Softball team splits

CLOQUET — The Central Lakes College Raider softball team won two and lost two during last weekend's Crossover tournament, which replaces the Minnesota College Athletic Conference state tournament. Kaylie Hanson, Jenni Smolke and Desirae Guscette added doubles for the Raiders as they lost, 11-3, to St. Cloud Technical & Community College during the first game. Heather Hejhal was 2-4 with three RBIs in the Raiders' 9-7 victory over Minnesota State Community & Technical College (Fergus Falls) in the second game. Alanna Hansen added a double and 2 RBIs, Guscette hit a double and Hanson was 2-3 with a triple. K. Hanson and A. Hansen both hit home runs for the Raiders as they lost 11-3 to Ridgewater in the third game. Hayley Hornick hit a double, A. Hansen was 3-4 with three RBIs, Carlie Sweet added 2 RBIs and Nicole Marcy and Guscette added doubles as the Raiders won their final game 10-8 against Anoka-Ramsey. Next: CLC (12-16) at Hibbing (2) 3 p.m. Wednesday (make-up game for April 21 rain-out.)

National power St. Cloud sweeps Raiders

Derek Pihlaja was 1-1 with a double and an RBI for the Central Lakes College baseball team in a 13-3 and 10-0 sweep by St. Cloud Technical and Community College Saturday at Findorff Athletic Complex on the CLC campus. Pete Lukken was 2-2 with an RBI and Hunter Young was 2-3 for the Raiders. “We gave up too many free bases in that second game,” said Raiders head coach Pat held. “St. Cloud (ranked 8th in the NJCAA D III poll)  is very good; they’ve got some guys who can really hit. And we’re traveling so much our guys are just getting worn out.”

National power Itasca escapes CLC

GRAND RAPIDS — Sixth-ranked Itasca (30-6) scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge the Central Lakes College Raiders softball team, 10-9, in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday. CLC led 9-6 into the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t protect the lead. The loss overshadowed a big offensive game for CLC, which ripped 20 hits in the nightcap. Carlie Sweet was 5 for 5 with four RBIs and a home run. Kaylie Hanson was 4-5, Jenni Smolke (shown) and Alanna Hansen each had three hits and Nicole Marcy added two. Smolke homered and drove in three runs. Losing pitcher Sam Harting walked three and struck out three. Itasca won the opener, 5-1, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Kaylie Hanson and Desirae Guscette each had two hits. On the mound Sam Harting allowed just two earned runs, walked one and struck out one. Division: CLC 10-8. Overall: CLC 11-14. Next: CLC in Crossover Tournament at Cloquet Saturday-Sunday. Tournament replaces traditional state tournament. Half of MCAC teams play similar tournament at Austin this weekend. Saturday at Cloquet ( where the 8 teams are CLC, Anoka-Ramsey, St. Cloud, Ridgewater, MSCTC-Fergus Falls, Fond du Lac, Rainy River, Mesabi Range): CLC vs. St. Cloud Tech & Comm, 2 p.m., Field 4 at Braun Park, vs.  MSCTC, 4 p.m., Field 4. Sunday: CLC vs. Ridgewater, 10 a.m., Field 3, vs. Anoka-Ramsey, noon, Field 3.

Raiders drop 2

FERGUS FALLS — After driving more than 1,000 miles in the last three days, the Central Lakes Raiders dropped a pair of road games to Minnesota State Community and Technical College Tuesday. In the first game, CLC’s Jared Hoemberg managed the Raiders’ only hit in a 9-0 loss. Peter Lucken went 2-3 with a pair of RBIs in the second game, which the Raiders lost 17-4 in five innings. The losses drop CLC’s overall record to 7-35, and its division record to 3-9 with two division games left against St. Cloud Technical College on Saturday.

Pitcher of the Week

Central Lakes College's Sam Harting is the Northern Division Pitcher of the Week in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. Sam pitched all four Central Lakes wins last week tossing 24 innings in the process. She struck out 8 and walked 7 with a 3.50 ERA in sweeps of Northland and Fond du Lac. Sam’s 128 innings pitched leads the Northern Division. She is a sophomore from Pillager.

Raiders fall to Anoka-Ramsey

ANOKA — Cory Tumberg (shown) was 2-4 with a double and RBI in the second game as the Central Lakes College Baseball Raiders lost to Anoka-Ramsey, 10-6, in the second game of a Minnesota College Athletic Conference Southern Division doubleheader Monday. Losing pitcher Taz Seibert was 1-4 at the plate, with a double and RBI in the second game. Division: CLC 3-7. Overall: CLC 7-33. Next: CLC at Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Fergus Falls 2 p.m. today.

