CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR April 4, 2009 (PART ONE)
BASEBALL
Hope 6, Calvin 5
Calvin 7, Hope 1
By Bruce Van Baren (Calvin Sports Information Student Assistant)
HOLLAND -- Calvin suffered its second walk off loss in the MIAA this season as
the Knights split a pair of games with Hope Saturday at Boeve Stadium, falling
6-5 in game one and winning 7-1 in game two. The Knights, who swept a twin bill
against the Flying Dutchmen at Calvin on Thursday, won their second-straight
MIAA series.
“Hope is a good team and this is a tough place to play,” Coach John Sparks
said. “We came into today thinking if we split and get three of four we’re
doing pretty well and if we can sweep it would awesome.”
The Knights (9-9 overall, 6-2 MIAA) fell to third place in the league
standings. Adrian (9-1) swept Kalamazoo to extend its first place lead and
Olivet (7-1) took a pair from Trine to take sole possession of second place.
Hope’s Jon Ponte cracked a walk-off single that scored Robby Poll and Dustin
Wuis in game one. The Flying Dutchmen trailed 5-3 in the sixth inning, but
scored a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings to nab the comeback
win.
Nate Pocock (Wayland, MA/ Wayland) went into the seventh inning in his MIAA
debut and first start of the season, surrendering six runs- five earned- on
nine hits, struck out three and walked two in game one.
Pocock, last year’s MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher, had been dealing with an
injury, keeping him out of the rotation until Saturday. Pocock led Calvin a
year ago with an 8-2 record, earning a 3.25 ERA and striking out 61.
“It’s really good to have him back,” Sparks said. “I thought Nate
pitched very well especially for his first real conference outing and given
that he has had arm problems. I thought he threw pretty well - good enough to
win.”
Chris Blacklidge (Comstock Park/Comstock Park) blasted a two-run homerun in
the fifth inning. Blacklidge went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored to
lead the Knights.
Calvin’s top three hitters in the lineup- Kyle Gurzynski
(Ludington/Ludington), Kyle Cousins (Holland/Holland Christian) and Matt
Schepel (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) combined to go 5 for 12 with
three runs scored and two RBIs in game one.
Blacklidge scored on Jason May’s (Chicago/Walther Lutheran) fielder’s
choice to put the Knights on the board in the second inning. Schepel’s two
run single put Calvin up 3-0 in the third inning.
Trailing 5-2 in the sixth, Wyatt Curry and Scott Snyder each had an RBI single
to cut the deficit to 5-4. A single, walk and an error loaded the bases with
zero outs in the seventh. Ponte responded with the walk off single to left
field.
Keith Spoelstra (Oakland, NJ/Eastern Christian) threw a gem and the Knights
offense pounded 10 hits and scored in each of the last four innings to win 7-1
in game two.
“I thought we came out with a chip on our shoulders in game number two and
that made me feel pretty good,” Sparks said. “We really fought hard the
second game. We didn’t lay down after that tough loss (in game one), but came
back like a good team should.”
Spoelstra went the distance, scattering five hits, giving up one earned run,
walking two and striking out four.
“I just tried throw strikes and get ahead (in the count),” Spoelstra said.
“Coach Vreisenga was the mastermind behind my pitch count and the defense
just played great. The infield was phenomenal. Cousins made a nice play (in the
outfield) and Tyler Berger made another great catch.”
Spoelstra won his second-straight MIAA start. The 6-0 sophomore gave up one
earned run in four and two-thirds innings and struck out seven against
Kalamazoo on March 30 at Calvin.
“I had a lot of kinks (to work out) in Arizona,” Spoelstra said. “Coach
Vreisenga has been working with me. I think we finally found a rhythm so
hopefully we can keep it going.”
May went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored and Gurzynski continued
his hot hitting, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Schepel, Berger
and Matt Dodrill also scored runs for Calvin.
Calvin will take a five day break before hosting a twin bill with Alma on
Friday. Alma (1-5 MIAA) split a pair of games with Albion (4-4 MIAA) at Alma on
Saturday.
SOFTBALL
North Central 5, Calvin 2
Chicago 4, Calvin 1
NAPERVILLE, IL -- Calvin dropped a pair of close decisions Saturday afternoon
at a triangular hosted by North Central College, falling 5-2 to host North
Central and 4-1 to the University of Chicago.
In the loss to North Central, Calvin (2-15) took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single
by senior Loren Scarbrough (Antioch, IL) in the top of the first inning but the
host Cardinals (9-4) came back with a run in the second to tie the game. North
Central then scored two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and another in the
seventh to pull away for the win. Calvin added another run in the seventh on an
RBI groundout by freshman Marie Prins (Unity Christian HS). Calvin picked up
three hits in the seventh inning but stranded a pair of baserunners.
Calvin was credited with nine hits in the loss while North Central had 10.
