>> Hi again, everybody.
And welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report here.
Wgu.
I'm your host Steve Lloyd-Jones.
Here's what we have coming up for you tonight.
This is our last regularly scheduled program of the season.
What a great week to be a Laker and wrap up our show TVs you across wins the regional tournament and will head to the NCAA semifinals.
Laker softball wins.
The regional tournament will continue on with the Super region.
He's you men's golf picks a regional title and both the men's and women's programs will move on to the NCAA championships issue.
Baseball makes a run in the Gliac tournament and we highlight 2 key pieces of the team for you.
Lockett in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.
>> With the first time in program history, the jea issue women's lacrosse team is headed to the final for the Lakers down Regis on Friday before defeating Indianapolis on Sunday.
Keep on dancing in the 2023 season on Friday against Regis to the team.
The Lakers suffered an early season loss to keep issue.
Took the lead midway through the 2nd quarter and never gave it back.
They came away with a 15 11 victory a week written in my Libor singer.
Each scored 4 goals.
Well, many champagne in Sydney Stone.
Each had hat tricks.
I love yous added one goal as well.
Champaign dished out 3 assists person.
You're had one person or 1, 6, draw controls but actually broth winning 4 in Champaign winning 3.
There are cross was fantastic and goal setting a career-high 10 shots and keeping the normally potent Regis offense in check all afternoon long in front of her.
Hopefully none caused 4 turnovers.
Champaign and Reynolds also grabbed 3 groundballs as well.
The win Friday Woods and the Lakers to the regional championships on Sunday where they would face you in another team.
The Lakers have fallen too early in the season with the season on the line.
The Lakers completed a last-minute comeback in the 4th quarter to force overtime at the Champaign wanted for the Lakers 11 to 10 over Indianapolis to the Stone scored 4 goals to lead the offense.
>> Well, Bob Weber Singer and Zoe Ziegler each had 2.
That is champagne actually rocked.
And Joel Benenson all scored one goal for Seager had 2 assists and Champaign Balibouse and Ali, Bernardo power of one first year with the force of the draw control circle winning 11 herself as UBS.
You one that draws 16 tonight for the second straight game.
Sarah Cross was phenomenal in the cage once again, setting a new career-high and saves the 12.
She also picked up 2 ground-ball.
The entire Laker defense was great in front of crowds as well, causing 9 turnovers in the win moved the Lakers on to the Final 4 where they will be the 4 seed and play top seed Westchester on Friday at 04:00PM.
The game will be played at the University of Indianapolis.
>> Heading into the Glee actor met this past week.
The GB issue baseball team knew they needed to win the title to advance to regional action coach.
Jamie, to tell you, its crew came within 3 innings of doing just that losing in the second of 2 gliac tournament championship games to win state may be sure to tell us more about that.
Jamie, welcome kind of set the scene a little bit.
You you knew.
Hey, look, we've got to win the Gliac tournament in order to get into the regional tournaments.
One game at a time when you guys came within 3 innings of doing it.
>> Yeah, I'm so unbelievably proud of our guys.
You know, to come within 3 innings of of doing that considering all the things we did.
We never talked about injuries we never talked about.
I think guys knew.
But we never really talked about what we didn't have.
We're worried about here, Mark, focusing concerned about what we did have an in trying to just, you know, take it one game at a time.
But late on the field late leaving on the field.
Every every opportunity they get to perform, go do it for the team.
And I'm I'm really proud of our guys where they thought.
>> That this was in lands in Gliac tournament again for all of these games, you'd draw Saginaw Valley, a team and a picture that you have just seen.
And we talked about that last week, you know, very good pitcher McLaren for for Saginaw Valley.
But you've got to look at him and that helps you a little bit.
Here is you win this game 2 to one.
>> Yeah, he threw really well as the as the Nick Rakosky.
I mean, those are really good, a pitcher's duel.
And it got really, really interesting late.
I think it was maybe 3 to 2 and it was just back and forth back and forth, went on for 12 innings.
And and then no 2 to no surprise as the way that we played all season long.
Our guys just hung in there battled and fought and, you know, pulled off.
At the end.
There was so much fun to be part of it.
>> Yes, should say the final score.
8 to 7 Grand Valley winning this Kyle.
Not he gets a goahead triple knocking in a run there.
Late Logan Anderson with a sacrifice fly to get you that winning run.
