Kassulker Powers CLC to Game One win

Faith Kassulker went 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBIs, and a double during the Central Lakes College Raiders' 12-1 win over the Northland Pioneers in the first game of a Northern Division doubleheader Saturday at Findorff Field.

In the first game, the Raiders had a 10-run first inning with RBI singles from Journee Howard, Kiana Edwards and Alex Palm. MacKenzie Holst also drove in a CLC run.

In the Raiders' second-game 6-4 win over the Pioneers, Kristen Gottfredson and Lindsey Marcyes delivered run-scoring doubles in CLC's 4-run second inning. Gottfredson finished with two RBIs.

Story courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch. Read more.

Softball Team Wins Home Opener

The Raiders won their home opener against Vermilion 8-6 on a fine day for a ball game. With the temperature at 58 degrees, light winds and mostly sunny skies, the Raiders opened their home schedule at the Findorff Field complex on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. The Raiders were down 6-5 after five innings, but a timely three run rally in the six inning put them ahead to win the first game of the double header.

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.

Post-season honors

Central Lakes College softball players have earned post-season honors for the 2012 season, reports Coach Greg Medeck. Jenni Smolke (shown) was named First Team All-State (Minnesota College Athletic Conference) and All-Northern Division. She is a freshman infielder from Brainerd who hit .523 for the season, third best in the Division. She also had a .991 fielding percentage that placed her fourth in the Division. Alanna Hansen, a Brainerd sophomore outfielder, and Kaylie Hanson, a Pillager freshman infielder, were named to the All-Division Second Team. Alanna hit .441 and was third in steals with 22.

Season ends

The Central Lakes College fast-pitch softball season ended at Grand Rapids Saturday, as the Raiders won one of three games in the Jennie Guyer tournament. The Raiders defeated Mesabi Range, 12-3 behind Nicole Marcy (shown) and Becca Anderson, who both belted home runs. Nicole drove in six runs. Sam Harting pitched the win, striking out one and walking two while scattering three hits. Jenni Smolke drove in two runs. In the other games, Hibbing defeated CLC, 8-2, and North Dakota State College of Science shut the Raiders out, 5-0. Sam had a workout on the mound, and she struck out three in each of those games. CLC was outhit, 11-7, and  10-3 in the respective season-ending losses. The Raiders finished with a 15-19 record.

Raiders split at Hibbing

The Central Lakes College fast-pitch softball team split with Hibbing Wednesday in a make-up doubleheader from a weather postponement of April 21. The Raiders first lost, 8-3, and then won 14-4, to push their record to 14-17 overall and 11-9 in the Northern Division of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC). CLC was led by Alanna Hansen and Nicole Marcy, who hit home runs in the second game. Nicole went 2-for-4 and four runs batted in. Alanna also went 2-for-4 and scored three times. Sam Harting scattered five hits and a single earned run while striking out four Cardinals in the win. Alanna and Carlie Sweet belted homers in the opener, but the home team collected 10 hits off Sam. She struck out five and walked one. Lena Montano (shown) and Alanna went 2-for-3. The season ends Saturday as the Raiders travel to Grand Rapids for the Jennie Guyer memorial tournament hosted by national powerhouse Itasca. There will be no 2012 post-season appearance for CLC due to a fourth place Division finish, according to Coach Greg Medeck.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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).

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.

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.

Losses at St. Cloud

The Central Lakes College Raiders completed their non-division, fast-pitch softball schedule with a doubleheader loss to St. Cloud Technical and Community College on Saturday morning in the Husky Dome at St. Cloud State University. CLC lost the first game 8-0 with Becca Anderson and Desirae Guscette doubling and Jenni Smolke and Alanna Hansen collecting singles. In Game Two, Becca, Hayley Hornick, Jenni and Kaylie Hanson each had two hits as CLC lost 9-4. Kaylie and Hayley ripped doubles. Kaylie drove in two runs. Sam Harting took the loss in both games. In the two games she struck out four and walked eight. The Raiders (1-4) have nearly a week to get ready for conference play. Coach Greg Medeck is confidant that this is a talented group which should be ready for Itasca on April 3, the first home games of the season. The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Findorff Field.

Raiders win 1 of 3

The Central Lakes College fast-pitch softball team opened its 2012 season Friday, March 23 with one win and two losses. Rebecca Anderson collected four hits and Carlie Sweet slugged a 3-run homer in a 17-8  win over Mesabi Range at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount. Rebecca, a Cherry sophomore transfer from Hibbing CC, finished 4 for 5 with four runs, two doubles and a triple. Jenni Smolke was 3-4. Winning pitcher Sam Harting struck out three and walked one in a complete game. CLC lost its second game 13-3 to Itasca. Alanna Hansen was 2-3 and drove in two runs for the Raiders.Hibbing edged CLC, 3-2, in the final game. Jenni was 2-3 with a double, Hayley Hornick was 1-3 with two runs and Nicole Marcy was 1-3 with a double. Next: CLC vs. St. Cloud Technical and Community College at St. Cloud State University today.

Young and athletic

Pitcher Samantha Harting, a sophomore from Pillager, returns to the Central Lakes College fast-pitch softball team from her 19-win season last spring. But she is the only pitcher on the pre-season roster and one of just three sophomores anchoring the young 2012 Raider squad. The Raiders are inexperienced but athletic, with nine promising freshmen taking up their first season of college ball. Their first tests are this weekend with games vs. Hibbing, Itasca, and Mesabi Range on Friday and a double header at St. Cloud Saturday. Last year Harting worked more than 200 innings on the mound during the 20-15 season in which the Raiders won 13 of 20 Northern Division games. She was 19-14.