CSR (Calvin Sports Report for April 22, 2008)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR April 22, 2008

Softball Sweeps Albion;
Baseball Takes Two From Olivet;
Men's Tennis Tops Albion;
Women's Tennis Defeats Alma;
Men's Golf 6th at Furniture City Classic

SOFTBALL
(written by Drew DeVries ’08)
Calvin 5, Albion 0
Calvin 4, Albion 0

KENTWOOD - Behind solid pitching and great defense, the Knights swept a pair
of games from the Britons of Albion in a doubleheader at Calvin's Gainey Field.
Calvin posted its first and second shutout victories of the season and swept a
conference opponent for the first time this season. With both wins, Calvin
clinches seventh place in the MIAA standings.

"It's definitely exciting," said Calvin softball head coach Emily Bustrum.
"This is what we've been talking about all season; playing well with
confidence. It's something that's inside of all of us and it's now starting to
come out. These two shutout victories today show it."

In the first game, Calvin took advantage of six Albion errors that resulted in
four unearned runs. Calvin got on the board right away in the bottom of the
first inning after Albion committed three errors with two outs. Samantha Ehlert
(Rokford/Rockford) was the first to score for Calvin. The Knights picked up two
more runs in the second inning; the first coming off a Michelle Vanden Berg
(Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) RBI single roped to center field that
knocked in Malissa VanRooyen (Beamsvills, ON/Smithville District Christian).
Then, after Whisper Miller (Hersey/Reed City) reached on a fielder's choice,
Cori VanKoevering (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) singled her in.

The Knights struck again in the fourth when Vanden Berg came around to score
off a single by Miller. Calvin added one more in the fifth off the bat of
Jacqueline Kirkman (Oregon, OH/Oregon). Kirkman ripped a double to left field
that sent Brittany Moriarity (Muskegon/Mona Shores) across home plate for
Calvin's fifth and final run.

A five run lead was plenty for Calvin pitcher Kristin Folkerts (Grand
Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) who collected her first shutout of the season to
improve her record to 9-16 on the year. She gave up six hits while striking out
two with no walks.

In the second game, Calvin flashed some more solid pitching behind great
defense. Amanda Johnson (Grand Rapids/Northpointe Christian) pitched a complete
game and also recorded her first shutout victory of the season. Giving up no
walks, Johnson attacked every Albion batter the same by throwing strikes. Her
defense helped retire the leadoff hitters in four of the seven innings while
Ehlert kept Albion baserunners intact by throwing out two runners trying to
steal second base.

"Both pitchers worked extremely hard today and our defense was there to field
those tough hits," said Bustrum. "In that second game, Johnson was putting the
ball where it needed to be and our defense backed her up with some great
plays."

The Knights were also able to generate enough offense with some strategic play
calling that included a safety squeeze play in the third inning. Calvin was
again able to manufacture runs due to a couple more costly Albion errors.

The Knights were the first to strike again in the second game scoring two runs
in the first inning. Loren Scarbrough blasted a bases loaded single to center
field that sent in both Ehlert and Miller. Two more runs came in the third
inning when VanKoevering got the ball rolling with a leadoff double. With one
out, Moriarity belted a triple sending in VanKoevering and would later score
off the sacrifice bunt by Scarbrough. It was Scarbrough's third RBI of the
game.

Johnson continued to go to work on the Albion batters and after giving up a
leadoff double in the seventh, buckled down and retired the next three batters
in order to preserve the shutout. She finished the complete game allowing nine
hits and striking out one and strengthened her record to 2-4.

Following the game, Bustrum was excited to see her team pull together and
grind out a pair of wins. "We've set the bar high and it's really exciting to
reach that level," she said. "What could be a better way to go out towards the
end of the season than with some momentum to go along with our tough defense,
solid hitting, and great pitching today."

The Knights (11-20 overall, 5-9 MIAA) will look to continue their momentum
when they return to action Thursday as they will travel to Alma for a pair of
tough conference games starting at 3:30 to wrap up their conference schedule.
Calvin then returns home to close out its season against Case Western Reserve
on Saturday.

