the Yallowjackets of Rochester. After leading, 35-34, at halftime, CLC was outscored in the last 20 minutes, 37-23. Nikki Pearson led all scorers with 24 points. She had five rebounds and four assists before fouling out with 23 seconds left. Jalynn Lamb added 16 points and 7 rebounds. CLC finished with a record of 8 wins, 17 losses (last place at 2-10 in the MCAC South). Rochester went to 20-6 overall and took second in the Division with a 9-3 mark.

Teams lose at Fergus Falls

Men's basketball
The fourth-ranked Central Lakes College Raiders incurred their third loss in 26 games Wed., Feb. 22 at Fergus Falls, when the M State Spartans took advantage of some home cooking and cold Raider shooting for a 74-59 upset to avenge a 92-66 shellacking in Brainerd on Jan.28. The winners made 48% from the field, while the losers converted just 39% of their shots. M State went to the line for 26 attempts, making 14 (56%) and CLC earned 11 points in 15 free throw attempts (73%). The Spartans fired 8 of 16 from beyond the arc for 24 of their points. CLC made just 4 of 21 (19%). Head Coach Jim Russell of CLC said the Raiders always face a "tough environment" at Fergus Falls and the winners "came to play." He was mystified that the Raiders had such a bad night of shooting. "If you can't shoot the ball you aren't going to win many games," he told the Brainerd Dispatch. The only Raiders to score in double figures: Ronnie Kornbaum with 12, Maurice Hernandez with 11. CLC, M State, and Rochester (defeated Mn West Wed., 72-71) now share the Southern Division lead at 8-3. Saturday's finale home game vs. Rochester looms even larger than it had as a factor in seeding for the MCAC tournament March 2-4 in Coon Rapids. Not to mention pride and "bragging rights" that go with surviving as Southern Division season champs. M State is expected to defeat Ridgewater Saturday to retain its piece of the top spot.
Women's basketball
Sophomore All-Conference standout Nikki Pearson (shown) of Staples scored 18 points for the CLC women, but the M State Spartans notched their second win of the season over the Raiders, 72-59, at Fergus Falls. Jalynn Lamb added 14 and Elizabeth Mattson 10. The losers made 39% of their shots, but the winners converted just 37%. M State made 22 of 30 from the line, while CLC made 11 of its 16 tries in a lop-sided distribution of personal fouls. CLC is now 2-9 in the Southern Division and at 8-16 will play its final game of the 2011-12 season on Saturday vs. Rochester (8-3, 19-6) at 1 p.m.

Opening day: Raiders lose 2

The 2012 Central Lakes College baseball season opened Monday, Feb. 20 in Minneapolis, where the Raiders lost to Mesabi Range in a pair of games played at Mall of America field. Scores: 9-1 and 12-2. Josh Edwards and Hunter Young were on the hill for CLC and incurred the losses as pitchers of record. In all, nine Raiders had the chance to throw as Coach Pat Held looks for the winning battery. He said he allowed each hurler to go two innings or a maximum of 40 pitches. CLC and Mesabi will meet again for a pair of seven-inning contests Tues., Feb. 28 in the early-season competition. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m., with plenty of seats still available.

CLC 101, Mn West 53

Win No. 23
The Central Lakes College men's basketball team routed Minnesota West, 101-53, to avenge an earlier loss and sustain a late-season surge toward the goal of a Minnesota College Athletic Conference championship. The nationally ranked Raiders moved the ball and harassed the Blue Jays from the git-go, enabling Coach Jim Russell to play his entire unit and give them all a piece of the action. Six scored in double figures -- Kwamaine (Q) Johnson (17)- shown, Maurice Hernandez (16), Brandon Davis (15), Ronnie Kornbaum (14), Michael Farrington (12), Jesse Fleming (10). Matt Christenson pounded the inside for 6 rebounds. Michael continued his sharp feeds skill for 7 assists and harvested 4 of the Raiders' 14 steals, and "Q" leaped for 7 rebounds, Jesse for 5. CLC turned it over just 9 times to 36 by the visitors. The winners (23-2) outshot the losers (10-13), 54% to 34%. The Raiders made 15 of 20 free throws. Antonio Wigfall slam-dunked the game-ending points to wrap up an artful triumph that gives notice to MCAC foes that this is the Year of the Raider!