But you're right that that would be kind of the theme of the week, isn't it?
Just battle and coming back from deficit guys coming out of the bullpen or your starters being to warriors throughout.
So Grand Valley got the opening win in that first game against Saginaw Valley State 7.
The final second game was against Purdue Northwest.
You would fall in that one.
13 to 8.
They got a big 6 inning.
8 runs in that inning.
>> Yeah, I think they have like 6 doubles or something like that.
And you know, that happens.
That's that's baseball.
But, you know, for March are standpoint, it was just, you know, one of those things were we know who we are.
It's what we are as we compete.
And I love that about our guys.
And then, you know, we were down big and we started to chip away.
And, you know, it points of the game.
You know, you could probably look at and think somebody is crazy to think that they're going to come back when I felt that the whole time the whole tournament, I really felt like we're bill well for a tournament.
You no injuries or whoever we hadn't matter.
Just the core group of guys that we had, the leadership that we had.
We just felt like he always had a chance.
So I'm pretty northwest on the bass really well.
They got hot last year in the tournament.
They made it to the championship game and they're kind of on one of those, you know, runs again because they beat up on Davenport in the first round of the tournament.
And they just came out swinging against us, too.
So, you know, hats off to them for that game.
But, you know, I'm really, really proud of our guys for hanging in there because, again, I think we're down 9 or 10 runs and we just start to chip away.
And you kind of had a feeling that, you know, whether it's this game or whether this momentum just rolls into game 3, 4, you can feel it coming.
>> Well, it definitely did.
Grande Valley and elimination game scenario with Devon Port would take out the Panthers 7, 5, the final score they jumped.
I knew early to give that what happen often in the tournament.
But a big four-run 7th would get you guys back in control again.
7 to 5 Golden Sun.
Some really good hitting Allan Thornton, the excellent and relief 7 in the 3rd.
So you get guys contributions from all over here.
>> Yeah.
And now it just lights on.
He actually threw a gem against Davenport, our place.
And unfortunately, as one of the, you know, the games that we lost, I think 2 to one at our place and out through great that game.
And he was no different.
You know, on Saturday he was he was really, really effective.
Kept them off balance.
I'm not sure if you gave up around the money given up one, but statistically, but you just lights out, just kept him off out that they know their that very few runners on base.
And when they did, he was he was great.
>> So now produced Northwest again, elimination game for both you guys here.
You would win this 9 to 2 Kyle.
Not big game here.
9, 2, final score.
And for once you guys got the board early and kind of had a little bit of a lead going throughout the game than ya.
>> Yeah.
So as you know, once you get that mojo back on, it's it's crazy how it just keeps rolling.
And guys, it's not that they never believed it didn't believe it's just like once you get going, you know, bad start to get a little contagious.
And, you know, they're hot and everybody swinging in.
And now it's it relieves are pictures of, you know, stress and pressure and and all of us.
And they can do their thing without having to feel like they need to be perfect.
So it was great.
You know that that game we just came out swinging in and produce our threat West was I think that was their 3rd game.
Maybe 40 Min, you know, running low on pitching as these tournaments tend to challenge their but came out swinging is awesome.
>> So that was the win over upper do.
North West Grande Valley would split the 2 games.
As we mentioned earlier in the championship on Sunday against Wayne State.
98 came back from an E one deficit to win that game and then fell 42 in the final of that one.
So what do you say to your team afterwards?
I mean, I know you're proud of.
What would you say to you guys?
It's that simple.
You love them.
You're proud of them.
>> I mean, that's what we are, as you know, coming back, every single game in the fight that they had.
I mean, there's some character with that.
The foundation that those guys have in terms of character in terms of work ethic in terms of, you know how much they care and love and play hard for each other.
It was awesome is it is great to be part up.
>> Nearly getting that automatic qualifier into the regional tournament with the conference tournament book.
What a great job throughout the year.
>> Yeah, appreciate it.
And I'm proud of our kids.
And you know, these is a great, a great group of kids.
Character hard work the way that they father's.
That's something you can't take away from him.
>> Well, thank you for coming out and talking with us each and every week.
Yeah, she's been.
We'll be right back.
As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here at Wgu.
The TV issue.
Men's golf team made history this weekend as they brought home the first regional title in program history.
But by back-to-back regional Medallas Charles, the long the Lakers won the event by 18 strokes and punch their ticket to the national tournament.
