CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 27, 2012 (Part One)
Baseball Takes Two From Albion Behind No-Hit Performance by Lambers and
Schepers;
Softball Comes-From-Behind To Win at Alma in 11 Innings - First Win Over Scots
Since 2005;
Women's Golf Fourth at MIAA Spring Tournament Number-Two
BASEBALL
Calvin 6, Albion 2
Calvin 11, Albion 3
By Andrew Knot
Joe Lambers and Nate Schepers combined for a no-hitter on Friday, helping
Calvin to a 6-2 victory over Albion on Friday. The no-hitter is the first by
Calvin in an MIAA contest.
A senior at Calvin, Lambers pitched the first five innings, striking out eight
and walking two, while Schepers (Holland Christian HS), a freshman, came on to
pitch the final two innings, walking one batter.
The no-hitter was the 26th in an MIAA game since 1958 and the first since
Hope’s Derek Fairchild tossed a no-no against Albion in 2009. It is also the
first combined no-hitter recorded since 1958.
Senior Joe Lambers (Grosse Pointe South HS), pitching for the third time this
week, started the game on just three days rest, but was sharp from the first
inning. Lambers struck out one and forced two groundouts to conclude the inning
in order.
The Knights got on the board in the bottom half of the inning. Grant Van
Putten (Holland/Holland Christian HS) knocked a stand-up double to left center
and Tyler Tos, batting second in the order, bunted him over to third. Scott
Tipton (Stow, OH/Cuyahoga Valley Christian HS) then brought Van Putten around
with a single to right. After Tipton advanced to third, Kyle Spoelma
(Kentwood/South Christian HS) scored him with a sacrifice flyout. The Knights
led 2-0 heading into the second.
Lambers picked up where he left off in the first. He struck out two in the
second, third and fourth innings. Through five innings, he had struck out eight
and allowed zero hits.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights, having added a run in the fourth,
scored three additional run. Mike Fuller (Sylvania, OH/Southview HS) had two
runs with a single up the middle and Kyle Spoelma scored off a bases-loaded
catchers interference ruling.
It wasn’t until the sixth that Lambers showed any sign of fatigue. After
walking in a run, Lambers was pulled. He left the field having yet to concede a
hit.
But his replacement, Nate Schepers, was equally capable. Schepers escaped the
sixth inning jam with just one additional run on the board. Heading into the
final frame, Calvin led 6-2.
Schepers kept his momentum alive in the seventh. After walking the second
batter, he got Adam Mazza to ground into a double play to end the game and seal
a combined no-hitter for Lambers and Schepers.
“It’s been a long week for us, playing eight games,” Coach John Sparks said.
“Joe really stepped up and of course Nate came in in relief. Our pitchers
did an outstanding job on short rest.”
The victory enhances Lambers’ record to 4-3 and drops Kyle Cassidy, the
Britons’ starter, to the same record.
The Knights completed a sweep of Friday’s twinbill with an 11-3 thumping of
Albion in game number two. Similar to the first game, Calvin scored two runs in
the bottom of the first. Kyle Spoelma hit a single tight down the left field
line to score Tyler Tos. Ben Wohl (Canton/Plymouth HS) then hit a single
through the gap at short to score Ben Cok (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian
HS).
Albion came back to take the lead in the coming innings. The Britons tallied a
total of three runs in the second and third innings. Grant VanderWall
(Wyoming/South Christian HS), who started the game on the mound for the
Knights, showed signs of sharpness in the first, but allowed a string of
singles in the second, ultimately conceding a run. After two more runs in the
third, the Britons led 3-2.
But the Knights came back strong in the next three innings. Calvin scored two
runs in the third and fourth innings. Scott Tipton scored after two consecutive
wild pitches and Cok scored moments later.
Meanwhile, Nate Schepers, who came in on relief in the first game, had
replaced VanderWall. Schepers continued in game one fashion, holding the
Britons without a run in the game’s final four innings.
The Knights put the game away in the fifth, when Dan Miedema (Grand
Rapids/South Christian HS), Grant Van Putten and Scott Tipton added RBI’s. From
there, the Knights would cruise to an 11-3 victory.