Women lose
Down just 29-20 at the half, CLC couldn't find the hoop and lost to Mn West, 64-44 to suffer the 15th loss in 23 games. The Raiders made just 19.7% of their shots from the floor but converted 17 of 25 at the line (68%). Mn West (17-8) shot 38.6%. Nikki Pearson led the CLC offense with 14 points. She also led the rebounding with 9. Caitlin Robinson had 11 points. Next: Wed., Feb. 22 at Fergus Falls vs. M State. Women at 6 p.m., men at 8 p.m. Fan Bus leaves CLC at 3:30 p.m.; At home Sat., Feb. 25 vs. Rochester for Fan Appreciation Day with $300 in prizes to be awarded and recognition for the sophomore players as they play their last regular-season home contests in a Raider uniform. The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m.

Sign of spring

Central Lakes College baseball 2012 starts Monday, Feb. 20 with a doubleheader played in the Mall of America Field (a.k.a. Metrodome) in Minneapolis vs. Mesabi Range. It is the earliest Minnesota College Athletic Conference baseball contest in league history. The Raiders and the Norsemen are slated for a pair of seven-inning games starting at 5 p.m., and they’ll repeat the venue eight days later (Feb. 28) in a twinbill that starts at 9 a.m. Head Coach Pat Held, in his 43^rd year as a baseball mentor at various levels, starts his third season at the helm for CLC. He begins it with a roster of 25 players. The squad held a spirited fall work-out session and returned with a few additions this winter for a pre-season indoor regimen.

Raiders upset

Slow start dooms men

The Central Lakes College Raiders lost, 69-65, to the Anoka-Ramsey Rams in a Southern Division game Saturday at CLC, falling behind in the first half, 39-24, and unable to recover. The loss was only the second in 24 games for the top-ranked team. The Raiders came out flat, said sophomore co-captain Maurice Hernandez, who scored 18 points. “They were being really physical, so I had to be more physical and start attacking the basket more,” said Hernandez. “They just outplayed us tonight. They got every loose ball, every foul they made important free throws." The winners made 17 of 24 free throws and 24 of 46 shots from the floor (52%). The Raiders finished at 50% from the line and 46% from the field. Michael Farrington scored 13 (8 in the first half), and Ronnie Kornbaum had 11.

Women lose to top team

Turnovers cost the Raiders in a 64-44 loss to the Anoka-Ramsey Rams in a Southern Division game Saturday.

It was the Raiders’ fourth consecutive loss. Anoka-Ramsey , the defending national champion, is ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division III. The Raiders remained close through the first half, hitting 75% from the line, but the Rams scored 15 points off turnovers for a 31-27 halftime edge. Lindsey Roos (shown) managed 15 pints to lead the Raiders, who converted 42% from the field and 40% from the line. Next: Mn West here Sat., Feb. 18, women at 1, men at 3.

Men win, women lose

Raiders 80, Blue Devils 55
Central Lakes College's Maurice Hernandez (shown) led all scorers with 21 points to lead the top-ranked NJCAA Division III Raider men to a 80-55 win over Riverland at Austin Wed., Feb. 8. Brandon Davis scored 14 while Michael Farrington and Kwamaine Johnson scored 10 apiece for CLC. "Mo" added 10 rebounds and Michael eight assists for the 7-1 Southern Division leaders in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. owns a 22-1 record and next hosts Anoka-Ramsey (16-6) Sat., Feb. 11 at 3 p.m.
Third straight loss
Lindsey Roos scored 11 points and had six rebounds for the Raider women as they lost 82-42 to Riverland (3-5) in a Southern Division game Wed., Feb. 8 in Austin. It was the third consecutive loss for CLC, now 2-6 in the Division and 8-13 overall. Jalynn Lamb added 9 points, Lena Montana and Caitlin Robinson six each. The Raiders converted just 29% of their shots from the floor (14-48) and 52% from the line (13-25). Next: The top-ranked Rams from Anoka-Ramsey (20-2), defending national champions, Sat., Feb. 11 in Brainerd at 1 p.m.

