The mens baseball team returns from Florida where the team attended a training camp over Spring Break. The team looks forward to a good season. (Photo courtesy of GRCC Website)

Raiders baseball warms up
by Dana Finkler
Collegiate Staff Writer

Spring Break for most GRCC students was a break from homework and testing, but the GRCC baseball team was testing their ability against D1 colleges in Florida.

Despite posting a 1-12 record, the team does not take the wins and loses from a mental aspect, but as a learning experience and time to get ready for the season.

“We could have won about six or seven of our games if a few plays had gone our way,” second baseman Derek Jones said.

During their trip, the boys faced last year’s national champion Chipola CC (based out of Florida) and gave them a run for their money in two of the three games losing 3-4 and 2-3.

“We get the experience to play against good colleges and it’s a good challenge,” Raider coach Cupples said.

Cupples was pleased with his aggressive approach to hitting and praised the play of the freshman during the trip, but added they left too many runners on base and in scoring position. It was a focal point in practice the week leading up to the Raiders’ first game of the season.

He also said he would like to see more production from his pitching staff and knows with time it will come around. He eluded that more concentration from the players will lead to more production.

“Pitchers need to throw 60-70 percent strikes and what you’re looking for is two out of the three pitches to be strikes,” Cupples said.

Aside from the team preparing for the upcoming season, Derek Jones highlighted how the team has bonded on and off the field.

“There are no outcasts on the team. Everybody gets along and is pulling for each other,” Jones said. “We are a tight knit group.”

Sophomore pitcher Jared Knuth is confidently optimistic this team could win a national championship.

Softball ready to play
By Dana Finkler
Collegiate Staff Writer

While in Florida, the GRCC softball team competed against other D1 colleges, although a 1-12 record would not be considered success by most standards, it is progression.

Spring training gives the coaches and the players time to hone in on their skills and get back into the regular routines that an athlete endures.

Pitchers worked on location, stamina to go a complete game, conditioning, speed drills, batting drills, and the other mental aspects of the game.

“The girls bonded well, got along, and had a lot of fun,” coach Maloley said.

“They know what we need to do: get serious and focused.” Sophomore catcher Haley Stehouwer agreed. “We know what we need to get done,” she said.

The Raiders returned from their spring break training and got to work right away, they began practicing outside.

The trip down to Florida was a learning experience for the players and it is a good way for the team to gauge its strong points as well as weak. “ The ‘three R’s’ (Katie Roach, Krystal Ryskamp, and Lindsey Reppins) progressed and are capable of throwing a complete game,” Maloley said.

Maloley was also pleased that some freshman excelled and were able to get a win out of the trip. She said the team worked on her new batting philosophy, but they still need to make adjustments. Maloley was also quick to highlight improvements the girls could make.

“They need to slow the game down to one pitch, one out, one inning at a time,” Maloley said.

Maloley is optimistic that the girls can adjust in other aspects of the game: they could improve on their short game, adjusting to pitchers, and get more opportunities to execute her agressive aproach to hitting that she learned in the off season.

Maybe next season Raiders
By Derek Lamb
Collegiate Staff Writer

The GRCC men’s basketball team ended the season with an overall record of 20-9.

The team’s final game was in the NJCAA District 8 Tournament against the eventual winner of the tournament, No. 1 seeded Mott Community College. The Raiders were ahead by 12 points at the end of the first half but they couldn’t keep it going, and ended up losing 79-66. Despite the loss, GRCC coach David Selmon is happy with the way the team played.

“It was a good situation for us to have 13 freshmen play against the champions,” he said.

“We had a big lead at halftime, then they hit some three’s. Considering they’ve blown everyone else out all season, I thought we competed and played well.”

The team made a lot of progress this season according to Selmon, who said he’s extremely proud of how the team came together and believes the players and coaching staff have grown this year.

One of the highlights for the Raiders this season was their eight-game winning streak, during which the team scored at least 100 points twice.

The team’s leading scorer was Bylynn Hatcher, who averaged 14.2 points per game. Hatcher is the only sophomore and will graduate this year.

Selmon also said he plans on having all the returning players play on the same summer league team to give them a chance to develop as a team and be even better next year.

From class to teammate
By Rikk Jo Holmes
Special to the Collegiate

Mitch Kruizenga initially enrolled in a tennis class in order to meet a wellness credit, but his talent landed him on the GRCC tennis team.

