The Lower Columbia College baseball team was ready to play.  After nearly a year of no games due to Covid-19, the Red Devils opened the 2021 season with a double header sweep of the Green River Gators on Saturday April 3^rd.
 
LCC pounded out 16 hits in an 18-0 victory in game one followed by an 11-1 win in the nightcap. Both games were shortened due to the 10-run rule.
 
LCC jumped on Green River right out of the chute scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning of the first game.  The Devils added a seven run 4^th and the rout was on.
 
Grant Sherrod hit a towering home run to left and he scored three times in the game.  First baseman Grant Henry went 1 for 2 and had three RBI's. Matthew Schwarz went 3 for 6 with three runs scored.
 
The leadoff spot was highly productive as Tyler Reese went 3 for 3 with two RBI's.  The other Tyler Reece entered the game in that spot and pounced on the first pitch for a two-run double.
 
The offensive show was backed up by solid pitching.  Starter Spencer Andersen got the win with five innings of two-hit ball. The left struck out five.  Sam Stuhr came out of the bullpen and shoved two innings of one-hit ball with two K's.
 
The second game got off to a great start as Daniel Gernon hit a three run bomb in the first inning.  LCC had single runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings around a four run 4^th.  The game ended on a Ethan Stacy RBI hit in the sixth triggering the mercy rule.
 
Schwarz had three more RBI's in the nightcap.  Drew Steelhammer was 2 for 2 with two runs.
 
Michael Callia Jr. was dialed in early as he kept Green River off the board through three before leaving with two outs in the 4^th.  Callia gave up four hits and struck out seven.  Griffin Henry was outstanding in relief going 2 1/3 of one-hit relief.  Henry was credited with the win.
 
The Devils (2-0) will be on the road for four games next weekend.  They will play at Centralia Saturday April 10^th at 1 pm followed by a 12 pm double header at Pierce on Sunday April 11^th.