PORT HURON, Mich. – Macomb Baseball is postseason bound for the first time since 2018! The Monarchs punched their ticket to the NJCAA Region 12 Tournament, doing so in head coach Taylor Grzelakowski's second season at the helm. The historic return to the playoffs was clinched as part of a successful day that resulted in three wins over the host Skippers of St. Clair County Community College.
 
With the trio of wins, the Monarchs improved to 25-14 overall and 18-5 in MCCAA Eastern Conference play ahead of Saturday's (May 4) Sophomore Day doubleheader against the Skippers. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Warren on Saturday afternoon with a Sophomore Day ceremony to take place following the conclusion of game two.
 
GAME ONE: Macomb 11, SC4 0 (8 Inn.)
Before the teams could begin their traditional doubleheader, the Monarchs and Skippers had to resume their suspended 9-inning game from March 30. Picking up with a 3-0 Macomb lead in the top of the sixth, the Monarchs wasted no time completing the suspended game as the Blue & White went on to earn their first of three run rule victories on the day with an 11-0 decision in eight innings.
 
Hector Jaimes (Trenton, Mich./Western International/Wayne State) earned the win despite not participating in the game since March 30. Jaimes was the game's original starter and tossed five innings of two-hit, shutout ball to earn the win. Cooper Batzold (Troy, Mich./Troy Athens) picked up where Jaimes left off over a month later and struck out four over two innings of work to keep the shutout in play.
 
Brady Krzciok (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston/Madonna) hit his first of two home runs on the day in the win while Vincent Cowdrey (White Lake, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) homered for the second time in as many games as part of a 3-for-5 performance with three RBIs and two runs scored. Ty Stepek (Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Northern/GVSU) also drove in three runs to help the Monarchs secure the 11-0 victory.
 
GAME TWO: Macomb 16, SC4 5 (5 Inn.)
The first of two contests scheduled for seven innings went in favor of the Monarchs in five frames by a 16-5 final. Dylan Pawenski (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica/Madonna) hit home run No. 5 on the season, a 3-run shot that helped spark an 11-run fifth inning. Pawenski went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Brady Krzciok hit his 11^th home run of the campaign as part of a 2-for-3 game with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
 
Krzciok's 11^th home run places the sophomore first baseman in sole possession of second place all-time in single season home runs at Macomb, one behind the program record holder (12; Anthony Hines, 2006).
 
The hometown kid, Derek Ruiz (Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern/Madonna) drove in three runs while going 2-for-4 at the dish, while Alex Mendes (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.
 
Ethan Miller (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) came on in the first inning and went on to record the win after striking out five across three dominant innings of work. Jack Demetral (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) ensured the game ended in five innings after coming on in a bases loaded situation and shutting the Skippers down by inducing a double play to end the contest.
 
GAME THREE: Macomb 12, SC4 0 (5 Inn.)
The Monarchs continued to cruise in the third game of the day, winning the nightcap by a 12-0 final in five innings behind another stellar outing by Hector Jaimes. The redshirt sophomore scattered five hits across five shutout innings on the mound to earn a rare second win on the day for a starting pitcher.
 
Reese Rinna (Richmond, Mich./Richmond) led the Monarchs in the 12-0 win with a 3-for-3 performance that included three RBIs, three stolen bases and two runs scored. Brady Krzciok drove in two more runs to lift his season RBI total to 45, while Sebastian Jaimes (Trenton, Mich./Western International) and Andrew Sleiman (Leamington, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic Secondary) tied Krzciok with two RBIs each.
 
Riley Ames (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) followed Rinna in the hit department with two (2-3, 2 SB, R).