Back on top

The Central Lakes College men's basketball team returned to the No. 1 ranking in this week's poll of coaches in Division III of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Raiders had been No. 2 since being dealt their first loss of the season at Minnesota West. The 21-1 team, which travels to Austin Wednesday to play Riverland in a Southern Division Minnesota College Athletic Conference game, had 77 points. Second-ranked Sullivan County , N.Y. (21-2), which hosts the 2012 NJCAA DIII tournament for the second year in March, earned 69 points. The Generals won NJCAA championships in 1992, 1995, 1996, and 2007. The rest of the Top 10 this week: 3. Herkimer, N.Y. (20-1), 4. Davidson County, N.C. (22-2), 5. Roxbury, Mass. (17-2), 6. Defending national champ Mountain View, Texas (21-3), 7. Camden County, N.J. (21-3), 8. Brookdale, N.J. (19-2), 9. Brookhaven, Texas (22-3), 10. SUNY-Delhi, N.Y. (21-4).

All-American to Florida A & M

Sophomore All-American defensive end Frank Mays of Central Lakes College has signed a  Letter of Intent to play football at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A & M). Frank will receive a full athletic scholarship to play for the Tallahassee school of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The NCAA Division 1-AA school of 13,000 students has a winning tradition. Last year the Rattlers finished at 7-4, losing to Bethune-Cookman, 26-16, in the Florida Classic at Orlando. Frank, a Bemidji native, earned honorable mention on the Division III All-America team announced by the National Junior College Athletic Conference. He had 47 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2011 and 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2010.

Men defeat Ridgewater

Men get 21st win
The Central Lakes College Raiders (21-1) have an opportunity to clinch a postseason No. 1 seed and remove the bitter taste from their mouth after last year’s early playoff exit. They remained focused Sat., Feb. 4 to notch a 97-73 win over Ridgewater in Brainerd. Kwamaine Johnson (shown) led all scorers with 24 points and Maurice Hernandez added 21. Brandon Davis scored 11 of CLC’s first 13 points and finished with 18. The Raiders, who shot 55% from the field and 42% from the line, will host three of the last five games, including a regular season finale against defending division champion Rochester
Women lose close one
The Central Lakes Raiders shot just 32% Sat., Feb. 4 in a 52-47 loss to Ridgewater in Brainerd. CLC led at halftime, 30-27. Nikki Pearson finished with 17 points plus 7 rebounds and 4 steals and Elizabeth Mattson added 11 points. CLC was strong at the free throw line, making 9 of 13 (69%). Ridgewater shot 36 percent from the floor, 46% at the line. “We had the flu with about three quarters of our team being sick...We just didn’t have any energy, ” said Coach Dennis Eastman. The Raiders are battling for the fourth playoff spot in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference tournament. The loss left them with a 2-5 Southern Division record, 8-12 overall. Next: At Riverland Wed., Feb. 8.

Farrington saves Raiders

Men win 20th

Michael Farrington (shown) hit the game-winner with one second left to lift the NJCAA III second- ranked Central Lakes College Raiders over the Rochester Yellowjackets, 77-75, in a Minnesota College Athletic Conference Southern Division game Wed., Feb. 1 at Rochester. CLC went into the half down two in a game that saw many lead changes and was tied with 16 seconds left to play. “This felt like a playoff game. Rochester doesn’t lose very often at home, so it is a great win on the road, “ CLC Coach Jim Russell told the Brainerd Dispatch. Jesse Fleming scored 21 and had 7 rebounds, Maurice Hernandez tallied 19 points (his division-leading average), and Kwamaine Johnson had 17 points for the 20-1 Raiders. Kwamaine added seven rebounds and eight assists. “Johnson had a great game,” Coach Russell said. “We played well as a team with 21 total assists and 53 percent shooting from the field.”

Women fall

Jalynn Lamb scored 11 points for the Raider women in a 72-42 loss at Rochester. Jalynn had four rebounds. Lindsey Roos had 8 points, Caitlyn Robinson 6, Lena Montano and Emily Weber 4 each. “What hurt us were turnovers," said Coach Dennis Eastman. "We had 32 and they scored 31 points off them.We just need to take better care of the ball.” At 5-1 in the division, the Yellowjackets are in second place while the Raiders have lost three of their last four. “Inconsistent. Last Saturday we played great, tonight we didn’t play until the second half,” Eastman said. CLC is 2-4 in the division and 8-11 overall. Next games for CLC are Saturday at home vs. Ridgewater, with the women at 1 p.m. and men at 3 p.m.