CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 4, 2013
Track and Field Teams Capture MIAA Titles;
Baseball Splits Twinbill With Hope - Clinches MIAA Tournament Berth;
Men's Tennis Defeated by Kalamazoo in MIAA Tournament Final
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
HOLLAND - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams were in no
sharing mood on Friday at the MIAA Field Day. Both teams took first place on
Friday and in doing so, captured outright MIAA titles - both doing so for the
first time since 2010. The MIAA titles are the 11th and 12th of the 2012-13
academic year for Calvin College - a new MIAA record.
On the women’s side, Calvin produced a first place total of 273.5 points with
Hope second with 189 points. The league title is the 24th consecutive crown for
the Knights which marks the longest active championship streak in MIAA women’s
athletics history.
On the men’s side, Calvin recorded a first place total of 232.5 points with
Hope second with 179.5 points. The league title is the 37th in Calvin men’s
track and field history - more than any other MIAA member school.
On the women’s side, Calvin took first place in six events led by junior Julie
Busscher (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) who was a double-winner, taking first
place in both the 100 meters (12.63) and 200 meters (25.67). Junior Nicole
Michmerhuizen (Holland/Holland Christian HS) also had a memorable afternoon,
winning the 5,000 meters in an MIAA record time of 17:08.23, breaking the
previous MIAA record of 17:19.90 set by Marcia VanderSall in 1993.
Junior Lauren Madden (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian HS) captured the
javelin crown for the Knights, winning with a toss of 119-9. Senior Alyssa
Penning (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) repeated as league champion in
the 3,000 meter steeplechase, winning with a time of 11:02.18. She led a 1-2-3
Calvin finish as junior Alyssa Oram (Cheboygan/Home Schooled) was second and
sophomore Paige McGahan (Brighton/Brighton HS) third.
Calvin also captured the 4x400 meter relay title as Busscher, sophomore
Breanna Verkaik (Holland/Holland Christian HS), junior Rebekah Folkema
(Renfrew, ON/Renfrew Collegiate Institute) and junior Olivia Butler
(Grant/Grant HS) won with a time of 4:01.08.
Another big highlight came in the 400 meter hurdles as Breanna Verkaik took
second with a career-best time of 1:04.83 while sophomore Kelley Tuinenga
(Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) was third with a career-best time of 1:05.53.
Junior Hilary Banning (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian HS) was fourth
(1:07.61). The times by Verkaik and Tuinenga will both be up on the national
list.
“We had some great first place performances but our depth across the board was
so key,” said Calvin head track and field coach Brett Otte. “This team is
young, talented and very enthusiastic.”
On the men’s side, Calvin took first place in six events. Freshman Jon Cok
(Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) opened the day with a win in the high
jump (6-4). Senior Aaron Meckes (Bay City/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) repeated
as champion in the discus, winning with a toss of 158-1.
Senior Greg Whittle (Galesburg, IL/Galesburg HS) won the 1,500 meters for the
second time in three years, winning with a time of 3:55.50 while teammate Sam
Kerk (Hartland, WI/Lake Country Lutheran HS) was a close second in a time of
3:55.60.
Sophomore Calvin Kuyers (Lansing/Lansing Christian HS) won the 400 meter
hurdles in a career-best time of 54.31 while teammate Joel Ooms (DeMotte,
IN/Illiana Christian HS) was third (56.02). In the 110 high hurdles, sophomore
Erik Holstege (Kewsick, VA/Monticello HS) took first place in a time of 15.51
while Kuyers was second (15.71) and Ooms fourth (16.24).
In the 5,000 meters senior Matt VanderRoest (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS) led
a 1-2-3 Calvin finish with VanderRoest first (14:56.05), senior Dan Kerr
(Petoskey/Petoskey HS) second(14:56.05) and senior Job Christiansen (New
Ipswich, MH/Mascenic Regional HS) third (14:56.07).
“I am very pleased with our men’s team,” said Otte. “They bought into the team
atmosphere and really spurred each other on. Our depth was key. And we filled
in the gaps this year in spots like the hurdles and jumps which were places
where we scored very few points last year at the conference meet. It was just a
great two days for Calvin track and field.”
BASEBALL
Hope 6, Calvin 5
Calvin 8, Hope 1
By Mark DeHaan
Looking to secure its position in the MIAA Tournament, the Calvin Knights
baseball team hosted the Flying Dutchmen of Hope College on Friday afternoon at
nearby Fifth Third Ballpark. In order to claim a top-four spot, Calvin had to
win at least one game or see Alma drop at least one game to Albion.