For an audio interview with Emily Bustrum please visit the Calvin web site at:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/audio/Interviews08/EmilyBustrum042208.mp3

MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-22-08 GAMES

Tri-State 10-2
Alma 9-2
Saint Mary’s 9-3
Hope 9-5
Adrian 6-6
Olivet 6-9
Calvin 5-9
Albion 4-12
Kalamazoo 1-11

BASEBALL
(written by Bruce VanBaren ’09)
Calvin 4, Olivet 2
Calvin 3, Olivet 2

After losing four of its last five games, Calvin edged out third-place Olivet
in two comeback wins Tuesday afternoon behind strong outings from junior
starting pitchers Nate Pocock (Wayland, MA/Wayland) and Kyle Cousins
(Holland/Holland Christian). The Knights (21-6, 13-4 MIAA) moved within a half
game of idle first place Adrian (13-3 MIAA).

“These are big wins,” said coach John Sparks. “We want to put as much
pressure on [first place] Adrian as we can. These wins are just really big.

With the pair of victories, Calvin also reached the 20-win plateau for the
fifth time in school history and for the first time since the 2002 season.

Calvin’s previously league-best team batting average and fielding percentage
has slumped recently, but the Knights were able to pull out two wins despite
scoring only a combined seven runs.

“It’s kind of been the case for us this year when the offense doesn’t
necessarily come out, the defense steps up, and vice versa,” said Sparks “I
think that says a lot about our guys and their tenacity.”

Pocock moved to a team best 6-1 on the season going the distance and
scattering five hits, giving up two runs, walking two and striking out six in
game one. Cousins lasted six innings, scattering six hits, walking six and
striking out two, but surrendered only two runs to lower his ERA to 2.97.

“Our pitchers played really well and we hung in there defensively,” said
Sparks. “We gave up too many walks in the second game, and we can’t do that
again. We’ve got to do better hitting-wise too.”

Sophomore center-fielder Drew Johnson (Boise, ID/Mountain View) had the
biggest play defensively in game two. With the Knights protecting a 3-2 lead in
the top of the sixth, Ben Kosmalski singled to center and Johnson cut down
Brandon Goodman who represented the tying run at home plate to end the inning.

“We made some tough plays, that’s for sure,” said Sparks. “We made
plays when we needed to- Drew’s throw in the sixth was huge.”

Calvin was trailing in game two 2-1 into the fourth, but senior Alex Marcus
(Willmar, MN/Willmar) brought home junior first baseman Chris Blacklidge
(Comstock Park/Comstock Park) who tripled with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
After junior third baseman Jason May (Chicago, IL/Walther Lutheran) reached on
an error, senior Pieter Groot (Uxbridge, MA/Whitinsville Christian) tripled him
home to take the lead.

Senior Todd LaForest (Clio/Clio) who closed out the game for his second save
of the year made things interesting in the seventh. After loading the bases,
LaForest struck out Phil Sullens for out number two and forced Calvin Gadwa to
ground out to end the game.

“I’m always nervous,” joked Sparks. “Sometimes its tough to close out
games and their hitters did a good job of getting on base. [LaForest] hung in
there and got us out of it.”

Calvin came back from a 2-0 third inning deficit in game one. Junior center
fielder Jacob Vriesman (Denver, CO/Denver Christian) singled home two runs in
the bottom of the third to tie the game.

The Knights took the lead in the fourth on a balk by Olivet starting pitcher
David Pembroke which scored Blacklidge and added an insurance run when Marcus
scored on an error by Comet shortstop Rob Swanson.

Calvin will send freshmen pitchers Keith Spoelstra (3-1) and Peter Steiner
(5-0) to the mound at Olivet on Saturday.

“This is the deciding-part of the year, the fun part,” said Sparks.
“It’s been a while since a Calvin team has been here. I just want
these guys to play hard, stay together as a team, and enjoy this.”

MIAA BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-22-08 GAMES

Adrian 13-3
Calvin 13-4
Olivet 9-6
Albion 9-11
Hope 6-10
Kalamazoo 6-10
Alma 5-8
Tri-State 5-14

CALVIN BASEBALL 20-WIN SEASONS

1996 (22-12)
2000 (21-16)
2001 (21-16)
2002 (28-13)
2008 (21-6)

MEN’S TENNIS

ALBION - Calvin closed out its MIAA dual match season with a 7-2 victory at
Albion Tuesday afternoon, lifting the Knights to 12-5 overall and to 5-1 in
MIAA dual match play.