Blue Devils burn Raiders

AUSTIN — Riverland collected two wins over the Central Lakes College Raiders by scores of 11-0 and 5-1 in a Southern Division doubleheader Sunday. A double by Jared Hoemberg and singles by Sean Dormanen and Pete Lucken were the only hits CLC managed against Blue Devils pitcher Ben Schaben. CLC produced more offense in the second game. Bryan Yackley (shown) went 3-4 and knocked in a run and Cory Tumberg collected two hits for the Raiders. CLC’s division doubleheader Saturday at Anoka-Ramsey was postponed until 2 p.m. today.

Win streak continues

THIEF RIVER FALLS — The softball Raiders swept Northland, 10-4 and 11-8, in Friday’s North Division doubleheader to extend their win streak to seven straight. In the first win of the day, the Raiders slapped 15 hits. Carlie Sweet walloped a home run and Hayley Hornick poked a double. CLC’s offensive assault continued with 16 more hits in Game Two. Becca Anderson (shown) of Cherry went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the way. A home run from Alanna Hansen and Kaylie Hanson’s double also helped pitcher Samantha Harting to both wins. Division: CLC 10-6. Overall: CLC 11-12.

Happy birthday, coach

The Raiders baseball team split a doubleheader with Ridgewater Wednesday at Findorff Field, losing the first game, 10-6 and winning the second, 10-0 behind two-hit pitching by Taz Seibert, went the distance. The freshman from Hamburg didn't walk a batter while fanning Warriors. Coach Pat Held said this one was one of the best efforts this season by his ball club, which showed skills both at the plate and in the field. It was a nice 61st birthday present for Pat, who is in his 43rd year as a coach of baseball at various levels.He was impressed by the team's  two-out hitting performance. CLC, which improved its Southern Division record to 3-3, scored five runs in the second inning with two out. CLC freshman Trevor Woodruff of Mountain Home, Idaho poked a 3-run triple as a big-stroke highlight. Derek Pihlaja finished 3-3 with two RBIs, Pete Lucken was 3-4 with two RBIs, Tyler Lenz was 2-3 and Sean Dormanen was 2-4 with an RBI. In the first game of the day, Ridgewater escaped. CLC's Pihlaja was 2-4 with two doubles and Hunter Young was 2-2 with an RBI. The Raiders trailed 7-5 before scoring a run in the sixth. CLC loaded the bases with one out, but the next two batters went down swinging. Ridgewater nailed the win with three runs in the top of the seventh. Overall: CLC 7-29. Next: CLC at Anoka-Ramsey 1 p.m. Saturday (2), CLC vs. Riverland at Austin, 1 p.m. Sunday (2).

Homers ignite baseball team

The Baseball Raiders of Central Lakes College swept Minnesota West in tennis-like scores, 6-2 and 6-4, Tuesday at Findorff Athletic Complex. In the opener, freshman Jared Hoemberg (shown), former Bertha-Hewitt standout, and Peter Lucken, a Melrose sophomore, hit home runs and combined to drive in three of the Raiders’ six runs. Dustin Motschenbacher pitched his first win. Josh Edward shit a two-run double. The Raiders rallied to win the nightcap, as they trailed going into the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Johnny Egan hit a sacrifice fly followed by consecutive RBI singles by Hunter Young, Tyler Lenz and Trey Thompson to clinch their third conference win. Thompson added a double and pitched the win. Division: CLC 2-2. Overall: 6-28. Next: Ridgewater at CLC 2 p.m. today (2), weather-permitting.

Five-game win streak

CLOQUET — Kaylie Hanson tripled in Game One and doubled in Game Two to lead the Central Lakes College softball team to a sweep of Fond Du Lac in a Northern Division doubleheader Tuesday. CLC is enjoying a five-game win streak. The Raiders won the first game, 12-3, as they pounded out 16 hits. Alanna Hansen and Carlie Sweet each doubled while Lena Montano and Hanson tripled. Hansen also capped off her offensive effort with a home run. In the 12-4 Game Two win, the Raiders managed 15 hits. Hanson doubled and hurler Sam Harting notched her second win of the day. The Raiders moved to 8-6 in division play. Overall: 9-12. Next: CLC vs. Northland at Thief River Falls 3 p.m. Friday (2).

Three big wins

Carlie Sweet (shown) went 3-for-6 with a double and 250-foot grand slam in a 20-4 Raider softball rout of Vermilion Sunday at Findorff Field on the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd. “It was the longest (softball) home run I’ve ever seen,” said CLC Coach Greg Medeck. Six CLC players contributed extra base hits and Jenni Smolke added four RBIs for the Raiders. Samantha Harting pitched a complete game for CLC, allowing four earned runs off of 10 hits, while striking out five and walking five. Foul weather forced cancellation of the second game Sunday. Division: CLC 5-6. Overall: CLC 6-12 . Next: Tuesday at Fon Du Lac (Cloquet), 3 p.m.