Instructor Karen Katerberg, who suggested he tryout for the team, noticed second-year GRCC student Kruizenga for his talent in tennis.

After receiving a phone call from Bill Goodspeed, the coach of GRCC’s Men’s Tennis Team, he decided to give it a shot since he had some history with the sport.

Kruizenga began playing tennis the summer before his junior year in high school. His father and brother were the fi rst ones who sparked his interest in the sport, and after summer was over Kruizenga decided to join the Caledonia High School team.

His senior year on the team was full of success. The team made it to conference, and Kruizenga and his partner won the O-K Gold doubles championship.

Now Kruizenga is one of eight tennis players on GRCC’s team. They all play both singles and doubles which really keeps them on their feet.

“College level tennis is very different from high school level. It is much more fast-paced,” Kruizenga said.

“But our team is sweet. Everyone is very encouraging and coach gives us pointers all the time. He has improved my game so much,” he said.

The GRCC’s Men’s Tennis Team just returned from a weeklong tournament that ended in South Carolina.

The trip began on Feb. 29 in Michigan against Albion College and continued through March 7 in South Carolina with games against Eastern University, Malone College, Lebanon Valley CC and Oxford College.

The overall trip was rewarding for the team that had a 9-0 defeat against Eastern University and an 8-1 win against Oxford College.

Like most students, Kruizenga tries to find that perfect balance between work, school, and sports. After class, he usually heads off to practice, and on weekends he squeezes in workdays when there isn’t a game.

“It was kind of a last minute decision to join the team, but I’m managing my schedule and I’m glad to be a part of the lineup,” Kruizenga said.

The Raiders next game is scheduled for March 26 against Grand Valley State University. For more information about the GRCC tennis team check out the link at grcc.edu.

New golf coach new vision
By Jeff Kranz
Collegiate Staff Writer

The team isn’t finalized yet, but new GRCC Mens Golf coach Bruce Vanden Beldt has a vision for the season.

Vanden Beldt grew up in Zeeland and went to Central Michigan University. He taught English, Physical Education, and coached for 31 years at Hesperia High School.

He recently retired, and now coaches the boys Zeeland West tennis team. The tennis team finished 10th in the state this past fall, and he was named regional coach of the year.

“I am coaching the golf team here at GRCC, and teaching some wellness classes also at the college” Vanden Beldt said. “Winning a National Championship will always be the ultimate goal. I want to represent GRCC in a positive manner and have my players gone onto play at Division One and Division Two schools.”

Out-working and being more prepared to succeed is the way his players will achieve their goals. He has one returning player from last year: Bobby Devhorsney. Everyone else is new.

As a team, they work on all phases of the game, but need some warm weather so they can get outside.

“It is my first year at GRCC so everything is new. I am really looking forward to our season, we have a great bunch of players, and really appreciate how great all the people have been there during my first year," VandenBeldt said.

Vanden Beldt has been married to his wife, Sue, for 33 years. He has a daughter, Kristin, who is a research scientist at Van Andel Research Center, and a son, Jeff, who is an assistant golf pro at Egypt Valley Country club.

Sports Briefs for March 26, 2008

Beer Pong
By Nicole Hoffman
Collegiate Staff Writer

Saturday, April 26, the Traveling Beer Pong Tournament will be coming to the DeltaPlex.

It will start a 2 p.m. It's suggested that teams consist of at least 2 players although 4 players are recommended. All games are being played with water, so they are alcohol free, although team members must be 18 or older to attend the event.

Each round the cups will be reused so the water isn’t intended to be consumed by the teams. If members are 21 or older drinking is allowed.

The top 64 teams will win money. The grand prize starts at $1,000 and will go up with each entry from teams. Tickets per team are $100. They can be purchased at the DeltaPlex box offi ce as well as online at ticketmaster.com. Along with pong all day long there will also be foosball tables set up.

Season Over
By Derek Lamb
Collegiate Staff Writer

The GRCC women’s basketball finished the season with a 13-12 record.

Despite having a difficult season, the Raiders did have a five game winning-streak earlier in the year. The Raiders won their fi rst game in the MCCAA Tournament defeating Lake Michigan College 61-53.

The season ended with a 73-67 loss at the hands of Kellogg CC, who later went on to win the tournament.

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