With the win, Calvin gains the number two seed for this weekend’s MIAA
Tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Kalamazoo. Calvin will face Adrian in a
first round MIAA Tournament match beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday’s match featured a meeting of regionally-ranked teams as Calvin came
in ranked 10th in the most recent Division III Central Region rankings while
Albion was ranked 18th. Calvin is now 6-5 against regionally-ranked teams this
year.

Calvin gained early control of the match by winning all three doubles points
and then took four of six singles points. Picking up singles victories for
Calvin were senior Ricky Tilton (Gap, PA), junior Marcus Zeilstra (Oak Brook,
IL), senior Mike Goorhouse (Holland Christian HS) and freshman Andrew DeVlieger
(Northpointe Christian HS). Tilton is now 9-2 in singles play this year while
Zeilstra is a team-best 13-3.

In doubles action, junior Steve DeMaagd (Calvin Christian HS) and Zeilstra
were winners at No. 1 doubles while Tilton and Goorhouse were winners at No. 2
doubles. Freshmen Matthew and Andrew DeVlieger then won at No. 3 doubles.

Full match results can be found on-line at:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mtennis/results/2008/m422caab.htm

FINAL MIAA MEN’S TENNIS DUAL MATCH STANDINGS

Kalamazoo 6-0
Calvin 5-1
Albion 4-2
Hope 3-3
Alma 1-4
Adrian 0-6

WOMEN’S TENNIS
Calvin 8, Alma 1

KENTWOOD - Calvin closed out its MIAA dual match campaign with an 8-1 victory
over visiting Alma Tuesday afternoon at the Gainey Athletic Complex. The
Knights are now 16-5 overall and have now set a new Calvin single-season record
for dual match victories. The Knights also complete the MIAA dual match season
with a 7-1 record and will be the #2 seed for this weekend’s MIAA Tournament
scheduled to be held at Albion.

Calvin will face Adrian in a first round MIAA Tournament match on Friday at
11:00 a.m.

In its win over Alma, Calvin swept the three doubles points and then took five
of six in singles play. Picking up singles victories for Calvin were freshman
Melissa Oosterhouse (Grand Rapids Christian HS), freshman Kaitlin Spoelhof
(Holland Christian HS), sophomore Elisabeth Geenen (Holland Christian HS),
sophomore Rachel Strikwerda (Holland Christian HS) and freshman Michelle
Busscher (Western Michigan Christian HS).

In doubles play, Oosterhouse and Strikwerda were winners at No. 1 doubles,
Green and sophomore Rachel DeGroot (Lombard, IL) winners at No. 2 doubles and
freshman Christina Stavro (Bellflower, CA) and freshman Abbie Belford (Batavia,
IL) winners at No. 3 doubles.

Geenen is now 17-4 in singles play with Oosterhouse 16-4, Strikwerda 13-5 and
Busscher 13-7.

Full match results can be found on-line at:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/wtennis/stats/2008/calmaw.htm
FINAL MIAA WOMEN’S TENNIS DUAL MATCH STANDINGS

Albion 8-0
Calvin 7-1
Hope 6-2
Saint Mary’s 5-3
Kalamazoo 4-4
Alma 3-5
Adrian 2-6
Tri-State 1-7
Olivet 0-8

MEN’S GOLF

KENTWOOD -- Calvin took sixth place at the Furniture City Classic held at the
Crystal Springs Country Club on Tuesday afternoon, posting a 36-hole score of
651 strokes. Host Davenport won the event with a team score of 578.

Calvin’s top individual golfer was sophomore Jon Kuiper (Grand Rapids
Christian HS) who fired a 36-hole total of 154 (79-75) that left him tied for
13th place.

Full tournament results can be found on-line at:
http://www.calvin.edu/sports/mgolf/results/spring08/21apr08.htm

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Apr 23 00:39:31 2008