May 17, 2024, SUMMIT TWP, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball teams quest at another World Series appearance sadly came to an end on Friday, losing 5-4 to Jackson College in the semi-finals of the Region XII Tournament.

After winning its first three games of the tournament, the No. 18 ranked Raiders advanced to take on 15th ranked Kellogg Community College in the winners bracket final in the first game of the day.

GRCC would jump out to a 6-0 lead after just a half an inning, but Kellogg fought back to defeat the Raiders 14-6 to advance to the regional championship.

The loss sent the Raiders to the loser's bracket final to take on Jackson College whom they had just beaten a day earlier.

GRCC would also score first in this game, but Jackson answered with three runs in the third, to go ahead 3-1. The Raiders took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth, 4-3, but the Jets would tie it in the sixth and then score the game winning run in the top of the ninth. 

Dylan Nguyen led the team with two hits and an RBI in each game.  He also had two stolen bases.

Austin Gates had three hits on the day and Aaron Bess, Ty Sandwick, and Jacob Pitt all added two hits.

The 2024 campaign included the team's 32nd conference title and the first undefeated conference season in 53 years. It also included a third place finish in the region, a win streak of 16 games that spanned 30 days, and a final NJCAA Division II ranking of 18.

Stay tuned to see if any one made the All-Tournament team as well the announcement of all the other post-season awards.

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.