MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Bay College Baseball Team (3-8) kicked off their season with their yearly trip to The Ripken Experience.  After a rollercoaster of a week, the Norse finished strong and picked up two wins in the final two days.

The Norse began the week with some very good opponents.  On March 3 they opened with a doubleheader against The Apprentice School.  Head Coach Mike Pankow had some familiarity with the Builders from his time at U-Maine Presque Isle and the uniqueness of the program.  The Apprentice School is a 3-5 year program that trains interested students in the art of ship building and traditionally has had a very strong baseball tradition.

Bay wasted no time scoring their first run, however.  Back-to-back doubles by Hector Araguayan (SO, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) and Joseph Handley (FR, Vaughan, ON) gave the Norse a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  They added to that lead in the fourth when Xavier Whittle (SO, Oakville, ON) doubled to lead off the frame and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Builders responded in the bottom half of the fourth.  Jeremy Harmon (SO, Courtland, VA) blasted a three-run home run to left and Nolan Edwards (SO, Myrtle Beach, SC) followed that with a solo shot of his own, putting the Norse behind for the first time of the season.

The Norse would get one more in the top of the fifth when Whittle drew a bases loaded walk, but they would leave the bases loaded.  It would be their last real scoring threat as the Norse dropped the opener by a final of 7-3.

Handley ended up with a three for four effort, while Ritsuki Nonomura (SO, Osaka, Japan) collected a pair of hits in three at bats.  Austin Burnside (SO, Crivitz, WI) took the loss on the mound.  He struck out three in four innings of work.

Bay had to fight from behind early in the nightcap as the Builders scored six runs in the first three innings.  The Norse cut that lead in half in the bottom of the third.  Josh Blake (FR, Seffner, FL) singled with two on to start the scoring, and Jace Cota (FR, Chippewa Falls, WI) drove in two with a single to center.

The Norse had to continue to play catchup as The Apprentice School added to their lead in every inning but the sixth.  A two-out double by Dalton Graham (SO, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) in the bottom of the fourth drove in two and cut the lead to 7-5, but Bay would never get closer then that.  The Builders would go on to win by a final of 9-6.

Graham and Whittle each ended up with three hits in the contest.  Handley and Blake were two for four. Matt Bush (SO, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) took the loss after he was chased from the game in just two innings of work.

On Saturday the Norse started their morning with a matchup against the #11 ranked team in NJCAA Division 3.  Northampton quickly showed why they are getting the respect they deserve.  A six-run first inning set the tone for the contest as they continued to pour it on throughout.  Bay's offense also struggled to the tune of a one-hit shutout.  Three Northampton pitchers combined to baffle the Norse in five innings of work, as Bay fell by a final of 12-0.

The second game of the day saw the Norse fall behind again.  Rochester Community and Technical College got a two-out solo home run from Ress Campanale (FR, Orlando, FL) in the top of the first.  Bay responded in the bottom half as Dalton Graham blasted a home run to right which also drove in Araguayan.

The Yellowjackets regained the lead in the third as Campanale and Yansef Llanos (SO, Carolina, Puerto Rico) slugged back-to-back RBI doubles.  Bay's response in the fourth was another shot of power as Cota went deep to center to tie the game at three.

Rochester went up in the fifth when Llanos blasted a three-run home run.  From there the Norse opportunities seemed to run dry as they would collect just two more hits in the day.  The Yellowjackets would rally to an 8-3 victory.

Graham and Cota picked up a pair of hits apiece.  Blake Julian (FR, Iron Mountain, MI) took the loss in his first collegiate start on the mound.

The Norse looked to bounce back on Sunday in their matchup against Penn State Hazelton.  They got the scoring going in the bottom of the first when Blake singled up the middle to plate a run.  Cota followed that with an RBI single, and Blake scored as he and Cota pulled of a double steal.  Brandon Watts (FR, Valrico, FL) picked up his first RBI of the campaign, driving in Cota with a single to left. 

Araguayan and Whittle picked up RBI base hits in the fourth.  PSU Hazelton threatened in the seventh, but the Norse shut it down and secured a 6-2 victory.

Whittle was three for four with a double and an RBI.  Blake, Cota, and Nonomura each picked up a pair of hits as well.

Whittle got the win on the mound going six innings, giving up two hits, one unearned run, walking three, and striking out two.

After a much needed off day, Bay traveled to Whiteville, NC to take on the Southeastern Community College Rams in a doubleheader.  After giving up a run in the bottom of the third, Bay responded in the fourth.  After loading the bases Julian singled in a run.  Dylan Kregelka (SO, Seffner, FL) drove in two more with a line drive single to center, putting Bay up 3-1.

A three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth from Lefredrick Wooton put the Rams back on top.  Bay loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and got a sacrifice fly to from Blake to tie the game, but after a walk the Norse would strand the bases loaded and miss an opportunity to regain the lead.  Southeastern got one in the bottom half, and four more in the sixth, and ended up taking the first game 9-4.

Whittle had three hits for the Norse in four at bats.  Handley ended two for four with a double, while Kregelka was two for three with two RBI.  Carlos Velarde (SO, Panama City, Panama) took the loss despite a strong effort through four innings of work.

In game two the Norse had to play from behind from the get-go.  The host team put up two runs in the first.  Bay responded in the third with an RBI double from Graham, but ended up leaving the tying run on third in the frame.  A four run fifth for the Rams would put the game away.  RBI's from Arguayan and Nonomura in the sixth cut the lead, but Bay left the bases loaded in the seventh, and dropped the finale 7-3.

Graham had a pair of hits in four at bats.  Zac Gomersall (FR, Perth, Australia) took the loss on the mound.

