CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 5, 2008
Baseball Moves Back Into Tie For First Place in MIAA Standings
BASEBALL
Calvin 5, Tri-State 1
(written by Bruce VanBaren '09)
In his first league start this year and what was likely the last start of his
career, Todd LaForest (Clio/Clio) delivered for the Knights (19-5 MIAA/ 28-7)
against fifth-place Tri-State (12-16 MIAA/ 18-22) in a makeup game.
The senior who had settled into a reliever role for the Knights pitched six
strong innings of one run ball, allowing only three hits, walking four while
striking out three to bring Calvin into a tie with idle first place Adrian
(19-5 MIAA, 27-9).
“I got the opportunity, I had to take advantage of it,” said LaForest,
whose last league start was a three-hit shutout against Tri-State a year ago.
“The entire team was fired up for this game,” said LaForest, “We had
the dog-bark and all that [noise in the dugout] going today. When we get
excited like that it’s tough to beat us.”
“Todd did a great job,” said coach John Sparks. “I was excited all week
for this start for Todd because he’s really done a great job being a role
player for us this year. He did a good job getting ahead of hitters.”
The win, the Knights’ 28th, also tied Calvin’s single season record in
Sparks first year at the helm.
“I’m trying, along with our guys, not to think a lot about that stuff,”
said Sparks. “After the season there’s plenty of time to kind of look back
and think about that. More than anything it’s a treat for the guys and the
job they’ve done this year. It’s been a good season.”
Calvin led the season series with Tri-State 2-1 heading into the afternoon.
The game, originally scheduled as part of a doubleheader on April 10, was
postponed due to inclement weather and Calvin had been flipping spots atop the
league standings with the Bulldogs ever since.
“It’s kind of nice to get that [half] game out of the way,” said Sparks.
“It’s nice to be in this place this time of the year that’s for sure.”
Jacob Vriesman (Denver, CO/Denver Christian) continued his hot streak at home,
taking a two-out triple to right center that scored Kyle Gurzynski
(Ludington/Ludington) and Drew Johnson (Boise, ID/Mountain View) in the third
inning. In the Knights last home stand, Vriesman had six RBIs against Albion
and now has eight in his last three home games. Vriesman then scored when Kyle
Fletcher reached to punch a low pitch through the right side of the infield to
give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
“It seems like all year we’ve had different guys step up with clutch hits
and that seemed to be the case again today,” said Sparks.
Alex Marcus (Willmar, MN/Willmar) tripled in the following inning as the wind
pushed a ball over the head of Tri-State right fielder Adam Bowden. Senior Brad
Brummel (South Christian HS), in the designated hitter role, brought Marcus
home on a sacrifice bunt. Johnson followed suit with a two out single, stole
second and was singled home by Gurzynski. Johnsons was 2 for 3 with two runs
scored and an RBI.
“We’ve played a little better defensively [in the past three games] and
that’s good to see. We worked some things last week and it seems like it’s
paid off,” said Sparks.
Calvin will close out the regular season with its four man rotation set for
four games against Kalamazoo (8-16 MIAA, 12-16), a series scheduled to start
the Knights’ MIAA season. Calvin will travel to Kalamazoo on Wednesday and
host the Hornets on Thursday.
“We’ll try to get guys focused on how you win games and not thinking too
big,” said Sparks. “I think we’ve got a lot to play for and I’m hoping
we can focus on these last games one inning at a time like we have been all
year.”
Calvin is ranked 22nd in the latest d3baseball.com poll and sixth in the
Mid-east region.
MIAA BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 5-5-08 GAMES
Adrian 19-5
Calvin 19-5
Olivet 13-11
Hope 11-13
Tri-State 12-16
Albion 11-17
Kalamazoo 8-16
Alma 7-17
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Mon May 5 19:33:49 2008
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