MAY 7, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball are both moving on in the NJCAA Region XII postseason after opening-round victories on Thursday. The Raider baseball team swept its best-of-three series against Mid Michigan College to advance to next week's Region XII Final Five at Jackson College, while the softball team opened regional play with a win over Oakland Community College to move into the winners bracket final in Findlay, Ohio.
GRCC's baseball team continued its dominant late-season run, improving to 29-12 overall and extending its winning streak to 16 games with an 8-0 and 12-9 sweep of Mid Michigan at Belknap Park. The Raiders finished the season 7-0 against the Lakers.
In game one, sophomore Kyle O'Hearn delivered a complete-game shutout to improve to 7-1 on the season. The reigning conference pitcher of the week allowed just four singles while striking out five and walking none. GRCC's offense backed him with nine hits, seven of which went for extra bases.
Michael Hurlbutt and Gabe Stouffer hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning before Peter Heintz added a two-run homer in the third. Stouffer led the offense by going 3-for-3 at the plate.
The Raiders stayed hot offensively in game two, pounding out 18 hits and seven more extra-base hits in a 12-9 victory to complete the sweep.
Heintz launched his team-leading 10th home run of the season with a solo shot in the second inning, while Andrew Conrad followed with a two-run homer later in the frame. Jack Lockwood, AJ Speigl and Hurlbutt each collected three hits in the win.
Kyler Larson improved to 6-1 after working the first six innings, and Landon Terry earned the save by retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning after a late Mid Michigan rally.
The Raiders now advance to the NJCAA Region XII Final Five at Jackson College next week. GRCC will learn its next opponent on Friday, with Macomb Community College, Lansing Community College and Henry Ford College all still in contention.
Meanwhile, the Raider softball team improved to 39-8 overall and extended its winning streak to nine games with a 6-2 victory over Oakland Community College in its opening round of the NJCAA Great Lakes District B Tournament in Findlay, Ohio.
The top-seeded Raiders faced an early challenge from Oakland pitcher, who held GRCC hitless through the first two innings before Caitlin Horvath broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff bunt single in the bottom of the third.
After Kellsie Dieterle drew a walk, Kenady O'Leary delivered a two-run double to right center field to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead.
Oakland cut the deficit to 2-1 with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning, but GRCC responded with a four-run fifth inning to take control. Natalee Beck highlighted the rally with a two-run double, while Libby VanFleet added a two-run single.
Sophomore Kalani Stowe - and also reigning conference pitcher of the week - turned in one of her best performances of the season in the circle, striking out a season-high 14 batters to improve to 12-4 on the year. The Raiders out-hit Oakland 9-6 in the victory.
GRCC will face Lake Michigan College in the winners bracket final on Sunday at 10 a.m. A victory would send the Raiders directly into the regional championship game.
For all the latest news, you can also follow the Raiders on:
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.
