Glen Lake captured another Northwest Conference Championship on Tuesday, defeating Benzie Central 6-4 and 10-1.
“The guys know how to compete when it’s time to answer the bell. That’s something that they’ve been doing all year. Jesse Smith instilled that in them during the football season, Jason Bradford and Luke Moeggenberg kept them competitive all winter, and we’re benefiting from their efforts now,” Glen Lake coach Kris Herman said. “We had a really crisp practice on Monday, so I was expecting the guys to be dialed in, and they were. We pitched well, played good defense, and pressured them into many mistakes.”
The Lakers are now back-toback conference champions and has won the NWC five of the last 10 years.
Glen Lake senior Peter Gelsinger earned the win in 3.2 innings of action with six strikeouts, one hit, one walk, and 0 runs scored.
In the tight ball game, Tristin Boze and Isaac Hlavka had two hits while Fletcher Middleton and Colton Newman each had a single and two RBIs.
Hlavka dominated game two from the hill, with 12 strikeouts over six innings of action, allowing two hits and one run. Boze once again was running wild, with a single, triple, and two RBIs.
“It’s a great feeling just knowing all the work that we put in shows that we’re the best team, put in the most effort, and stack the most days,” Hlavka said.
Glen Lake junior Tanner Crick notched an RBI and a double. At the same time, Laker senior Benji Allen had a single and three RBIs.
“It feels pretty good to get it done for the team and the seniors,” Crick said. “We have to continue to make the routine plays, stay grounded, and keep doing what we are doing.”
The Lakers will face Traverse City Central next Wednesday at 5 p.m. before beginning district play at Lake Leelanau St. Mary Saturday, May 31, at noon.
“We’re playing well at the right time of year. The key now is to keep it going,” Herman said.
