Hillsdale baseball senior Kunkel hits first career homer on senior night

HILLSDALE — While the doubleheader did not result in the league rebound the Hornets were looking for at the end of the spring, this season's senior night for the Hillsdale baseball team turned out to be one of the more memorable game experiences their core group of seniors had played in their high school careers.

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Hillsdale played their senior night doubleheader against Clinton at the newly built TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium. The Hillsdale College baseball stadium finished construction in 2024. The field features new state-of-the-art artificial turf, lighting and a new video board. Hillsdale College hosting a Hornet game has been a year-in-the-making.

"It is an honor to be here and I'm glad they let us come," Hornet coach Matthew Duff said. "The way it started was Hillsdale College used our field for fall ball last fall while this was being put together. They had said to us that they owed us a game over here, so we figured senior night, our last home game, would be our opportunity."

To make the night that much more special, it was also the first time one of the seniors had drove a homer out of a stadium in their career.

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In game two of their senior night doubleheader against Clinton, Hornet senior Ben Kunkel sent the ball deep over the left field wall for a three-run homer that tied the game at the top of the third inning. Hillsdale was down 5-2 going into the third inning, and the home run gave a boost to the Hornets that sparked a memorable back-and-forth game to end the night.

"That was my first (home run) of my life," Kunkel said. "I kind of always had the dream of hitting a home run. I thought about it every single day I was playing. It came when I least expected it and that's how it works. That was a surreal moment running the bases like I always dreamed of."

Kunkel has battled through shoulder and ankle injuries his final year as a Hornet student athlete, but the senior was healthy heading into the final season of baseball, his favorite sport. To be able to capture those moments in game two, in a unique atmosphere on senior night, was a highlight for Kunkel and for the whole team.

"It's been great," Kunkel said. "Hillsdale College is sweet and they have probably one of the best baseball stadiums in the state right now. To be able to play on it our senior night was really a blessing. Turf is great; you don't get the Hillsdale High School bounces here."

The senior finished game two with three hits and five RBIs. Despite the final scores of 11-1 and 16-6 in favor of Clinton, Kunkel wasn't the only senior that put in an impressive effort during their senior night doubleheader, and also not the only senior who took advantage of the turf field.

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Senior Lane Pearson pitched five innings of game one against Clinton, earning four strikeouts whilst earning 53 strikes over 105 pitches. Pearson added one hit to his stats in game two. Pearson echoed the sentiments many of his fellow seniors felt about the unique atmosphere of their senior night.

"I come out here all the time, but I've only been out here for a college game," Pearson said. "I never thought I'd be playing on it though. I'm so proud of my friend Ben (Kunkel). This would be the place to do it. This would be the place (to hit a home run). No matter the outcome, this is a game you are always going to remember."

Fellow senior pitcher Aaron Webb threw five innings for the Hornets in game two, striking out three batters and earning 50 strikes over 100 pitches. The team leader in runs also collected three hits and one trip around the bases during the course of the doubleheader. It was Webb's first time throwing on an artificial pitcher's mound.

"It was different for sure, but I like it," Webb said. "This is going to go down as my favorite game for sure at Hillsdale. Under the lights and having the turf field is awesome. There was nothing like it."

Senior third baseman Jace Ringman got the start in game two on the pitcher's mound. Ringman was appreciative of the atmosphere the stadium provided, even if it felt weird finally playing in his own senior night game.

"It was a really good atmosphere," Ringman said. "There was a bunch of people in the stands cheering (the teams) on. Both teams were all hyped. It feels weird to be playing in your last home high school game in front of people who have been watching you forever and playing with all your friends that you've been playing with since you were little. It was different."

Senior Brady Kast played catcher for both games. The team leader in total hits had one hit and two runs during game two. He had one hit during game one.

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Kast, like his fellow seniors, is hoping for one last shot at district playoff success in his final postseason.

"We just got to stop throwing as many balls, getting less full counts for the batters," Kast said. "The only thing we need to tweak is the batting and order, and once we get that finalized, then I think we will be ready for districts."

The seniors and many of the Hornet players are optimistic about their chances in the postseason. For Kunkel, while the team has played through highs and lows for his final season, they are a close group who is having fun, which was evident during their senior night battle with Clinton.

"We've had a lot of ups and downs, but I think our whole team is very close to each other," Kunkel said. "Even though we aren't having the best season, we are all having fun and we all love each other."

The team has just one doubleheader left this season against county rival Jonesville at home Tuesday, May 28 (pending schedule). The team played their final away games, a 7-3, 4-3 doubleheader loss to Camden-Frontier. They play Hudson in a district semifinal game on Saturday, June 1 at 12 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale baseball senior hits first career homer during senior night game