CSR (Women's Tennis Nipped by Kalamazoo/2006 Calvin Baseball Outlook)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 12, 2006

Women's Tennis Nipped By Kalamazoo in MIAA Opener;
2006 Calvin Baseball Outlook

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kalamazoo 5, Calvin 4

KALAMAZOO * Calvin slipped to 0-4 on the young season with a heart-breaking 5-4 defeat at Kalamazoo on Saturday in the MIAA opener for both schools. Two of Calvin's four defeats this year have been by 5-4 scores. Five of the nine points were decided in three-set matches with the Hornets winning three of those five.

Calvin will now prepare for its spring trip to Florida with the Knights opening their schedule down south on Saturday with a match against Otterbein College.

Kalamazoo 5, Calvin 4
at Kalamazoo

Doubles
 
1. Fink/Spencer (K) d. Zeilstra/Oosterhouse 7-6(3) 6-4
2. Atallah/Zuhlke (K) d. Huizenga/Lipinski 7-5 7-6(5)
3. Rashelle Salimi/Gudipati (K) d. Logan/Bosscher 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(2)
 
 
Singles
 
1. Amy Zeilstra (C) d. Megan Fink 6-4, 0-6, 6-3
2. Mary Atallah (K) d. Annie Huizenga 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Laura Spencer (K) d. Emily Oosterhouse 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Kari Lipinski (C) d. Smitha Gudipati 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
5. Allyson Logan (C) d. Lindsay Zuhlke 6-3, 6-2
6. Kim Bosscher (C) d. Geneva Garcia 6-4, 6-2

2006 CALVIN BASEBALL PREVIEW (First In a series of six Calvin spring sports outlooks)

After a third place league finish in 2005, the Calvin baseball team has hopes of remaining in the upper echelon of the MIAA standings this spring.

With a new 28-game league format, MIAA teams will be forced to dip deep into their pitching staffs. Calvin will open its league campaign on March 25 with a doubleheader against visiting Albion. The twinbill will kick off a 28-game league schedule that will feature each team playing four games against the remaining seven league schools with the four-game series split into a pair of doubleheaders separated by three or four days.
With several seniors in his pitching rotation, Calvin head coach Jim Timmer feels his team has the pitching depth and experience to compete for one of the league's top spots.

"The new league schedule will place a premium on pitching depth," said Timmer. "There are a number of teams that can roll out a great number-one or even number-two pitcher. But what happens in a four-game series when you come to number-three or more importantly to number-four in your pitching rotation? I think the teams that have the most consistent starting pitchers at the end of their rotations will be the teams that you see at the top of the league standings."

Although Calvin graduated one of the most dominating pitchers in MIAA history in 6-4 righthander Jim Deters, the Knights do have seniors Kyle Snoeyink (Calvin Christian HS) and Tim Stoeffler (Ionia HS) back in the rotation. Despite battling injuries, the hard-throwing Snoeyink was 1-2 in eight appearances in 2005 with a team-leading 1.71 earned run average. Stoeffler was 3-5 with a 5.18 earned run average and was second on the team in innings pitched (48.2). Seniors Ben Buikema (Lake Odessa-Lakewood HS) and Joel Bont (Calvin Christian HS) and Justin Roza (Burlington, ON/Hamilton District Christian HS) will also compete for spots in the rotation after serving as spot starters and as relief pitchers last spring. In addition, senior Andy Draayer (Denver, CO/Denver Christian HS) returns after a year's absence. The 6-5 righthander was 2-5 with a 3.51 ERA as a sophomore during the 2004 season. Other returning letterwinners on the pitching staff include sophomores Mike Stob (South !
Christian HS) and Aaron Davis (Gaylord/St. Mary's HS). According to Timmer, freshmen hurlers Kyle Cousins (Holland Christian HS) and Nate Pocock (Wayland, MA/Wayland HS) will also play a factor for the Knights this spring.

"I like our pitching staff and I think we have the kind of depth and experience where we can compete for one of the top spots in our league," said Timmer. "We'll need contributions from everyone of our pitchers to finish high in the standings."
The Calvin pitching staff will also have a familiar face to throw to as senior catcher Mike Aggen returns after batting a team-best .369 at the plate last year while also compiling a .983 fielding percentage. An All-MIAA second team selection in 2005, Aggen also collected a team-leading 27 RBI's last spring and spent part of his summer as a member of an Athletes-in-Action team overseas. "Mike had a great junior season," said Timmer. "He has worked very hard in the off-season and put himself in position to have a big senior year."

