It may not be the same, high-powered offense that took the regular-season GLIAC title last year, but the Grand Valley State University baseball team’s clinching of the 2012 title proved this group has something to show as well.

After an early-season swoon saw the Lakers’ conference record dip to 5-6, the team has had a renaissance of sorts. Led by its pitching and an offense that seems to have finally found a rhythm, the team took three of four in their season-ending series at Ohio Dominican University this weekend.

“Fantastic (series), we won the conference championship and that was our No. 1 goal — it was great to accomplish that,” said GVSU head coach Steve Lyon. “Based on where were at in the regional rankings, we’ll get (to regionals) anyway, but of course we want to try to play well.”

That success is something that has been seen by many on the team. Sophomore first basement Giancarlo Brugnoni finished the season with a GLIAC-leading 11 home runs, while freshman outfielder Mike Nadratowski’s play this season should have him in the running for GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors.

“I feel like defensively we’re coming together, helping out our pitchers,” said Nadratowski, the GLIAC’s leader in hits with 60. “It’s nice when you make a good play behind them and they feel like they can make a mistake and we can help them.”

Before Sunday’s loss in game two, a 5-4 game that went nine innings, the Lakers had won 13-straight road games and had found a healthy medium between playing level-headed on the road and in the friendly confines of the Laker Baseball Field.

That comfort on the road will be imperative going forward, as any postseason run by this team will take place away from Allendale.
“I’d say it’s pretty important, I mean, when you really look at it, it’s a neutral playing field for everybody (in the postseason),” said junior relief pitcher Brad Zambron, who led the GLIAC with 14 saves this season. “But its just good that we can play well anywhere we go.”

As they enter the GLIAC Tournament on Wednesday, the Lakers will be the hottest team, winning 22 of their last 25 games. Lyon said the team is playing with confidence and the hope is to have that confidence carry into these next few weeks.

The Lakers will open as the top-seeded team in the tournament and will face off against Ashland University at 10 a.m. at V.A. Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio.

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