BATTLE CREEK – If the Kellogg Community College baseball team wants to make another run to the World Series, it starts now.
A veteran Bruins club turned hot at the right time of the year last season and rolled all the way to a berth to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series. KCC has a young roster this season, but the dreams are the same as the Bruins begin postseason play on the road on Thursday.
KCC will play at Grand Rapid Community College in the first round of the NJCAA Region XII Tournament in a doubleheader on May 8, starting at 1 p.m. to begin a best-of-3 series. If KCC advances, the regional semifinals will be in Jackson on May 15-17.
MORE: Kellogg CC baseball team highlighted by Lakeview’s Kucharczyk twins
“We are a young group and we have continued to show growth throughout the season,” said KCC head coach Eric Laskovy. “We have won 12 in a row and 14 of our last 15. We have continued to get better and that’s a good thing heading into the postseason.”
KCC finished second in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association West Division and earned its 19th-straight berth into the regionals. At 33-13 overall, it was also the 17th straight season with 30-plus wins.
“The winner of the division hosts and we have been fortunate to be that team the last seven years. But Lansing took it this year and we were in second place and that puts us on the road. But we welcome the challenge,” Laskovy said.
KCC has been led this season by a pair of local freshmen products in twins Jake and Zach Kucharczyk, who are graduates of Lakeview High School. Jake Kucharczyk is leading the team in runs scored with 68 in 45 games and also has a team-high 60 hits, batting .408 with 42 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Zach Kucharczyk is hitting .362 with 51 hits, 37 RBI and 44 runs scored.
The strong KCC offense also includes freshman outfielder Payton Bookwalter, who has a team-high 50 RBI and his hitting .396. Freshmen infielders Tanner Olepa and Gavin Englesman are also hitting over .350.
“When our offense gets going, it’s as formidable as any in our region,” Laskovy said. “We have some young hitters. When they are making good swing decisions, it’s a dangerous team.”
The winner of the regional gets an automatic berth into the NJCAA World Series in Enid, Okla. Last season’s appearance in the NJCAA World Series was KCC’s first since 2021. KCC has been to the World Series seven times overall.
“We have to play our best baseball heading into the postseason,” Laskovy said. “But, if we do, we have as good a chance of anyone to come out of this thing.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Kellogg CC hopes to stay hot as it heads into NJCAA baseball regionals
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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