CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 27, 2005
SOFTBALL
(Written by Annalise Venhuizen '08)
ALBION*Calvin (20-10, 10-2 MIAA) picked up two victories this afternoon to clinch a spot in the upcoming four-team MIAA Tournament as the Knights defeated conference opponent Albion College (18-18, 5-11 MIAA) in a double-header that was re-scheduled twice due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In fact, all spots in the MIAA Tournament have now been claimed as Olivet, Alma and Hope will join Calvin in the tournament with only the host site and tournament seeds yet to be determined.
With its doubleheader sweep at Albion, Calvin also reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth consecutive year.
Wednesday's opener went only five innings, as the Knights scored 11 runs to the Bulldog’s 3. Calvin scored in every inning except the first, while senior pitcher Kara VanKooten (Anchorage, AK) allowed Albion runs only in the final inning.
To lead off the game, junior Jeanne Cole (Fountain/Mason County Eastern) had a double, but Calvin could not capitalize on that effort in the first inning. Sophomore Erin Conrad began the second inning with a lead-off single and was driven in by a senior Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont/Fremont) double, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Calvin collected two runs in the third inning of a two-run homer by senior Abby Konyndyk (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian). The home run was her sixth of the year, establishing a new Calvin single-season record. Konyndyk had previously been tied for the Calvin single-season record with current teammate Laurel Sands (Rockford HS) who originally established the record with five home runs in 2002.
In the top of the fourth, freshman Cori VanKoevering (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) led off with a double to right center. Cole was then walked and freshman Samantha Ehlert (Rockford/Rockford) singled, advancing the runners. Konyndyk drove in another two RBI’s when she singled to right field. Conrad singled and sophomore Andrea Wagner (Jenison/ Unity Christian) reached on a fielder’s choice. Heyboer blasted another double, bringing in Konyndyk and Wagner for the final runs of the inning, giving the Knights a 7-0 lead.
Calvin gained another four runs in the top of the fifth by way of five singles. Cole singled, followed by senior Angie Sietsema (Grandville/Grandville). Konyndyk singled to drive in Cole. Conrad’s single drove in Sietsma and Konyndyk, and a fifth single by Heyboer caused Conrad to score. The Knights allowed three runs in the bottom of the fifth off of two errors, but managed to close out the inning to win the game 11-3.
Van Kooten (10-5) allowed only two hits and struck out two batters.
In the second game, Heyboer (5-4) took to the pitching slab and held the Britons from scoring until the top of the 6th inning. Calvin’s offense drove in runs in the bottom of the first, third, and fourth innings.
Cole hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first, scoring the Knights’ only run for the inning.
In Calvin’s third, Cole led off by reaching on an Albion error. Sietsema singled, as did Heyboer. Cole scored on Heyboer’s hit. Siesema scored on a sacrifice fly by Konyndyk. Senior Bridget O’Malley (Fairfax, VA) then doubled, driving in Conrad who had reached on a fielder’s choice, giving Calvin the 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Jalean Makedonsky (Imlay City/Imlay City) had a lead off single, but was out on a fielder’s choice drawn by senior Lea Bareman (Hudsonville/Unity Christian). Cole then collected her second home run of the game, driving in two RBI’s. At the end of the fourth, Calvin led 6-0.
Albion scored two runs in their sixth, and sophomore Ruth Anna Spooner (Twin Falls, ID) came in to pitch for Heyboer. She managed to get the save, though Albion again scored in the seventh. Heyboer got the win, striking out three Albion batters, Spooner aiding by striking out two.
Cole’s hits today extended her hitting streak to 13 games. She was 4-for-6 on the afternoon, hitting two home runs, a double, and a single.
Calvin now prepares for a key conference double-header tomorrow, which is
scheduled to begin at Hope at 3:30 pm
MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-27-05
Alma 11-1
Hope 12-2
Calvin 10-2
Olivet 10-4
Tri-State 7-7
Albion 5-11
Adrian 3-9
Kalamazoo 2-10
St. Mary's 0-14
MEN'S GOLF
The Calvin men's golf team took fifth in the seven-team Aquinas College Invitational Wednesday afernoon at the L.E. Kauffman Golf Club in Wyoming with a team score of 329. Davenport took first with a team score of 308 with Hope second with a score of 313. Aquinas was third (316), Cornerstone fourth (327) with Tri-State sixth (334) and Grand Rapids Community College seventh (342).
Highlighting the afternoon for Calvin was the sensational play of sophomore Jeff Tenbrink (Kalamazoo Christian HS) who captured medalist honors for the second time this spring, firing an 18-hole round of 73.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Apr 27 23:11:01 2005
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