As Kellogg CC gets ready for the World Series, the Bruins will prepare for a familiar face

BATTLE CREEK - Taking on the 'world' is one thing. But taking on one of your former players might be a more difficult situation.

That's what Kellogg Community College head coach Eric Laskovy is facing as his team heads to the NJCAA Division II World Series.

Along with taking on the best teams in the Bruins part of the 'world' at the National Junior College Athletic Association national championships, the first game for KCC will be against Des Moines Community College, which is coached by one of Laskovy's former pitchers - Nic Mishler. Mischler pitched for KCC in the 2011 World Series.

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"He pitched for me in the World Series. His dad was a longtime coach at Glen Oaks, so he'll have a full scouting report on us," Laskovy said. "I would really prefer not to play him in round one. But I guess there will be bragging rights on the line. He has a really good team, I know that."

The NJCAA Division II World Series will be held in Enid, Oklahoma, starting Saturday. With the brackets being released Tuesday, No. 8-seeded KCC (43-10) will play its opening game against No. 9-seeded Des Moines at 10 a.m on Saturday. If KCC wins, it will advance to face the top seed LSU-Eunice on Sunday at 1 p.m.

No. 15-ranked KCC defeated host Jackson, 16-0, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII baseball championships to qualify for the national championships. It marks the first World Series berth for the Bruins since 2021.

This is the seventh National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Championship for KCC and will be the seventh appearance in the NJCAA Division II World Series. During that run, KCC finished second in the nation in 2007 and third in 2021.

The Bruins will send Gavin Beuter, a Purdue University commit, to the mound for their first game. Beuter is 9-4 on the season with 75 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. KCC will rely on a deep pitching staff, that also includes sophomore Henry Stempky, who is 8-1, and Joshua Midbo, who is 7-1, along with local product Cameron Reichel, a Pennfield graduate, who is 5-0.

The Bruins offense has been clicking in recent weeks, led by Aaron Piasecki, who is hitting .486 with 61 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Also having good seasons are sophomore Jacob Martin, hitting .357 with 47 RBI, catcher Diego Pena, hitting .347 with 54 RBI as well as Pennfield graduate Cody Hultink, who is hitting .376 with 34 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

"The guys are very excited, we don't have a guy on the roster who has been to the World Series before," Laskovy said. "So they are ready to get out there and compete and enjoy the experience."

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

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Kellogg CC set to face Des Moines in first round of NJCAA World Series