Thursday, April 18
Macomb (14-12, 8-4) at Mott (16-12, 8-5)
2:00 p.m. (doubleheader) | 1229 Benson Ave., Flint
Live Stream
Saturday, April 20
Macomb (14-12, 8-4) vs. Mott (16-12, 8-5)
1:00 p.m. (doubleheader) | 14500 E. 12 Mile Rd., Warren
Live Stream
BY THE NUMBERS: 8
The Monarchs have posted double-digit runs nine times this season and have been on the winning end of those contests on
eight (8) occasions. The Monarchs are 8-1 when posting 10+ runs and are an impressive 11-1 when recording six or more runs in a game. Conversely, the Monarchs have only three wins when scoring five or less runs.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3
What a week for
Derek Ruiz! The sophomore infielder helped lead the Monarchs to a 5-1 week by becoming a mainstay on the bases with a slash line of .500/.611/1.000. Ruiz connected on
three (3) triples last week to push his team-leading total in the category to four and lifted his season slash line to .397/.485/.603 in the process.
PIVOTAL SERIES AHEAD
Two of the top three teams in the MCCAA East will meet this week as the Monarchs prepare for a pivotal four-game set against the Mott Bears. The teams will play two on Thursday in Flint at 2 p.m. before closing out the series with a twin bill in Warren on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Monarchs won the first meeting of the season, a 5-4 walk-off victory in 11 innings back on March 26.
BALANCED ATTACK
Four Monarchs are hitting above .400 this season (min. 20 at-bats), led by the left-handed bat of
Brady Krzciok. The future CMU Chippewa is hitting .465 to go along with an .845 SLG% and .581 OBP with seven home runs and 28 RBIs.
Dane Richards is next with a .450 average and .700 SLG%,
Riley Ames is hitting .447 and
Ty Stepek checks in at .413, while
Derek Ruiz (.397) and
Dylan Pawenski (.358) follow closely.
THREE UNDER FOUR
Three Monarch starting pitchers have posted a sub-4.00 ERA this season, led by Wayne State University transfer,
Hector Jaimes, and his 2.60 ERA.
Oliver Barkal, a Niagara University transfer, is next at 3.16 while freshman and former Monroe High School standout,
Ryan Sieler, rounds out the leading starters with a 3.65 ERA.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman outfielder
Dane Richards was named MCCAA East Player of the Week after helping lead the Monarchs to a 5-1 week while hitting .556 and slugging .722. Richards racked up three doubles and nine RBIs as part of a 10-for-18 week that included scoring six runs of his own, drawing six walks and stealing a pair of bases.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Rice has earned MCCAA East Pitcher of the Week honors! Rice was dialed in last week, striking out 11 batters across five innings while only allowing one unearned run on two hits. Rice closed out a combined no-hitter by striking out the side and then struck out eight in four innings to earn a win against Schoolcraft. Rice posted a 0.00 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a 19.80 K/9 rate last week.
A LOOK AT: MOTT
The Mott Community College Bears enter their four-game series with the Monarchs riding high after taking three out of four last weekend against Henry Ford, including a Sunday sweep to move to 8-5 in the MCCAA East. Sitting a half game behind the 8-4 Monarchs, the Bears are led into the pivotal four-game set by a talented starting rotation and an offensive attack that features seven players hitting above .300.
RECENT SERIES HISTORY
In an incredibly even series historically (dating back to 2013 when game-by-game results were recorded), Macomb owns a narrow 18-17 advantage thanks to winning the last meeting in extra innings. Macomb is 12-7 against Mott at home since 2013 but has found it tough to win in Flint as the Monarchs have posted a 5-9 record during that span. (Note: The Monarchs and Bears have met once in the postseason since 2013 with Macomb winning 18-0 and another meeting was held at West Bloomfield High School)
HOME LIVE STREAMS
Join us the remainder of the season for home live stream coverage of Macomb Baseball on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch! New this year for select games: tune in for special play-by-play coverage of select home games as Tom Cavanaugh will be on the call for the remainder of the Macomb Baseball and Softball season (splitting coverage).
