Apr. 27, 2025, UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams closed out their conference schedules with a pair of doubleheaders at Delta College on Saturday, and both teams came away with major accomplishments.

Baseball Sweeps Delta, Clinches Outright Conference Title

The Raiders dominated its way to a conference championship, sweeping Delta College with 12-0 and 8-3 wins to secure the outright title for the third straight season — and the 33rd in program history.

In Game 1, Xavier Allen got things started with a leadoff double in the third inning, and Haiden Noakes followed with a triple to drive him home. The Raiders erupted for six runs in the inning and never looked back. They tacked on six more in the fourth and run-ruled the Pioneers in five innings. The offense racked up 10 hits, including three triples from Allen, Jack Lockwood, and Joey Hysell. Lockwood led the way with three RBIs while Chad Fisher Jr. added two. On the mound, Kyle O'Hearn (5-2) stayed red-hot, earning his fifth straight win with his fourth consecutive complete game, allowing just three hits and striking out six.

In Game 2, the Raiders kept rolling, winning their seventh straight game. Ty Sandwick's sacrifice fly gave GRCC an early lead, and they steadily built on it, highlighted by a clutch two-out, two-run single by Lockwood in the fourth inning. Sandwick and Lockwood each drove in three runs as GRCC pushed out to a 6-0 lead. Delta scored a pair of unearned runs, but the Raiders quickly answered to keep the game out of reach. Lockwood, Carter Gulick, and Noakes each had two hits. Kyler Larson (3-2) earned the win, striking out a season-high eight batters in 5.1 innings.

The sweep improved the Raiders to 26-18 overall and 19-6 in conference play. With the conference crown secured, GRCC will have home-field advantage in the first round of regionals.

Softball Splits Doubleheader, Heads Into Postseason Strong

The Raiders softball team saw its 16-game win streak snapped in the opener but responded emphatically in Game 2, splitting its doubleheader and closing out conference play at 23-2.

In Game 1, the Raiders started strong with a three-run double by pitcher Lilly Klop in the first inning, but the bats went quiet afterward. Delta College rallied for five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, and although GRCC battled back — getting within 7-5 and putting the tying runs in scoring position — they couldn't complete the comeback. Kalani Stowe had two of GRCC's eight hits in the loss.

Game 2 was a different story. With NJCAA Pitcher of the Week Kalani Stowe (16-0) in the circle, the Raiders dominated, winning 13-1 in five innings. Stowe carried a no-hitter into the fifth and finished with a two-hit, one unearned run performance while striking out seven. The offense erupted for 15 hits, including key two-run singles from Libby VanFleet and Violet McWhinnie. Grace Chisek and Grace Salley each collected three hits, with Salley knocking in three runs and McWhinnie leading all players with four RBIs.

With the split, the conference champion Raiders improved to 37-4 overall heading into the postseason.

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