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.