The Lakers shot a final round up to 94 to clean the first title in the history of the program as the end of the tournament at 5 over the team.
Strokes ahead of second place.
A long shot.
A final round of even par.
71 carting 2 birdies and the tournament at 6 under burning regional medalist for the second consecutive season.
The Kruger and group Coble tied for second.
At 100.
We shot a final round of 75 or Coble shop.
74 as the each had one birdie of the day race.
Wheeler tied for 61st.
He shot a 74 final round and at 13 over Charlie Cooley shot a final-round 83 and a tie for 104.
The 26 over the Lakers will play the National tournament in Warren, Ohio at the Yvonne Lakes Golf Club for May 22nd through the 26th.
The Grand Valley State women's golf team is moving on to the national tournament after taking 3rd at the East Regionals.
This marks the 7th consecutive season but the Lakers have made the national tournament.
He issue shot an 8.94 over the 3 rounds.
Megan Erin lead the Lakers finishing in a tie for 11 shooting 6 over for the tournament.
Harding final round of 77 with 3 birdies.
Julia Sanchez finished 14th at 7 over shooting a final-round 74 abuse told tied for 17th at 10 over sinking 3 birdies in the final round.
>> While shooting a 75 and then a tie for 22nd.
He's up.
This was the 4th Lakers finish in the top.
25 shooting a final round of even par with 5 birdies and an 11 over well, the end of the 3 rounds of the tie for 32nd Harding.
A final round of 76 and that 16 over par.
The Lakers will take part in the National tournament which takes place from May 16th to the 20th in Eureka, Missouri of FOX Run Golf Club.
>> GB issue softball or the right to host the Midwest Regional Tournament this past week.
An opening win over the University of Missouri.
St. Louis was followed by consecutive games against Saginaw Valley State to win the regional title.
Here now with us over zoom as head coach, Dana Callahan coach.
Welcome and let's start with congratulations.
I know a lot of work ahead.
But you win the Midwest Regional crown in the process.
Get a couple wins over conference foe that feels good.
>> Yeah, you know, and it's always tough.
We play so often in the conference of plan for times and regular season and then to have to play him again in the postseason.
That is just very, very difficult and for us to to pull those winds out, a lot of credit goes to our team and the tenacity that they showed.
>> You have more on Saginaw Valley in a moment.
But you began the week the regional play taking on the University of Missouri St. Louis, a 2 to one.
You get this game done again.
It will be out.
Us would be the story by way of pitching throughout this tournament play but some key execution late you get to Wagner.
She is able to hit a home run to tie things up and then Spicer late with a sacrifice fly and you get out of there with a 2, 1, victory.
>> Yeah, you know, we had some defensive plays that were just unbelievable throughout the entire game.
And that was the key that kept us in it.
You know, they they had scored, I believe in the top of the 4th inning and then Morgan Wagner answered with that home run.
That was just key to get some momentum going to our offense.
And then we held in with the defense.
And like I said, there are some stellar plays defensively.
It's just that everybody played very gritty ball and that's what we need when we get to the postseason.
>> That's right.
2 to one.
You get 4 hits but you Macomb County again, the a sacrifice fly by Spicer gives you that.
Go ahead.
Run.
That was in the 6th.
Be out as picking up or 23rd win.
7 innings of work.
3 hits just one earned.
Run a few walks and a strikeout.
So you get that done.
So now you take care of all.
So we'll call them universe of Missouri.
St. Louis, you're facing Saginaw Valley again.
Dana, set the scene a bit because second, a valley coming in very familiar, as you said, but there are hot to coming out of the Glee actor month.
>> Yes, very much.
So.
Their pitching was doing better there offense to start a fire a little bit more than they were earlier when we saw them, you know, and we had some some down moments in the gliac tournament.
You know, they were they were hot coming off of their tournament victories.
So we knew it was going to be a battle just like it is every day when we play them.
And like I said, just some of the key defensive plays and just that the grit that our player showed, I'm not letting down at any moment throughout the entire weekend.
You know, that was key for us.
>> Well, if it was possible had to be honest, takes it up a notch way pitching.
She picks up or 24th win in this of the first of 2 games against second on the week.
24th win for 7 innings thrown just one hit a one hitter and getting the shut out 6 strikeouts for so she set the tone.
But you had, you know, you get you get a run early in the first inning.
That was all she would need.
