DEVILS LAKE — Saturday’s conditions, with wind speeds in the high teens and reel-feel temperatures in the low 20s, were not exactly ideal for baseball.
But it wasn’t much of an issue for Lake Region State College pitcher Hunter Remmick, who grew up in Devils Lake.
“I feel like it’s an advantage compared to other people, because I’m used to it,” Remmick said. “It definitely affected me; like, it blew me over a couple times. But it was fine.”
Remmick threw five strong innings as LRSC (11-35, 5-14) completed a sweep of Dakota College at Bottineau (10-32, 1-18) on Saturday at DLYA Field. The Royals won 12-2 in five innings, walking off the run-rule victory with an RBI double by another Devils Lake native, Beau Brodina.
Lucas Lyons highlighted the offense by hustling out an inside-the-park three-run homer.
“We love playing Bottineau. It’s just so good, the rivalry against them,” Lyons said. “It’s really awesome bringing it to them. It’s really fun. And the guys sure love it, too, on the bench. Everyone’s into it.”
The second game of the day — and fourth of the series — was canceled due to persisting cold temperatures. The Royals won 16-13 and 9-8 over Bottineau on Thursday, so they completed their conference season with three straight wins.
“It feels great…being hot at the right time,” LRSC head coach Steve Anderson said. “And now we’re starting to put it all together and get things rolling, and getting ready to go out west for the playoffs next weekend.”
Remmick had last pitched on Monday against Dawson Community College. He came out with a sore arm after throwing only 49 pitches.
He said it felt better on Saturday but still a little sore.
When the game began, the reel-feel temperature was below 20 degrees. The first inning was a little rocky for Remmick; a two-out double put Bottineau on the board.
Remmick managed to strand the bases loaded.
After that, he found a groove. The freshman right-hander retired 12 straight batters, four via the strikeout.
“The offspeed was working really well,” Remmick said. “The team couldn’t really hit the offspeed, and I was locating it well. And then I pretty much did the fastball off of the curveball, and it worked pretty well.”
Meanwhile, the Royals’ offense came out mashing, taking advantage of some shoddy Bottineau fielding. They scored five in each of the first two innings to take a 10-1 lead.
“We did a really good job of being patient and then just absolutely hammering our pitch when we had it there, which is something we’ve been preaching all year,” Anderson said.
Brodina ignited the first-inning rally with a bunt single, while Logan Dearborn and Dane Hagler hit singles that scored two runs each. Hagler advanced two bases on an error by the left fielder.
Carson Beaudin hit a two-out RBI single to put a bow on each of the first two innings.
The first three batters of the bottom of the second all scored on Lyons’ inside-the-park home run. The ball sailed over the center fielder’s head, and he was slow getting to it as Lyons raced around the bases.
“The second I saw him miss it, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going all the way,’” Lyons said. “Like even if Coach was trying to stop me, I was going right through that stop sign, honestly.”
Anderson said the team had been joking at practice about hitting inside-the-parkers.
“You don’t see that a whole lot at this level,” Anderson said. “To see that actually come into fruition, that was awesome. And he got around the bases quick.”
It was Lyons’ third homer of the season and seventh of his career.
The first six were all of the over-the-fence variety.
“I was so hype, honestly,” Lyons said. “Riding the basepaths, I felt like I was flying up there. It was awesome.”
Lyons has been hot in the second half of the season. He has a nine-game hitting streak, raising his season average to .328 with an OBP over .400. His slugging percentage now sits at .504.
“I’ve just been trusting my approaches, attacking the fastball and adjusting with two strikes,” Lyons said. “I know what I’m capable of, so I’m just trusting my bat. Everything else follows.”
Lyons has been the top hitter on this team for two straight seasons.
But he strives to be a great teammate above anything else, he said.
“As much as you want to be that guy, it’s important to be a teammate,” Lyons said. “Picking everyone up, just make sure everyone’s into the game, too. Bring the energy, all that. Just doing all the little things, and bringing that not just in baseball, but to life, too.”
Gabe Mckinney also contributed to the second-inning rally with an RBI double that the left fielder misread. Mckinney has eight hits in his last four games, including two three-hit performances and a home run.
“Really puts together strong at-bats,” Anderson said of Mckinney. “Got some good pop, too. … And he’s got some good wheels.”
The Royals’ offense finally quieted in the next two innings. They were set down in order in the fourth, striking out twice against some funky left-handed spin from Minot native Luke Wegner.
Remmick’s streak of 12 straight retired ended on a throwing error by Hagler at short. Bottineau scratched out an unearned run to cut LRSC’s lead to 10-2.
Remmick recorded a three-pitch strikeout to end his outing. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, collecting five strikeouts while walking two. He threw 75 pitches (46 strikes).
Not bad for a windy day.
“I know it’s hard coming out here when it’s cold, but he’s a gritty competitor,” Anderson said. “And able to get up off the bench after he’s sitting there for a while, and settle in and get guys out. It’s what he’s great at doing.”
Remmick owns a 4.46 ERA in his first collegiate season. He’s recorded four starts where he pitched at least five innings and allowed no more than one earned run.
“The hitters are definitely better [in college],” Remmick said. “It’s harder to get outs. They make a lot of good contact. But it’s not too much different. … It’s fun having a good defense behind me, too, at the college level.”
Remmick’s two Devils Lake teammates, Trason Beck and Brodina, were the top two hitters in LRSC’s order. In the bottom of the fifth, Beck reached on a run-scoring error. That set the table for Brodina, who smacked a double to center field that walked it off.
Remmick said he’s enjoyed having his Devils Lake pals along for the ride with him.
“I’ve been playing with them my whole life,” Remmick said. “Obviously, the other guys are sweet and I love them all, but it’s pretty sweet having people I know already to play with.”
LRSC will finish in fifth place out of six teams in the Mon-Dak Athletic Conference.
The Royals conclude the regular season with Sophomore Night on Wednesday, April 29, when they host the University of North Dakota club team.
Then they’ll jump into the playoffs.
“Everyone’s been having a great time,” Lyons said. “Winning is fun, and obviously you want to win. Everyone’s definitely changing their attitudes, too. … It’s really awesome to see.”
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