Grand Valley State Baseball: A Program on the Rise

Grand Valley State has a rich baseball history dating back to 1957. The program has seen a lot of success over the years, but it has really taken off in recent years The Lakers have won four conference championships in the last six years and have made the NCAA tournament in three of the last four years.

Introduction

In 1993, the Grand Valley State baseball program was established. Since then, the program has seen a lot of success, including multiple conference championships and appearances in the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament The Lakers have also produced a number of Major League Baseball players, including Eric Gagné, who is a two-time World Series champion and the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner

Grand Valley State is a Division II school located in Allendale, Michigan. The school is a member of the Great Lakes collegiate athletic conference (GLIAC). The Baseball Program has won six conference championships and made seven appearances in the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament In addition, the Lakers have produced nine Major League Baseball players, including Eric Gagné, who is a two-time World Series champion and the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner.

The Grand Valley State baseball program is one that is on the rise. With a rich history of success, the future looks bright for the Lakers as they continue to compete at a high level and develop talented ballplayers.

The program’s history

Grand Valley State University’s baseball program has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1957. The team was originally an intramural squad, but quickly rose to prominence in the NCAA Division II ranks, winning two National Championships in 1979 and 1980. The Lakers have continued to be a force at the Division II level, making four more trips to the College World Series and winning another national title in 2003.

In recent years the Lakers have made the jump to Division I, and they have quickly established themselves as a contender in the Mid-American Conference. The team has won three MAC regular season titles and two MAC tournament championships since joining the conference in 2013, and they have made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I tournament.

Grand Valley State is a program on the rise, and there is no doubt that they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

The program’s recent success

Grand Valley State Baseball has experienced a lot of success in recent years The program has won three conference championships in the last four years, and made it to the NCAA Division II World Series in 2017.

GVSU Head Coach Jamie Deters has built a powerhouse program, and his team is consistently ranked near the top of Division II. The Lakers have produced some very talented players, including All-American pitcher Sean Renzi and conference MVP second baseman Ryan Coleman.

This season, the Lakers are off to another great start, and look like they could make another deep run in the postseason. With a talented group of players and a Great Coach Grand Valley State Baseball is a program on the rise.

The program’s facilities

The GVSU Baseball Program has seen a lot of success in recent years, and a big part of that is due to the top-notch facilities the team has at its disposal.

The team’s home stadium is Allendale Field, which was completely renovated in 2014. The project included the installation of a new artificial Turf Field as well as new dugouts, bullpens, fencing, and lighting. The result is a state-of-the-art facility that provides the perfect setting for Division I Baseball

In addition to Allendale Field, the GVSU baseball program also uses the Meijer Baseball and softball complex for practices and games. The Complex features four regulation-sized baseball fields two of which are equipped with lights for night games There is also a full-size practice infield available, as well as batting cages and bullpens.

The program’s coaching staff

The Grand Valley State baseball program has seen a lot of success in recent years, and a big part of that is due to the Coaching Staff Heading into the 2020 season, the Lakers have a very experienced and knowledgeable group of coaches that have helped the program become one of the best in the country.

Head coach Brian Murphy is entering his 12th season at the helm of the program, and under his guidance, the Lakers have won six conference championships and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Assistant Coach Steve Lyon is in his seventh season with the team, and he has been a big part of the Lakers’ success on the recruiting trail Steve Givarz is in his second season as an assistant coach and he brings a wealth of knowledge about pitching to the program. Rounding out the coaching staff is volunteer assistant coach Jordan Hopkins, who is in his first season with the team.

The Coaching Staff has helped develop some Great players during their time at Grand Valley State and they will look to continue that success in 2020.

The program’s recruiting efforts

Since becoming a Division I baseball program in 1991, Grand Valley State has made significant strides in its recruiting efforts. The Lakers are now able to attract top High School prospects from across the country. In recent years, the team has had players come from as far away as California, Florida and Texas.

The coaching staff has also worked hard to create a unique culture within the program. The team’s core values of hard work dedication and teamwork have helped the Lakers become one of the most successful programs in the Midwest.

In 2017, Grand Valley State won its first ever conference championship and made its first appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament The Lakers have continued to build on that success in recent years, and they are now considered one of the premier programs in the region.

The program’s development of players

The Grand Valley State baseball program has seen a lot of success in recent years. The Lakers have won three conference championships and made two NCAA Division II World Series appearances in the last six years. A big reason for the team’s success has been its development of players.

Since head coach Jamie Detillion took over the program in 2013, the Lakers have had 18 players drafted or signed to professional contracts. That includes seven players who have been drafted in the last two years alone.

detailing some of the team’s recent success stories, such as catcher Drew Weaver, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft and outfielder Cam Gibson who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft

The program’s fan support

Since the program’s inception in 1977, Grand Valley State Baseball has seen a steady increase in fan support. This is evident by the average attendance at home games which has more than tripled since 1977. This increase can be attributed to the program’s on-field success, as well as its commitment to providing a family-friendly experience at games.

In recent years, the program has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to its move to Division I status and its new home at Meijer Field at Grand Valley State University The team has also benefited from an influx of talented players, many of whom have gone on to have successful professional careers.

With its rich history and bright future Grand Valley State baseball is a program on the rise that is worth keeping an eye on.

The program’s future

In just a few short years, the Grand Valley State Baseball program has established itself as one of the premier programs in the Midwest.

Under the direction of Head Coach Dan Dahlke, the Lakers have won back-to-back conference championships and made two consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II World Series

With a core group of talented young players returning for the 2019 season, the Lakers are poised to once again contend for a conference title and make a deep run in the postseason.

Looking ahead, the future is bright for Grand Valley State baseball With Coach Dahlke at the helm, the Lakers will continue to compete at a high level and bring pride to their school and community.

Conclusion

In just a few years, the Grand Valley State baseball program has established itself as one of the premier programs in the country. Thanks to the efforts of Head coach Steve Aird and his staff, the Lakers have been consistently ranked near the top of Division II baseball polls and have made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II World Series

Despite its recent success, the program is still relatively young and has yet to win a National Championship But with a core group of talented players returning for the 2019 season, the Lakers will once again be among the favorites to win it all.

So what’s next for Grand Valley State baseball? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – this is a program on the rise that is here to stay.