Lakeview baseball revels in reaching final weekend: 'This is a season I will remember forever'

It was a season to remember, no matter what the scoreboard said on Friday.

Lakeview, playing in the state semifinals on the final weekend of the season, lost its final game of the year.

But that result doesn't take away from the Spartans' dream season.

And that was obvious by the look and smile on the face of Lakeview senior Kooper Etheridge, even though he was leaving the dugout for the last time in his high school career with a loss.

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"As a senior, the best way to end your high school career is getting to the Final Four and that's what we did," said Etheridge, beaming as he was asked about this year's team and the run they had just completed together. "This is a season I will remember forever, no matter what the score of the final game.

"Team chemistry was through the roof, we had a ton of fun all the time. And that made it a lot easier to get to this point of the season. We lived up to the standards of Lakeview baseball and even surpassed what some people thought we could do this year. We had an amazing year."

Lakeview (29-7), with visions of getting to the state finals and winning a championship, struggled early and lost to Grosse Pointe North, 8-0, in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 semifinals at Michigan State University.

But several players put that in perspective, pointing out that they had just experienced playing on the big stage at MSU and had a large Spartan crowd rooting them on the entire day, proud of them for an incredible season.

"This is the furthest our team has gone in a long time, since 2014," said Lakeview senior Owen Baum. "I was here as a little kid watching that game back then and I wanted to be a a part of that. It's sad we couldn't go any further, but glad we got this far and honored to be a part of this team."

Lakeview coach Kyle Kracht, an assistant coach on that 2014 team as well as being a part of the staff that won the school's last state title in 2006, said he was proud of this year's squad.

"This is not how we wanted the season to end, but there's only one team that is going to end with a state championship and everyone else is going to go home disappointed and frustrated," Kracht said. "So this isn't anything for our guys  to hang their heads about."

Lakeview allowed seven runs in the first two innings and could never recover as Spartan pitchers gave up eight walks and hit three batters in the first five frames to trail 8-0.

"That was uncharacteristic of us," Kracht said. "One of our strong points all season has been our pitching. Too many walks, too many hit batters and some timely hits for them that was tough for us to overcome.

"We gave up some runs early, got our daubers down, and it took a little bit to get into the game, and that's on me. And in a game like this you don't have that kind of time. Give Grosse Pointe credit, they are a good team, they will play tomorrow in the state final. We wish we were playing in that state final, but only one team wins it all."

Facing Grosse Pointe North starter Jordan Arseneau, who had allowed only one earned run all season, Lakeview could only muster five total hits. Arseneau earned the complete-game victory, striking out five and only giving up two walks.

Lakeview scattered five hits, with Jake Kucharczyk getting a double and Zach Kucharczyk, Jayden Miller, Baum and Bryce Plane each adding singles.

With only three seniors on the roster in Etheridge, Baum and Carter Dean, Lakeview's young squad earned some valuable experience and will have high hopes for another run next year.

But, regardless of what happens next year, this year is was a special season for the Spartans.

"We have great kids, No. 1. Great baseball players, No. 2. And it was a great season," Kracht said. "When we look back, we hope they remember this experience, because this kind of season doesn't happen that often.

"These kids put a big footprint in Lakeview athletics and Lakeview baseball and they should be proud of that. They won't forget this time. They won't be happy today with what happened in the game, but they won't forget that they were here."

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick. 

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Lakeview baseball: 'This is a season I will remember forever'