In game one, the Knights got off to a tough start, giving Hope a 4-0 lead in
the first en route to a 6-5 loss. In game two, it was Calvin that jumped out to
an early lead it would not relinquish, scoring six in the first inning on its
way to an 8-1 victory.
Hope took an early lead in game one, scoring four runs in the top of the first
inning as the Calvin defense committed three errors.
The Flying Dutchmen added to their lead with a run in the top of the second to
make the score 5-0. The Knights responded with three runs in the bottom of the
third, including a two-run RBI single by freshman Travis Kraai to bring the
score to 5-4.
Hope added an insurance run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. After scoreless
fifth and sixth innings for Calvin, the Knights were able to load the bases
with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Calvin got one run back on a
fielder's choice grounder by junior Steve VanderMolen that brought the score to
6-5 but also gave the Knights two outs. After a walk was issued to sophomore
Ben Wohl to again load the bases, Hope pitcher Jordan Carrigan forced the final
Calvin batter into a fly-out to right field to bring the game to an end, with
Hope taking game one 6-5.
Kraai was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored while sophomore Grant Van
Putten was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
For Hope, Alex Hunt was 2-for-3 while pitcher Corey Schmidt went six innings,
allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
In game two, it was the Knights jumping out to a substantial early lead.
In the top of the first, Hope scored one run but left the bases loaded as
sophomore pitcher Nate Schepers was able to work his way out of a jam.
Calvin responded with six runs in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on
three errors by the Flying Dutchmen defense to take a 6-1 lead.
The Knights plated two more runs in the bottom of the third to bring the score
to 8-1.
Solid pitching from Schepers and junior pitcher Jeff Victor in relief, as well
as perfect defense, allowed Calvin to shut down Hope's offense and claim a game
two victory, 8-1.
In game two, junior Kyle Spoelma was 2-for-3 with a run scored while freshman
Jalen Bouma was 2-for-4. Schepers pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing
one earned run and striking out three while Victor pitched one and a third
innings of hitless ball.
For Hope, Eric Dawson was 2-for-4 with the Flying Dutchmen's lone run scored.
“If you take out the first inning and half, (game one) was a really good
college baseball game for us. I'm not sure if we were nervous, but once we got
settled in I think we played really well. We had a shot there at the end just
couldn't get it done,” said head coach John Sparks. “(Our momentum) kind of
carried into the second game. We jumped on the bats early and (Nate) Schepers
pitched real well, he threw a lot of strikes and we played good defense behind
him.”
The split moves Calvin to 16-21 overall and 15-11 in the MIAA, which clinches
a MIAA Tournament berth for the Knights. Hope is now 24-13 and 18-8 in
conference. The teams play another doubleheader tomorrow in Holland, with first
pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
MEN’S TENNIS
Kalamazoo 6, Calvin 1
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Calvin men’s tennis team saw its season come to an end
Fri., May 3 at Stowe Tennis Stadium. For the third consecutive year, the
Knights fell to the Hornets of Kalamazoo in the MIAA Tournament final.
Kalamazoo was eager for revenge. On Apr. 3, the Knights defeated the Hornets
6-3 for the first time in program history. This day, however, would belong to
Kalamazoo. The Hornets took two of three doubles flights.
Peter Rothstein and Steve Hanselman defeated Preston Phillips and Phil Reinken
8-4 at first doubles. Calvin seniors Brian DeMaagd and junior Loukas Peterson
defeated Alan Faber and David DeSimone 8-3 at second doubles. The Hornets took
the lead when Robert Hudson and Mike Korn defeated John Strikwerda and Jarrod
Brower 8-5 at third doubles.
Calvin needed to win four singles flights, but could not muster any. DeMaagd
fell to Rothstein 6-1, 6-4 at first singles. Steve Hanselman defeated Phillips
6-4, 6-1 at second singles.
Phillips and Peterson fell at third and fourth singles respectively. The
match was played to decision.
“The group of seniors we had this year took the program to places it has never
been before,” Calvin head coach John Ross said after the match. “All four of
them were great players, leaders and young men. They will be sorely missed.”
Calvin finishes its season at 13-6. The Knights won their first conference
championship in program history with a conference record of 5-1.
Received on Sat May 4 00:03:55 2013
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