CLC Baseball and Softball Teams Lose at Home

Raiders Baseball

The Raider  baseball team dropped their first South Division losses of the season at home on Wednesday, May 1, as they were defeated 8-3 (LP Taz Seibert) and 10-4 ( LP Brandon Kiel) by Rochester at Findorff Field. The Raiders are now 6-3-1 on the season.

The Raiders next games (double header) are on the road against St. Cloud Technical and Community College on Saturday, May 4 at 7 pm.

New coach

By Mike Bialka
Brainerd Dispatch 6-15-12

After graduating from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth and entering the working world, Blake Eller realized he wanted to be a baseball coach. The 2004 Brainerd High School graduate, a standout player for the Warriors and in college for the Saints, served the last two years as a graduate assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. “I’ve wanted to coach for the last few years,” Eller said. “Obviously, I always loved playing the game and everything involved with it. (The game) teaches you about yourself and about life. I wanted to get involved and help kids who want to play.” On June 11, Eller’s career path took another step in the right direction when he was hired as head baseball coach at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. He succeeds Pat Held, who resigned following last season.

Coach Held hangs it up

Pat Held, who has had a 43-year coaching career in baseball -- there as head coach of the Central Lakes College Raiders -- has announced his retirement. Pat is 61. Wife Carolyn, also a baseball nut, is battling cancer. She was CLC's official scorekeeper this spring when a new record was set for number of games played: 49. "I've had enough riding buses," said Pat in the Brainerd Dispatch. "We played 11 games at Austin. That was more than we played in Brainerd." CLC was the seventh seed in the Southern Division playoffs and bumped off No. 1 Riverland 1-0 in the first duel in a best-of-3 series. "We were the only lower-seeded team that won a game. Everyone else went two and out. And we had them on the ropes the second game," Pat said.
Read the entire feature by Mike Bialka of The Brainerd Dispatch: http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2012-05-18/baseball-held-hangs-spikes-after-43-year-coaching-career

Pitcher of the Week

Derek Pihlaja of Central Lakes College was the Southern Division Pitcher of the Week in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference for the week of May 8. Derek, a sophomore right-hander from Menahga, threw a five-hit shutout vs. No. 2-ranked Riverland in the opening game of the conference play-offs to determine regional berths. Derek threw only 82 pitches while going the distance, striking out four and walking one. Coach Pat Held said it was a well-deserved honor for Derek.

Playoff losses end season

The Central Lakes College baseball team lost two at Riverland Saturday, 2-0 and 8-0. The Raiders were trying for a post-season berth despite their 9-40 record, based on the competition in the Southern Division of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. In the first setback Saturday, CLC had but one hit. Hurler Bryan Yackley (shown) allowed no earned runs in 4.2 innings, holding the No. 2-seeded hosts to five hits. CLC made only three errors in the last five games of the season. In four of those five no Raider pitcher allowed more than one earned run. In the 8-0 loss, CLC's Taz Seibert took the loss as Riverland outhit the Raiders, 6-5.

Baseball team wins

Dustin Motschenbacher and Trevor Woodruff combined for a 4-hit shutout as the Central Lakes College Raiders ended the regular season Tuesday night with a 7-0 win over the St. John’s University junior varsity in the second 7-inning game of a doubleheader at Mills Field. Motschenbacher went four innings, with three strikeouts and three walks. Woodruff struck out one and walked none in two innings. CLC’s Taz Seibert was 2-4 with a run scored as CLC snapped a 9-game losing streak.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 defeats Raiders

Itasca defeated the Raiders twice Tuesday, 4-3 and 15-8 at Grand Rapids, leaving CLC with a 1-19 record on the year. Jared Hoemberg (shown) hit a solo home run in the narrow loss and was 2-5 with RBI in the second game. The Raiders’ Trey Thompson pitched all seven innings of Game One, striking out three, walking one and scattering nine hits. Pete Lucken was 2-4 with two RBIs in the nightcap. Derek Pihlaja was 2-3 with three RBIs and Joe Gaida was 2-2 and reached base in all four plate appearances. CLC had one error in the first contest, 3 in the second and was outhit, 9-7 in the opener and 13-10 in the finale. Next: Hibbing at CLC, Tuesday, April 3, 2 p.m. (2 seven-inning games scheduled).

Raiders end losing streak

The Central Lakes College Raiders won their first game this season and snapped a 48-game losing streak by edging Rainy River, 5-4, Sunday, March 25 in the first game of a double header played on Mall of America field in Minneapolis' Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. CLC had gone 0-31 in 2010 and was 0-16 this season before the win. The Raiders lost the second game, 7-1. Hamburg freshman Taz Seibert (shown) and Osage sophomore Derek Pihlaja had what Coach Pat Held called a "nice pitching effort" in the win. Park Rapids sophomore Josh Edwards punched a walk-off sacrifice fly to plate the winning run. Next: Tuesday, April 3 vs. Hibbing, 2 p.m., Findorff Field, CLC.

Raider baseball team gets experience

The Central Lakes College baseball team played top teams from Texas and Oklahoma to start the 2012 season. Example: March 14 losses by scores of 4-3 and 8-0 to fourth-ranked Tyler, Texas while being outhit, 11-8, in those two battles. Fielding miscues plagued the Raiders (0-16) in most losses against teams playing a lot more games in outdoor baseball weather most of the year. The Raiders led Tyler, 3-2, in the sixth inning of the first game before losing 4-3. Freshman hurler Dustin Motschenbacher of Wadena allowed just five hits and didn’t walk a batter. Freshman Jared Hoemberg of Bertha had an RBI single and Joe Gaida of Browerville and Baxter sophomore Jaron Hanson collected the other CLC hits. In the 8-0 shutout loss at Tyler, Melrose sophomore Pete Lucken had two hits for CLC and Gaida, Parkers Prairie freshman Trey Thompson and Osage sophomore Derek Pihlaja each had a hit against the nation’s fourth-ranked team. CLC is back in state for a Sunday, March 25 doubleheader vs. Rainy River at the Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, with a 4 p.m. start for the pair of seven-inning games. First home twinbill is April 3 vs. Hibbing at 2 p.m. Other recent losses in the Texas-Oklahoma road trip: March 15, vs. defending national champion Eastfield (Texas) 10-0, 11-1; March 16, also vs. Eastfield 17-2, 14-4; March 17 vs. NE Oklahoma, 7-1, 14-2. The March 12 nine-inning game vs. Paris, Texas was rained out.