Backing up Aggen will be junior Kyle Fletcher (Fort Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran HS) and sophomore Pieter Groot (Uxbridge, MA/Whitinsville Christian HS). "I like both of those guys," said Timmer. "They are both big strong players. If we need to give Mike a rest behind the plate, Pieter and Kyle are both capable of stepping in."

The outfield will be led by senior centerfielder Mark Asma (Portage/Kalamazoo Christian HS). A first team All-MIAA selection in 2005, Asma is a threat to cut down a scoring threat on defense as well as creating one at the plate. "Without a doubt, Mark is one of the best defensive players in our league," said Timmer. "He can really run and get to balls that look like they might go for extra-bases. He is also a dangerous hitter and a threat to run on the bases. He was injured as a sophomore so it was good to see what he was able to do when he was at full speed." As a junior last spring, Asma batted .333 along with three homers, 13 RBI's and a team-leading 31 runs scored.

Also returning in the outfield include junior rightfielder Nick Caudle who garnered All-MIAA second team accolades in 2005 after batting .314 with 21 runs scored and 14 RBI's. In league games, Caudle batted .356 with a slugging percentage of .492. When not pitching, Stoeffler may also move to the outfield where he has a sparkling glove and a strong right arm. Sophomore Alex Marcus (Willmar, MN/Willmar HS) saw spot duty as a freshman but has shown vast improvement according to Timmer and will also push for playing time this year. Another returning letterwinner with outfield experience is junior Brad Brummel (South Christian HS) who batted .320 as a utility player in 2005.

The infield features three returning starters in senior third baseman Kyle Hollemans (East Kentwood HS), senior second baseman Tyler VanEps (Denver, CO/Denver Christian HS) and senior first baseman Mark Tigchelaar (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS). Hollemans is a three-year starter and is coming off a 2005 season that saw him bat .250 with 19 runs scored. VanEps battled the injury bug last spring but still managed to bat .305 with 18 RBI's. Over the course of his three-year career, VanEps has belted nine home runs. Tigchelaar is coming off a 2005 campaign that saw him reap All-MIAA second team accolades. Tigchelaar batted .297 with 22 runs scored and 21 RBI's. More importantly, he posted a fielding percentage of .966 while primarily playing first base. Tigchelaar has the potential to play every infield position and could move to the outfield if needed or serve as a DH. When not pitching, Snoeyink will also see time in the infield, playing at either first or third base!
.

As for the shortstop position, the individual has changed but the last name has not as freshman Jacob Vriesman (Denver, CO/Denver Christian HS) is the leading candidate to take over the spot vacated by older brother Josh Vriesman who graduated last May. In addition, junior Eric Boer (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomore Scott Larsen (Hastings HS) are challenging for infield time. Boer appeared in 22 games and started in 15 last year, belting a pair of home runs. Larsen appeared in nine games in 2005. Freshmen Chris Blacklidge (Comstock Park HS) and Jason May (Chicago, IL/Walker Lutheran HS) will also challenge for time at first base and perhaps at the DH spot. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, Blacklidge has excellent power and a good glove.

"I think our infield will be solid," said Timmer. "The thing that I like the most is that we have a handful of players who can play multiple positions. For example, Mark Tigchelaar can play all four infield positions and play them well. As a coach, that gives you a lot more flexibility and also serves a team well if injuries occur like we had last year."
For the past several years, the Knights have opened their season in Florida on their spring break trip. This year will provide a change of pace as the Knights will get a taste of cactus ball as they travel to Arizona for spring break.

While down in Arizona, Calvin will compete against the likes of teams from Williams of Masschusetts, the University of Chicago, Albright, Thomas University and Midland Lutheran. Games will be played at spring training complexes owned by the Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels.

"We're really looking forward to our Arizona trip," said Timmer. "It will offer our players a different experience and a place where many of them have never even visited before. The weather should also be very conducive. We lost an entire day of games to rain last year in Florida. The odds of that happening in Arizona are very slim."

In addition to their league schedule, the Knights will play non-conference games against traditional local rivals Aquinas and Grand Valley State.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun Mar 12 22:15:04 2006