And then 5 kind of nice insurance runs there in the 7th.
>> Yeah, it was.
It was a little nerve wracking that throughout the entire game.
But it was nice to get that one on the board early, you know, kind of figured that was going to kind of set the table and wind pick up from there and and tickets to the 7th inning to get some insurance.
But we finally got it done and and took a little breath out of us so that we can to ease a little bit throughout the rest of that game.
But we knew going into game 2 against them on Saturday was going to be just as tough, if not tougher.
And it turned out to be that, you know, but like I said, the team is very focused and they their experience.
They've been here before.
So they knew what it was going to take.
And then they brought everything they had.
>> Yeah, the sick.
So when 3 RBI is from Libya, Goble as she again, help set the tone.
So as you just referenced that second time that you're taking on the Saginaw Valley had to knock them out, give them 2 losses.
1, 0, victory.
Dana, this is about as tense as it gets.
You don't get the one run until the 8th inning.
It's extra innings.
Wagner walks and then you get that was with 2 outs.
Income Morris hits a long double to score her and I'll tell you beyond us made it work.
8 innings again as you win it one to nothing.
>> Yeah, we held on to the absolute last minute because I believe Kelsey had 2 strikes on or 2.
So he was it was an 0, 2, count.
And as soon as that ball left the bat, I was not stop and all she was going.
I didn't care what happened.
We got thrown out.
We've got thrown out.
We are ready to roll.
So has she got a great jump.
We've got a bounce off the fence that work to our advantage.
And that was a fast as I'd seen her run in a long time.
So it was fun center around 3rd.
>> So the Midwest Regional champs for Grand Valley, One, nothing made 4 hits work and of course, great pitching by beyond us.
Helping them do that.
Now they're one of 16.
Then in the final moments, we have talked about the super regional.
You're going to go to Indianapolis and it's the best of 3.
Just you guys.
>> Correct.
Just the 2 of us.
It's a best of 3 series.
We have faced Indianapolis several times over the years and postseason.
So these are going to be battles as well is is the 2 top teams in the region by the by the rankings.
And it's good.
They're going to be tough.
So we're going to have to, you know, execute offensively defensively pitching, just like we did this past weekend in order to pull these out.
And so like I said, it's just that it's going to be a a gritty performance is needed again by by everybody.
>> Yeah.
Best of 3.
That series against Indianapolis starts Thursday.
And that's a single game.
Potential double header.
The next day on Friday will congratulations again.
The Midwest Regional Crown bigger things coming up, FORTY-SEVEN wins 3 Lakers softball.
Then a thank you for your time.
We appreciate it.
>> You're very welcome.
Thank you.
>> We'll be right back.
As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here at WGU as the GVSU baseball season comes to a close.
The team will look toward the future with pieces they can build upon for next season.
This week we'll take a deep dive on 2 of the players.
The Pitt coach Jamie Battalion hopes can lead the team through 2024.
Tom Cleary brings us this baseball double feature for us right now.
>> We'll get it regardless of what season you visit Grande Valley for a ball game.
There's a better than average chance you'll come across Kyle last with the latest in the continuing lined up to support Laker athletes.
How's a receiver and kick return man for the glee at football chant.
Well, in the spring he's catching fly balls instead of passes for Jamie's Italian and the baseball squad.
>> People ask me all the time like I do it.
But for me, it's like I love it.
I love them both to sports in the U.S. the opportunity to play both.
You know, it's awesome.
>> I love being busy with it.
He's a dynamic player that can do a lot of things and you can buy you can hit for power.
You know, that's not very often.
You get that type of speed and college level let alone the division 2 level.
>> But he can swing it to after helping his football team to an undefeated regular season.
This past fall pile has been a full-time fixture in the Grand Valley outfield this spring after being a catcher earlier in his baseball career and being upright in the outfield instead of crouched behind the plate, it's helped him hit well over 300 all starting his team's first 47 games.
>> Oh, for sure.
I think, you know, catching I love catching.
But, you know, like you said, it does take a big toll on your body.
We're taking a beating in the fall.
You know, during football, I make sure I give myself a good breaking on the tennis court.
Number one is really the better.
We put him behind the plate.
He did a really good catcher.
But, >> you know, being a football player getting banged up a little bit there times, you know, there's going to be some wear and tear on the body.
So we're trying to, you know, utilize it to number one benefit him.