Raiders sweep Mesabi Range

Nine players contributed extra-base hits as CLC smacked Mesabi Range 18-5 and 19-3 in a Northern Division doubleheader at Virginia Saturday. Alanna Hansen and Hayley Hornick both hit home runs for the Raiders, and Becca Anderson pounded out four hits in the first game and three in the second. Hayley, Alanna, and Kaylie Hanson each notched two doubles for the Raiders in the second game

Yellowjackets sting

Josh Edwards (shown) notched the only two hits for our baseball Raiders in a 5-1 loss to the Rochester Yellowjackets Saturday in Rochester. CLC also dropped the second game, an extra-inning 5-4 heart-breaker to a quality team. The two teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the seventh inning. Derek Pihlaja and Trey Thompson both notched RBI singles in the eighth to help the Raiders to a 4-2 lead before Ryan Lester of RCTC sealed the game with his RBI single. CLC’s lone run in the first game came off a sacrifice fly from Tyler Lenz. Sunday's scheduled twinbill vs. Minnesota West was postponed and is re-set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Findorff Field. Division: CLC 0-4. Overall: CLC 4-28. CLC also hosts Ridgewater for a pair at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

St. John's sweeps

COLLEGEVILLE — Joe Gaida was 1-3 with an RBI for the Raiders baseball team as they were defeated 3-1 by the St. John’s University junior varsity in the opening game of a doubleheader Wednesday. Bryan Yackley only walked one batter and struck out 3. Tyler Lenz (shown), who went 3 for 5 with an RBI, Dustin Motschenbacher (2 for 4), and Jaron Hanson with an RBI were bright spots in the second game, a 5-4 loss. “We had a lead late in the game but couldn't hold it, and we left 10 men on base,” said Coach Pat Held. Overall: CLC 4-26. Next: Central Lakes at Rochester 1 p.m. Saturday (2).

Rainy sweeps Raiders

Alanna Hansen went 1-3 with two RBI for the Raiders softball team in the first game of a Northern Division doubleheader, a 4-3 loss to Rainy River, Wednesday at CLC. Carlie Sweet was 1-3 and added and RBI for CLC. Kaylie Hanson went 1-4 with two RBIs in the nightcap, a 10-6 loss. Nicole Marcy was 2-3 with an RBI. Sam Harting pitched two complete games for the Raiders, striking out three and walking four in each game. Division: CLC 2-6. Overall: CLC 3-12. Next: at Mesabi Range noon Saturday (2).

First-team All-American

Maurice Hernandez, a sophomore from St. Paul, is the first men's basketball player from Central Lakes College to receive first team All-American honors. Mo was the leading scorer on the CLC team that finished fourth in the NJCAA Division III tournament. The Raiders were 29-4 this season and captured the Southern Division regular-season title as well as the state and regional championships. Mo averaged 17.3 points per game, shot 52 percent from the field, and averaged nearly 8 rebounds per game while earning All-State and All-Division honors. He is a 6-4 forward who earned credentials as a hard-nosed athlete with deceptive quickness when helping his Henry Sibley High School team to state runner-up honors. He is the only Minnesota player named to the five-soph team. Vermilion's Taylor Smaller, also a sophomore, was a third team pick.

Raider softball team loses

St. Cloud Technical and Community College swept a non-division doubleheader from the Central Lakes College Raiders by scores of 10-1 and 7-3 on Tuesday. In the first game, Alanna Hansen (shown) doubled for one of the Raiders’ three hits and Becca Anderson drove in a run. Lena Montano pitched the first inning for CLC and Sam Harting finished. In Game Two, Anderson, Alanna Hansen, Kaylie Hanson and Nicole Marcy doubled for CLC. Kaylie Hanson and Carlie Sweet drove in runs. Hansen and Marcy each finished with two hits. Harting pitched a complete game with five strikeouts and five walks. CLC 3-10. Next: Rainy River at CLC 3 p.m. today (2).

Raiders split

Nicole Marcy hit two doubles and drove in three runs for Central Lakes College in a 10-2 softball win vs. Hibbing in the second game Monday at Findorff Field. Kaylie Hanson, Carlie Sweet, Becca Anderson and Hayley Hornick all whacked two hits, with Sweet poking a triple and double. Kaylie Hanson belted three hits in the first game, a 13-3 loss. Sam Harting started both games for the Raiders, allowing a total of 16 hits and striking out six. She allowed no earned runs in the second game. CLC record, division: 2-5, overall: 3-8. Next: CLC at St. Cloud Technical & Community College, 3:30 p.m. today (2).