Nate Schepers earned the win for the Knights, improving his record to 4-2.
Brett Timmer drew the loss for the Britons. Calvin’s record moved to 13-22
overall and 8-16 in conference with the win. Albion’s record moved to 15-21 and
12-12 in the MIAA.
Coach John Sparks was optimistic about what he saw from his team in the
doubleheader. “We executed well offensively. We got some key hits with guys in
scoring position,” he said. “We played good baseball today overall.”
MIAA BASEBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-27-12 GAMES
Adrian 20-2
Trine 12-8
Hope 13-9
Albion 12-12
Alma 8-14
Olivet 8-14
Kalamazoo 7-13
Calvin 8-16
SOFTBALL
Calvin 2, Alma 1
ALMA - Calvin picked up its first victory over Alma since 2005 Friday
afternoon, defeating the Scots 2-1 in 11 innings. Friday's game marked the
conclusion of a second game of a Wednesday doubleheader that was suspended by
darkness after eight innings of play with the game tied 0-0.
The resumption of Friday's game began in the top of the ninth inning. After
Alma was retired in order in the top half of the inning, Calvin (14-20 overall,
5-9 MIAA) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half. Calvin's scoring
threat was extinguished however as a Calvin runner was called out for
interferance with an Alma infielder and the subsequent batter struck out.
In the bottom of the 10th, Calvin advanced a runner to third with one out but
again failed to score as the Knights had back-to-back strikeouts.
Alma (24-10 overall, 10-4 MIAA) was able to break through for a run in the top
of the 11th to take a 1-0 lead against Calvin starter Trista Brownlee
(Saginaw/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS). Calvin was not to be denied in the bottom
of the 11th though as senior Marie Prins (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS)
delivered a two-out double that scored Brownlee from second base, tying the
game. Sophomore Lina Avila (Lakewood, CA/Valley Christian HS) was then
intentionally walked setting the stage for freshman Catherine Hillbrands (Grand
Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS).
Hillbrands stepped up and delivered with a walk-off single, bringing in Prins
from second with the game-winning run.
Brownlee received the win, striking out four in 11 innings of work, upping her
season record to 7-10. Prins and Hillbrands both had two hits for the Knights.
With the victory, Calvin moves into a tie for sixth place in the MIAA
standings with Olivet and remains one game ahead of eighth place Albion. Calvin
will close out its season on Saturday with a doubleheader at Adrian at 1 p.m.
MIAA SOFTBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 4-27-12 GAMES
Trine 15-1
Alma 10-4
Adrian 9-5
Saint Mary's 9-5
Hope 8-6
Calvin 5-9
Olivet 5-9
Albion 4-12
Kalamazoo 1-15
WOMEN'S GOLF
MARSHALL - The second 18-hole round of the MIAA (54 hole) Spring Tournament
took place on Friday at the Medalist Golf Club with Olivet College serving as
host. Calvin placed fourth on Friday with a team score of 354 strokes. The
Knights remain in fourth place in the overall spring tournament standings with
one 18 hole round left to be played on Saturday.
Junior Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and freshman
Jackie Richert (Fort Gratiot/Port Huron Northern HS) led Calvin with rounds of
84 that was good for a tie for eighth place.
Sophomore Carlia Canto (Marysville/Port Huron Northern HS) was close ehind
with an 85 that placed her in a tie for 10th place. Junior Rachel Whitaker
(Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Northern HS) closed out Calvin's finishers with a
round of 101.
Hope took first place on Friday with a team score of 330 while Saint Mary's
was second (334) and Olivet third (341).
Saint Mary's remains in first place in the overall spring tournament standings
with 658 total strokes while Hope is second (680), Olivet third (686) and
Calvin fourth (758). The team in first place in the final overall standings at
the conclusion of Saturday's final round will receive the MIAA's automatic bid
to the NCAA III Tournament.
Saturday's final round is scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. at the Medalist
Golf Club.
Received on Fri Apr 27 23:33:48 2012
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