On Wednesday the Norse would be forced to erase a two-run deficit against Illinois Valley Community College.  Watts led off the third with a single and scored when Dante Sartorelli (SO, Menominee, MI) ripped a triple off the center field wall.  Nonomura drove him in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.  A pair of walks set up another opportunity for the Norse in the frame, and Whittle obliged, singling up the middle to give the Norse the lead.  A pitching change ended the rally, and the Norse held a 3-2 lead.

Bay added to the lead in the fourth with RBI's from Graham and Blake, and in the fifth with Sartorelli and Cota driving in runs.  Bay held a five-run lead through five innings.

The tide changed in the sixth.  With one out Illinois Valley had seven players reach safely, capped off by an RBI single from Brayden Roe that tied the game at seven.

The Norse were able to load the bases in the bottom half, but only got one run as Sartorelli drew a walk with two outs. 

With the bases loaded in the seventh, the Norse were able to get two outs and looked to close out the game.  A ground ball looked to be what Bay needed, but the runner from first barely beat the throw to second, which allowed the Eagles to tie the game.  Roe came up clutch again, sending a single to left which sent the winning run to the plate.  A good throw prevented the Eagles from taking a two-run lead, but the damage had been done.

A one-out double from Graham was left stranded in the bottom half, and the Norse ended up giving away the game by a final of 9-8.

Cota, Graham, and Satrotrelli each had a pair of hits in the game.  Brandon LaRue (SO, Crivitz, WI) took the loss in relief, as he was credited with two unearned runs.

The loss took the momentum out of the sails of Bay in the second game.  Against Penn State Schuykill the Norse offense was only able to get two hits, both coming off the bat of Nonomura.  Schuykill collected nine hits and drew four walks, while the Norse defense committed five errors, as Bay dropped the decision by a score of 10-0.

Nearing the end of the trip, Bay had just two days to bounce back.  On Thursday they faced off against Westmoreland County Community College, and the Norse team had a different energy and buzz about them.  The WolfPack were the first to strike.  Logan Short doubled for an RBI and Dom Koch followed that with a homerun to right field, putting Bay down 3-0.

Westmoreland loaded the bases in the second and third, but both times Bay was able to work out of the jam, which allowed the offense to finally respond.  The Norse loaded the bases in the fourth, scoring their first run on a wild pitch.  Nonomura drove in the second run with a single to center, but a good throw nailed the second runner at the plate, ending the inning with a 3-2 lead for the WolfPack. 

The score stood into the sixth.  Gomersall tripled to start the inning and tied the game when Blake singled to left.  The Norse would take their first lead of the game when Johnnie Robinette (SO, Escanaba, MI) drove a single to center, and a misplay allowed Blake to score.  Robinette made it home a few batters later on a wild pitch, and the Norse had a two-run lead. 

After Bay stranded two Westmoreland runners on in the sixth, they added to their lead in the seventh.  A pair of singles started the frame and Blake obliged by driving them home with a triple to right.  After an error brought another runner home, Whittle singled to center with two outs making the score 10-3.

Bay was able to get the WolfPack in order in the bottom half and the Norse earned just their second victory on the young season.

Blake led the Norse with three hits on four at bats, which included a double, a triple, and three RBI.  Gomersall had a pair of hits as well, while Robinette and Whittle drove in two runs apiece.

Blake Julian picked up his first collegiate win.  He scattered six hits and five walks to give up three runs.  He struck out seven.  Mason Bower (FR, Bark River, MI) worked the final two innings and picked up a save.  He gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out two.

On Friday the Norse were scheduled for a rematch with Illinois Valley Community College.  Rain pushed the schedule back, but a 90 minute delay would not deter Bay.

The Eagles took advantage of some early control issued for Bay as they took a bases loaded walk to get the scoring going.  A second run would come home on a wild pitch, but Norse starter Xavier Whittle was able to minimize the damage and get out of the inning giving up just the pair of runs.

In the top of the third Bay loaded the bases.  Blake singled to left to put Bay on the board.  Nonomura picked up an RBI to tie the game by beating out the backside of a potential double play ball. 

Bay picked things back up in the fourth.  With two outs the Norse picked up four hits and a walk, highlighted by RBI singles from Sartorelli and Blake.  Bay took a 5-2 lead at the end of the inning.

The Norse added runs in the fifth and sixth and stretched their lead in the seventh.  Sartorelli singled in a run, which was followed by RBI doubles from Graham and Blake, and Bay took an 11-2 lead into the bottom half of the inning.  The Eagles picked up a run in the bottom half, but it was not enough as Bay took the game by a final of 11-3.

Sartorelli ended the game three for four with a double, three RBI, and four runs scored.  Blake was three for three with a double and two RBI.  Gomersall and Jake Sager (FR, Oconto Falls, WI) each had a pair of hits. 

Whittle went six innings for the win.  He gave up four hits, two walks, and two earned runs and struck out five.

"It was a long week, but definitely good to get out and play some ball," said Coach Pankow.  "We faced some adversity this week and it forced us to re-evaluate and I think the final two games started to scratch the surface of what we can be this year.  I am looking forward to what this team can do going forward."

Bay's offense looks to be their strength in the early going.  As a team they are hitting .310 in 11 games so far, with a .413 on base percentage.  The roster boasts 11 players hitting .250 or better, eight of which have a .300 average or better.  Jace Cota currently has a .467 batting average and Xavier Whittle is hitting .419.

The Norse will look to keep their momentum going next weekend as they travel to McHenry County Community College for a four-game series.  Doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday will start at 1 pm.  McHenry County is currently ranked #16 in the recent preseason NJCAA Division 2 poll.