Report for March 31, 2004
SOFTBALL
Calvin opened its 2004 MIAA campaign with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Kalamazoo Wednesday afternoon at the new Calvin softball complex. The pair of victories also allowed the Knights to reach the .500 mark for the first time this year as they improved to 6-6 overall.
The Calvin softball team had much to celebrate as head coach Amber Warners gave birth to a 7 pound, 15 ounce boy, Tanner, at 10:30 am Wednesday morning. Tanner joins older brothers Carson and Emmitt in the Warners household.
With associate head coach Sara Christner stepping into the leadership reins, Calvin used a come-from-behind effort in winning game one Wednesday 3-2 in eight innings and then recorded a 10-1 triumph in a game shortened to six innings because of the mercy rule in the nightcap.
In the opener, Calvin took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as junior Lea Bareman (Unity Christian HS) scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a lead-off single. Kalamazoo (3-8, 0-2 MIAA) came back to take a 2-1 lead on a towering home run to left field by Linsey VanSweden in the top of the fifth. Calvin came back to tie the score at two with a run in the sixth as freshman Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH) came up with a clutch RBI single down the left field line to plate freshman Chandra Fynaardt (Pella, IA), pinch-running for junior Laurel Sands (Rockford HS).
In the eighth, Kalamazoo threatened as VanSweden led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Karman Hamlin then ripped a sharp single to shallow left to place runners on first and third. Calvin junior Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont HS) then bore down to strike out Kalamazoo's Lauren Trager to end the Hornet threat.
Calvin then used a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning as senior Rachel Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian HS) singled up the middle. Kalb then provided the heroics once again, blooping a double into left-center that rolled past Kalamazoo's centerfielder and allowed Dyksterhouse to score with the winning run. Heyboer went the distance on the mound for the Knights, striking out five batters and walking two while scattering six hits.
In game two, Calvin's offense broke loose for 17 hits and six extra-base hits to pull away for the mercy-rule win. Dyksterhouse and Angie Sietsema (Grandville HS) collected three hits apiece for the Knights while sophomore Jeanne Cole (Mason County Eastern HS) had two doubles. Kalb, sophomore Jill Scholten (Holland Christian HS) and senior Keri Cole (Mason County Eastern HS) were also credited with two hits apiece while junior Abby Konyndyk (Grand Rapids Christian HS) ripped an RBI triple in Calvin's four-run sixth.
Freshman Ruth Anna Spooner (Twin Falls, ID/Idaho School for the Deaf) came up with another stellar pitching effort for the Knights as she struck out nine batters in five innings of work while allowing just two hits. Spooner is now 3-1 on the year. Junior Kara VanKooten (Anchorage, AK) threw an inning of shutout relief in the sixth.
Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Olivet for a doubleheader slated to start at 1:00 p.m..
MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 3-31 GAMES
Alma 3-0
Calvin 2-0
Albion 3-1
Olivet 1-2
St. Mary's 1-3
Adrian 0-1
Hope 0-1
Kalamazoo 0-2
BASEBALL
Calvin (4-9) looked impressive against NCAA Division II opponent Northwood University, but could not hold a slim lead in an 11-6 defeat.
The Knights relinquished two runs in the second inning to give Northwood a 2-0 lead, but Calvin's bats produced one in the third and two in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Calvin then gave up nine runs over the next four innings, while only producing two of its own and trailed 11-5. The Knights could only produce one run in the ninth.
Freshman John Henderson (Ottawa Hills) started the third inning with a double up the middle and was soon brought home by senior Terry O'Neal (Reeths-Puffer). Calvin's fourth inning scoring started when sophomore Mike Aggen (Evergreen Park Community) touched home on a wild pitch. Also in the fourth, junior Josh Vriesman (Denver Christian) singled up the middle to score freshman Bobby Fisher (Walkerville). The seventh inning scoring started when junior Andy Bunting (Glen Lake) grounded out to third and drove home O'Neal. Also scoring in the seventh was sophomore Kyle Hollemans (East Kentwood), who scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Fletcher (Concordia Lutheran). Calvin's ninth inning run was Tyler Van Eps (Denver Christian), who scored on a single by senior Darrell Heuker (Unity Christian).
Sophomore Jory Trim (Creston) pitched the first five and two-thirds innings for the Knights, giving up nine hits, six runs, four of which were earned, while striking out two and walking two. Sophomore Justin Roza (Hamilton District Christian) added an inning, giving up two runs and four walks. Junior Joel Bont (Calvin Christian) relieved for one and one-third innings, giving up three hits, and three runs, before sophomore Ben Buikema (Lakewood) finished the game with no hits and no runs allowed.
Calvin scored their six runs on twelve hits with four errors, while Northwood scored eleven runs on twelve hits, committing five errors.
Calvin returns to action this Friday when they play host to Hope College at 3:00 p.m.. The game will be broadcast via RealAudio on the Calvin web site at: ww.Calvin.edu/sports
MEN'S COLLEGE TENNIS
Calvin upped its record to 7-5 overall and to 1-1 in the MIAA with a 7-2 conference victory over Alma Wednesday afternoon at the Champion Fitness Center in Rockford. Calvin picked up victories in four of the six singles flights and swept all three doubles flights to gain the win.
Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it travels to future MIAA member Tri-State University for a match scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m..
Calvin 7, Alma 2
At Champion Fitness Center (Rockford, MI)
SINGLES*1. Matt Krieg (A) d. Kevin VanHaitsma 5-7, 6-3, 7-5; 2. Jon Miedema (C) d. Drew Martin 6-1, 6-0; 3. Rob Nicholson (A) d. Dan Volkema 0-6, 6-3, DF; 4. Mark Betten (C) d. Nick Green 6-3, 6-4; 5. David Bratt (C) d. Matt Baleja 6-3, 6-4; 6. Ryan DeNooyer (C) d. Tristan Wilson 6-0, 6-0.
DOUBLES*1. VanHaitsma/Bratt © d. Krieg/Tim Slade 6-4, 6-4; 2. Miedema/Betten © d. Nicholson/Martin 6-1, 6-1; 3. DeNooyer/Ryan Sneller © d. Baleja/Green 6-1, 6-1.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Mar 31 21:59:56 2004
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