Junior Whisper Miller (Reed City HS) was 3-for-4 for Calvin along with a double
while senior Brittany Moriarity (Muskegon Mona Shores HS) was 2-for-4 at the
dish. Junior Mandy Johnson (Northpointe Christian HS) took the loss for the
Knights.
In the loss to the University of Chicago, Calvin scored a run in the top of
the first but Chicago scored two in the first and two in the second for all the
run production it would need. Calvin was limited to only two hits by the
Chicago pitching staff. Calvin's lone run came on an RBI single by Scarbrough.
Senior Kristin Folkerst (Grand Rapdis Christian HS) took the loss for Calvin,
striking out three and walking five.
Calvin is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Adrian in a
conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. at Gainey Field.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Calvin 9, Trine 0
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Just a few days after dropping a nail biter to Hope
College, the Calvin women’s tennis team came out on Saturday and defeated
Trine 9-0. The win gives them an overall record of (6-6), with a (2-1)
conference record.
Calvin will be back on the court this Wednesday afternoon, April 8 in a home
event against Saint Mary’s at 4:00.
Calvin College 9, Trine University 0
April 4, 2009
Singles Competition
1. Melissa Oosterhouse (CALVINW) def. Amber Crosby (TRINEW) 6-0, 6-3
2. Kaitlin Spoelhof (CALVINW) def. Jennifer Wall (TRINEW) 6-1, 6-0
3. Elizabeth Geenen (CALVINW) def. Arielle Clark (TRINEW) 6-0, 6-0
4. Rachel Strikwerda (CALVINW) def. Champagne Cole (TRINEW) 6-0, 6-0
5. Rachel DeGroot (CALVINW) def. Samantha Kalakay (TRINEW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kelsey Bushhouse (CALVINW) def. Lauren Davis (TRINEW) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. #1/#2 (CALVINW) def. #1/#2 (TRINEW) 8-2
2. Jill VanVeen/#4 (CALVINW) def. #3/#5 (TRINEW) 8-0
3. Michelle Busscher/Abbie Belford (CALVINW) def. #4/#6 (TRINEW) 8-0
MEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 9, Wittenberg 0
Calvin 5, Wabash 0
CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN -- Calvin improved to 10-2 overall with a pair of
non-conference wins Saturday afternoon at Wabash College. Calvin opened the day
with a 9-0 win over Wittenberg University and followed with a 5-0 win over
Wabash in a match that ended when the final outcome was decided.
Calvin returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Adrian at 4:00 p.m. at the
Huizenga Tennis and Track Center.
Calvin College 9, Wittenberg University 0
4/4/2009 at Crawfordsville, IN (Collett Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Marcus Zeilstra (CALVINM) def. Brad Seymour (WITM) 6-4, 7-5
2. Steve DeMaagd (CALVINM) def. Bobby Fisher (WITM) 6-1, 6-3
3. Matthew De Vlieger (CALVINM) def. Stephane Antwi (WITM) 6-4, 6-0
4. Andrew De Vlieger (CALVINM) def. Andy Lamb (WITM) 6-3, 7-5
5. Nick Steenstra (CALVINM) def. Craig Lods (WITM) 6-1, 6-4
6. Andrew Rescorla (CALVINM) def. Derek de Rie (WITM) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Marcus Zeilstra/Steve DeMaagd (CALVINM) def. Brad Seymour/Craig Lods (WITM)
8-0
2. Andrew Rescorla/Nick Steenstra (CALVINM) def. Derek de Rie/Stephane Antwi
(WITM) 8-0
3. Matthew De Vlieger/Roland Eldridge (CALVINM) def. Bobby Fisher/Andy Lamb
(WITM) 8-6
Calvin College 5, Wabash College 0
4/4/2009 at Crawfordsville, IN (Collett Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Jay Horrey (WABM) vs. Marcus Zeilstra (CALVINM) 4-6, unfinished
2. Steve DeMaagd (CALVINM) def. Ricky Ritter (WABM) 6-1, 6-2
3. Zach Lowry (WABM) vs. Matthew De Vlieger (CALVINM) 5-7, unfinished
4. Peter Gunderman (WABM) vs. Andrew De Vlieger (CALVINM) 6-7 (0-7),
unfinished
5. Nick Steenstra (CALVINM) vs. Evan Bayless (WABM) no result
6. Andrew Rescorla (CALVINM) def. Nick Smith (WABM) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Marcus Zeilstra/Steve DeMaagd (CALVINM) def. Jay Horrey/Sean Clerget (WABM)
8-2
2. Nick Steenstra/Andrew Rescorla (CALVINM) def. Ricky Ritter/Peter Gunderman
(WABM) 8-6
3. David Hillner/Roland Eldridge (CALVINM) def. Evan Bayless/Nick Smith (WABM)
8-2
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Apr 4 22:22:06 2009
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