But, you know, number to have the most help our team with what you know, keeping him healthy.
>> Along the playful season, growing up just down the road from Allendale in Jenison.
How learned plenty about sports from his father, Tim, a Grande Valley athletics administrator and from the players he saw for years of Laker games like Jamie Pots, baseball and football.
All American whose drive and determination Kyle tries to emulate every day.
>> Well, Jamie Foxx with them at once again, Richard, it's like they embrace the workload and Kyle's no different embraces competitiveness.
And, you know, he just loves playing sports, you know, football and baseball, especially.
So, you know, we've got that kind of talent that but it doesn't.
I said, I wouldn't say that, you know, for some of it could be overwhelming for Kyle.
I don't think it's a big thing is what he does.
>> How much spent a season at Central Michigan before returning home to West Michigan to pursue his dream of playing 2 sports in college.
And while it's taken him a while to find a home in the outfield in Allendale, it could be a move that was worth waiting for 13 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases through the first week of May is getting attention.
His speed left-handed batting stroked Italian says could make him a pro prospect.
What his college days are over with the Grand Valley State sports report.
I'm top.
Well, some people might not think pitching for a team in Michigan is the best training for a college baseball player.
It's working out just fine for Laker right-hander Nick Kwiatkoski on a team that played his first 20 games of the year away from home workouts.
He won't even his first 9 decisions of the year to help keep his team afloat during the first 2 months of the season.
>> I think he has the ball, the pitches that he commands while many count.
I think that's the biggest thing at this level is keeping hitters off-balance.
You know, the pitcher can keep you off balance the matter how hard the honor with what their stuff says.
If they can keep you off balance and have a good plan happen to have.
>> I think valuing each day at practice is kind of been more of the focus and getting caught up in the resolve to practice hard and like train yourself for a game.
>> And that's that's how I go about it.
Motor baseball buffs are quick to point out.
Won loss record doesn't always show the measure of a pitcher.
But Kelsey's other stats are even more glittering that he's able to.
Mark through 11 starts an average of under 2 heading into the final weeks of the season is good at any level of baseball.
He's had a 2 and a half to one with still walks Ray show while holding hitters to a 2.25 aggregate average.
In short, he's been a coach's dream.
>> We just got a very resilient mindset when when one thing doesn't go his way and he bounces back to the competes, it's an isolated incident versus something with fire is out of control and you let the other is a competitive kid.
He is a good work ethic.
>> You know, his strike for Nick Rakosky is a division.
One transfer from the Open University where he began his college career after growing up outside of Detroit.
But he settled quickly after moving to the opposite side of the state where he's been able to hone his pitching craft against tough division to opposition.
>> Well, it's getting ahead in counts is my various he's up for success.
Get ahead, said that puts the pressure on the head as to your pitch.
They're not getting the best wing office.
And now to that's a that's where a lot of our staff and myself included have found the success of the time.
>> Well, a rash of 5 straight one-run losses took some luster off Grand Valley's find regular season.
Jamie, Tell ya, welcome back.
Most of his pitching staff and roster next year when he does, we'll be counting again on Nick Berg.
Koski.
We'll be the only 11 earned runs in his first 10 starts this spring establishing himself as the returning ace of the Grand Valley pitching staff in 2024. the Grand Valley State Sports report.
I'm Jon Cleary.
>> And that's all the time that we have this week.
You're on the Grand Valley State Sports report.
This is our last regularly scheduled episode to be sure to visit GVSU Lakers dot com for updates on all your favorite teams.
TV issue softball will head down to Indianapolis to play for the Super regional title against the U N the teams will play both Friday and Saturday as the Lakers looked ahead to the College World Series TV issue.
Lacrosse will take on top seed Westchester in the Division 2 national semifinals on Friday at 04:00PM as they look to secure a spot in the national championship game.
Yes, you men's golf will play in the National Tournament in Warren, Ohio at the Yvonne Lakes Golf Club for May 22nd through the 26th he beat you.
Women's golf will take part in the National tournament which takes place from May 16th through the 20th in Eureka, Missouri.
That's at the FOX Run Golf Club for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.
Visit GVSU Lakers dot com for more of this show.
Head over to our YouTube channel at YouTube Dot com Slash Wgu.
35 make sure you hit the subscribe button.
Get updated videos and highlights all year long for the entire crew here.
Wgu I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great summer Laker nation and as always, a corrupt