Baseball report

Crossover tournament
AUSTIN -- Taz Seibert pitched a complete game and went 2 for 3 with a solo home run and three RBI to lead Central lakes College's baseball Raiders to a 12-2 win vs. Fond du Lac in the Crossover Tournament Saturday. Taz struck out two, walked one, and scattered four hits as the winning pitcher. Tyler Lenz went 4-4 with a triple, Jaron Hanson slapped a double for one of his two hits, and Joe Gaida also ripped a double in his 2-3 plate showing. In the second game, Ridgewater defeated CLC, 12-6. Taz went 2-2 with three RBI, Jaron belted a double for two RBI, and Tyler drove in a run with his two-base hit. Next: at Collegeville Wednesday vs. St. Johns JV.

First day results
Dustin Motschenbacher kept the Riverland Blue Jays off balance for most of Friday’s second game in the Crossover tournament. The freshman from Wadena struck out one, walked one and allowed just six hits. Three errors, however, netted a 6-4 loss. The Raiders led, 4-2, in the bottom of the sixth. An infield single, an error and a walk loaded the bases. Trey Thompson hit an RBI double, Bryan Yackley hit an RBI single and Sean Dormanen went 2-4. Taz Seibert went 2-4 and Jaron Hanson and Pete Lucken both hit RBI doubles during the Raiders' 9-5 loss to Hibbing in the first round Friday.

Softball team splits

Alanna Hansen went 2-3 with an RBI and Samantha Harting struck out five, walked two, and scattered four hits to lead the Central Lakes College Raiders to a 1-0 victory in the second game of Thursday’s home doubleheader vs. Northland. The Raiders dropped the opener 7-6. Heather Hejhal was 2-3 with two RBIs. Becca Anderson, Kaylie Hanson and Carlie Sweet poked singles. Division: CLC 1-3. Overall: CLC 2-7. Next: Hibbing at CLC, 3 p.m. Monday.

Raiders lose at Riverland

The Central Lakes College Raiders dropped both baseball games Thursday at Austin to the Riverland Blue Devils, 10-0 and 13-3, in Minnesota College Athletic Conference play. CLC had just one hit in the opener and  hurler Trevor Woodriff took the loss. In Game Two, CLC’s Tyler Lenz contributed a double and a triple, Johnny Egan added another triple. Hunter Young was the losing pitcher. CLC is now 3-19 on the year. Next: vs. Hibbing in Crossover tournament at Austin 3 p.m. today.

Raiders sweep Hibbing

The Central Lakes College Baseball Raiders Tuesday swept Hibbing in their 2012 home opener, a doubleheader at Findorff Field on the CLC campus. They did it with six hits in both games and some stand-up hurling. It was their first twinbill sweep since May 9, 2010 and their second and third wins of the young season that began with a road trip to Texas and Oklahoma against some of the top D III units in the country. CLC won the first game 6-3 with Taz Seibert, Trey Thompson, Joe Gaida and Jaron Hanson (shown) driving in runs.Winning pitcher Sean Dormanen scattered four Hibbing hits. CLC took the nightcap, 11-1, with Derek Pilahja on the hill for the win. Jaron poked two RBIs, while Taz and Jared Hoemberg each batted one run across.The 3-19 Raiders travel to Riverland (Austin) Thursday for a pair.

Itasca spoils home opener

New Ulm sophomore Hayley Hornick (shown) scored four runs, drove in three more and stole five bases, but the Central Lakes Raiders had their softball home opener spoiled by  Itasca Tuesday at Findorff Field on the CLC campus. They dropped a the Northern Division games by scores of 8-7 and 15-7 in Minnesota College Athletic Conference action. Itasca is good team, as usual, and the Raiders didn’t get things done defensively. In Game One, the scored was knotted 7-7 after six innings before the Vikings scored in the top of the seventh to escape. Hayley and Jenni Smolke both went 3-4, while Rebecca Anderson contributed a triple and Desirae Guscette doubled. Samantha Harting took the loss, striking out four and giving up eight hits. In Game Two, the Raiders grabbed a 4-0 lead and belted extra bases on five of their seven hits. Kaylie Hanson tripled and Hayley H, Desirae, Carlie Sweet and Nicole Marcy all doubled. On the hill for CLC, workhorse Samantha gave up just one earned run in each game, but the Raiders committed seven errors in the first and eight in the second. Northland is at CLC Thursday for a 3 p.m. start.