Spring Lake Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Grand Haven

Lakers win nightcap 9-1 after dropping opener 6-5 in walk-off fashion

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:37pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the dynamic energy and competitive nature of the sport.The Lakers and Bucs' hard-fought doubleheader showcased the regional rivalry and competitive spirit of high school baseball in Western Michigan.Grand Haven Today

The Spring Lake baseball team split a doubleheader against neighboring rival Grand Haven on Saturday. The Bucs handed the Lakers their first loss of the season in the opening game, winning 6-5 on a walk-off. However, Spring Lake bounced back in the nightcap, cruising to a 9-1 victory.

Why it matters

This cross-town rivalry between Spring Lake and Grand Haven is an important annual matchup for both programs as they compete in the OK-Black conference. The split results keep the Lakers in contention for the conference title, while the Bucs are still searching for their first conference win of the season.

The details

In the opener, Spring Lake trailed 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning before Maddux Kipling hit a 3-run double to tie the game. The Lakers then took the lead on a double steal of home, but Grand Haven quickly responded with two runs in the bottom half to win 6-5. In the nightcap, Ryan Fine pitched six strong innings for the Lakers, allowing just four hits and striking out six, while Owen Smies tossed a scoreless seventh. Kipling had a big game at the plate, collecting three hits and driving in five runs.

  • The doubleheader took place on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Spring Lake (9-1) will visit Hamilton for an OK-Black doubleheader on Tuesday, April 22, 2026.
  • Grand Haven (1-3) will travel to East Kentwood on Tuesday, April 22, 2026 for a twinbill.

The players

Maddux Kipling

A Spring Lake player who hit a 3-run double to tie the first game and had three hits and five RBIs in the nightcap.

Ryan Fine

The Spring Lake pitcher who threw six strong innings, allowing just four hits and striking out six, in the Lakers' 9-1 win in the second game.

Owen Smies

A Spring Lake player who recorded two hits and pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief in the nightcap.

Max Smies

A Spring Lake player who drove in two runs in the 9-1 victory.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough doubleheader against our rivals, but I'm proud of how our team responded after the tough loss in the first game. Ryan and Owen really set the tone for us in the nightcap.”

— Maddux Kipling, Spring Lake Player

What’s next

The Lakers will look to build on their split when they visit Hamilton for another key OK-Black doubleheader on Tuesday, while the Bucs will try to get back in the win column when they travel to East Kentwood.

The takeaway

This cross-town rivalry between Spring Lake and Grand Haven remains as competitive as ever, with both teams battling for positioning in the OK-Black conference. The Lakers' ability to bounce back from a tough loss in the opener shows their resilience, while the Bucs will need to regroup quickly to get their season back on track.