Iowa Lakes traveled to Clinton, Iowa on Wednesday to start to postseason play as they would draw a first round match up against Northeast Community College. Despite the Lakers offense hitting five homeruns in the game, they would battle all game long on the mound and in the field to keep themselves in the game. 

The Lakers would start off hot offensively in the second inning when Spenser Larson (Eden Praire, Minnesota) would lead the inning off with a walk and be brought home on two-run homerun to right field by Chad Hinkle (Rosemount, Minnesota) to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. The offense would again stike in the third inning off of the Northeast pitching staff when BJ Johnson (Tallahassee, Florida) would lead the inning off with a solo homerun to left field to get the momentum rolling in favor of Iowa Lakes. Both Tavan Shahidi (Ames, Iowa) and Larson would hit back to back singles to put runners on first and second with two outs. Hinkle and Ashtin Moxey (Jacksonville, Florida) would both come up with big two out RBI singles to increase to the Laker lead to 5-0 after two and a half innings of play. Northeast would bounce back however in the bottom of the third inning as they would score seven runs off of the Laker pitching staff to take the lead 7-5. Iowa Lakes would get back on track offensively in the top of the fifth inning as Moxey would hit a blast to left center field for a two-run homerun to tie the game up at 7-7. Northeast would answer once again with a multi-run inning in the bottom of the fifth as they would score four runs to seize to momentum and gain the lead back with the score now being 11-7. With the Lakers down four runs heading to the top of the seventh inning, they would cut the deficit down to three runs thanks to Hinkle's second homerun of the day.  Heading into the top of the ninth inning, the Lakers would mount a rally as Shahidi would start the inning off with a blast to left center field to bring the Lakers within two runs at 11-9. With one out, both Moxey and Hinkle would single single to put runners at first and second. With two outs, Luis Cintron (Yabuccoa, Puerto Rico) would come into pinch hit and lineout to the shortstop to end the game and the Lakers season as they would fall to Northeast Community College 11-9. 

To all the Sophomores, we appreciate all of the hardwork and dedication that you have given to the Iowa Lakes baseball program and wish nothing but the best for you. Until next year, follow Iowa Lakes baseball on twitter, @Lakerbaseball, to get all the information and details about the Iowa Lakes baseball program. 

Photo Credited to Tara Catron Photography