On June 27, 2007, the La Salle University Athletic Department announced the appointment of Mike Lake as the ninth Head Baseball Coach at the school. A 1982 graduate of La Salle, Lake had spent the previous four seasons as the top assistant for La Salle. In his first season, the team went 16-36, but that included a 12-11 mark after April 5 and a ninth-place finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference with an 11-16 record (after a 2-10 start). The 11 wins were the second-most ever in A-10 play and the most by a head coach in his first season at the school in league play. The Explorers also won four A-10 series, the second-most ever in a season. Other numbers from the 2008 squad included 266 runs scored, the most since the 2000 season, an 11-13 mark at home, tying the 2006 squad for the most wins since the 1999 season, and a school-record 47 double plays turned. In 2009, Lake increased his team's win total to 19, which included a season-opening 4-2 victory at Duke on Feb. 20, the team's first win over an ACC opponent as a member of the A-10 and only the second season-opening win of the decade (2004). More highlights include taking two-of-three from Xavier, the eventual A-10 Champion, and winning their first game over Charlotte. The team also finished first in the A-10 and 18th in the nation in fielding percentage at .974. As far as numbers for a squad this decade, the 2009 Explorers had the best batting average (.286), had the most hits (492), the most RBI (264), the most total bases (699), while tying for the most runs scored (283). They also posted just the second home winning record at 11-10 and, coupled with 2008, won the most back to back games at home (22) than any other time while in the A-10. In the four years before taking the head coaching position, Lake played a crucial part in the recruiting efforts for the Explorers. That included bringing Rich Prall and Gerard Breslin, two players drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, and John Rickards, the 2008 A-10 First Team Second Baseman, La Salle's first infielder to earn the honor, to 20th and Olney. His latest crop includes sophomore Cody Weiss, who was selected in the 26th round of the 2008 Major League draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers with the 787th pick, but chose to become an Explorer. During his time with the Explorers, two other players were selected in the Major League draft, each after their junior seasons, and both are still with their respective clubs, Craig Muschko, 2007, 22nd round, Chicago Cubs, and TJ Chism, 2009, 32nd round, New York Mets. Before La Salle, Lake was with Archbishop Ryan High School, putting in over 15 years of service. Most recently he was the head coach for the boys' varsity team (1991-2001), after starting there as the head coach of the junior varsity team. He then became the assistant coach of the varsity squad, before finally earning the head spot in 1991. While the head coach at Archbishop Ryan, Lake was named the Catholic League Northern Division Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Umpires Association in 1996 and 1999. Lake was also a three-time City of Philadelphia Coach of the Year award winner, issued by the Philadelphia Newspapers Association, in 1994, 1996, and 1999. He led his team to the Catholic League Northern Division Regular Season Championship in 1991, 1996, and 1999. Under his guidance, Archbishop Ryan won the Catholic League Championship in 1998. Also prior, Lake was highly involved with the semi-professional Penn-Del League. He played and coached for the RJM team and the Jenkintown Quakers, and also coached the Rachuba Squad. Lake won five consecutive League Championships with RJM from 1991-1995. Lake graduated from La Salle with a degree in business management. He currently resides in Colmar, PA with his wife Arleen and their three children, Ashley, Kristyn, and Michael. |
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