From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Thu Apr 10 2003 - 23:02:06 EDT
Calvin Sports Report for April 10, 2003
SOFTBALL
Playing perhaps its final game at its old softball complex, Calvin came up with a game to remember as the Knights upset 11th-ranked and defending MIAA champion Alma 4-3 to gain a split of a conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon.
The Knights are scheduled to open play at their new field on Saturday afternoon against Albion.
In Thursday's twinbill with Alma, Calvin (12-7 overall, 2-2 MIAA) dropped a 2-0 decision in the opener before coming back to win the nightcap in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 3-2 in game two, Calvin tied the game on a clutch two-out RBI single from freshman Jeanne Cole (Mason County Eastern HS) in the bottom of the fifth inning that drove in senior Becky Austen (Pembroke, ON) from second base.
Calvin junior Abby Konyndyk (Grand Rapids Christian HS) then led off the top of the sixth with a prodigious home run to straightaway centerfield that gave the Knights a one-run lead. Calvin would make the lead hold up as the Knights came up with a clutch defensive play in the bottom of the sixth and then retired the side in order in the seventh.
Calvin's defensive gem in the sixth was turned in by freshman centerfielder Jill Scholten (Holland Christian HS) who snagged a sinking line drive on the run with one out and a runner on first base. After snaring the ball in the webbing of her glove, Scholten whirled and fired a throw to junior first baseman Rachel Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian HS) a foot off first base. Dyksterhouse then dove to touch first base a second before a retreating Alma runner for an inning ending double play.
In the seventh, Cole struck out Alma's leadoff batter and then coaxed the next two batters on back-to-back groundouts to the mound.
Cole helped her own cause at the plate by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Alma outhit Calvin 9-5 in game two but the Knights were able to turn three double plays in the win. Cole (3-3) picked up the complete-game victory, striking out one and walking one.
In the opener, Cole's older sister, junior Keri Cole (Mason County Eastern HS), went 2-for-3 but it would not be enough to score a run off Alma sophomore starter Leigh Ann LaFave who held the Knights to four hits overall in spinning a shutout victory. Alma scored the only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth as the Scots strung back-to-back doubles together and then added a two-out RBI single to provide an insurance marker.
LaFave (9-1) struck out seven and did not walk a Calvin batter while sophomore Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont HS) took the loss despite giving up only six hits and striking out two and walking two.
Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Albion at 1:00 p.m. in the inaugural games at Calvin's new softball field, located on the west end of the Gainey Athletic Complex along East Paris Avenue. Although Saturday's doubleheader will mark the inaugural games at the field, it will not serve as a dedication afternoon. A dedication game(s) for the field will take place later in the spring.
MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-10 GAMES
St. Mary's 2-0
Olivet 1-0
Alma 4-2
Calvin 2-2
Albion 1-1
Hope 1-1
Adrian 0-1
Kalamazoo 0-4
BASEBALL
A late-inning outburst allowed visiting Aquinas to capture a 7-4 non-conference victory over Calvin Thursday afternoon. Calvin (5-10 overall) took a 3-2 lead into the eighth but the Saints came up with five runs in the top of the eighth to vault into a 7-3 lead.
Calvin came back with a run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by sophomore Andy Bunting (Maple City Glenn Lake HS) to close to within three. With two outs and runners on first and third, Calvin brought the tying run to the plate but had its rally extenguished on a forceout at second base.
Calvin broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the second on an RBI single by freshman Tyler VanEps (Denver, CO) that scored junior Bryce Weston (Petoskey HS). Weston had reached base on a leadoff double.
Aquinas (18-6) countered with a run in the top of the third but the Knights came back to take a 3-2 lead on a RBI single by junior Darrell Heuker (Unity Christian HS) in the bottom of the third.
Neither team would score until the eighth when the Saints erupted for five runs on the strength of four hits, two walks, a Calvin error and one batter hit by a pitch.
Each team collected nine hits in the contest but the Saints also collected seven walks and reaped the benefits of four Calvin errors.
Eight Calvin players collected hits on the afternoon with VanEps going 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
Junior Jim Deters (Kalamazoo Christian HS) went the first four innings, striking out six batters and allowing just one earned run. Freshman Ben Buikema (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS) then came on to toss three innings of scoreless relief with freshmen Kory Ciesielski (Petoskey HS) and Chris Hinkley (Monmouth, ME) also coming in relief.
Ciesielski (0-3) took the loss for Calvin while Brad Schaub picked up the win for Aquinas.
Thursday's game marked the first of four straight non-conference games for Calvin against Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponents. The Knights will journey to Siena Heights on Friday for a 4:00 p.m. game and then host Spring Arbor Saturday in a doubleheader slated to start at 1:00 p.m.
MEN'S TENNIS
Calvin dipped to 9-3 overall and to 1-2 in the MIAA with an 8-1 loss to national power Kalamazoo Thursday afternoon at the Calvin tennis courts. A highlight of the afternoon was freshman David Bratt's three-set victory at number-six singles. Freshman Rafael Siebenschein (Lynden, WA) also came close to a win at number-two singles before falling in three sets.
Calvin returns to action next Tuesday when it travels to Albion for a 3:00 p.m. MIAA match.
Kalamazoo 8, Calvin 1
At Calvin College
SINGLES¯1. Michael Malvitz (K) d. Kevin VanHaitsma 6-3, 7-6 (7-3); 2. Matt Harding (K) d. Rafael Siebenschein 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; 3. Ken Dolbee (K) d. Tom Zeilstra 6-1, 6-0; 4. Dave Atallah (K) d. Jon Miedema 6-2, 7-5; 5. Tony Klemptner (K) d. Nate Kraai 6-3, 6-2; 6. David Bratt © d. Carlos Rincon 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
DOUBLES¯1. Malvitz/Harding (K) d. VanHaitsma/Siebenschein 7-6, 6-2; 2. Rincon/Dolbee (K) d. Zeilstra/Ryan DeNooyer 6-1, 6-2; 3. Klemptner/Carl Hinshaw (K) d. Miedema/Kraai 6-3, 6-4.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Thu Apr 10 2003 - 23:03:14 EDT