CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 4, 2014
Baseball Takes Two From Olivet;
Track and Field Teams Compete at Hope in Non-Conference Dual Meets;
Women's Tennis Defeated by Albion
BASEBALL
Calvin 11, Olivet 1
Calvin 7, Olivet 4
By Mark DeHaan
Calvin baseball hosted the Olivet College on Friday evening at Davenport University for a conference matchup with the Comets. The Knights entered at 7-8 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA while Olivet was 2-12 overall and 0-6 in conference.
Receiving a pair of quality starts from their pitchers, the Knights were able to take two from Olivet on a cold and wet night, claiming wins by scores of 11-1 and 7-4.
In game one, the Comets led off the game with a run in the top of the first, capitalizing on a Calvin error to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Knights responded with four runs in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs with two outs, including a two-RBI single by junior Ben Wohl (Canton/Plymouth HS).
After a scoreless third inning, three more insurance runs put the Knights up 7-1 in the fourth, again including a two-RBI single, this time by sophomore Jalen Bouma (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS).
Junior pitcher Peter Cupery (Holland/Holland Christian HS) settled down after allowing a run in the first and began to work his way methodically through the Comets lineup.
Calvin's defense was strong through game one, and its offense continued to roll as four more runs were scored in the bottom of the sixth.
The Knights then closed out the win with a scoreless seventh, and Calvin got back into the win column with an 11-1 victory.
Cupery pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run, unearned, while striking out six. Wohl was 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in game one, while Cupery and junior Grant Van Putten (Holland/Holland Christian HS) were both 2-for-4. Cupery had one run and one RBI while VanPutten scored two runs.
In game two, Olivet again scored in the top of the first, plating two runs to take a 2-0 lead.
Calvin responded with a run in the bottom of the first and three more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 advantage.
A quick response from the Comets saw them score two runs in the top of the inning to tie the game at 4-4.
The Knights scored a run in the third and two in the fourth, then received strong pitching from junior starter Nate Schepers (Holland/Holland Christian HS) and senior reliever Jeff Victor (Holland/Holland Christian HS) as the Olivet offense was shut down for the final four innings, and Calvin claimed a 7-4 victory.
Schepers pitched six innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four and scattering six hits. Wohl and freshman Colt Wolfe (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids HS) both went 1-for-3 in game two, hitting in two RBI and scoring a run. Sophomore Jordan VanderWall (Wyoming/South Christian HS) went 2-for-3, scoring one run for the Knights.
"Both Peter and Schep did great. They threw a lot of strikes, which was important on a night like this. I thought they were both mentally tough given the conditions, pitching in really cold weather," said head coach John Sparks. "I'm real proud of the guys, the way they bounced back. Every game is important, we have to move on and play again tomorrow. A good job tonight from the guys."
The Knights improve to 4-5 in the MIAA and 9-8 overall, while Olivet falls to 2-14 overall and 0-8 in league play.
Calvin returns to action tomorrow when the Knights will travel to Olivet for the second half of the home-and-home. Saturday's contests are set to start at 3:00 p.m.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Calvin 86, Hope 68
HOLLAND - The Calvin women's track and field team competed in a rare non-conference dual meet at Hope on Friday afternoon, defeating the Flying Dutch 86-68.
Senior Julie Busscher (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) was a double-winner for Calvin, claiming victories in the 100 meters (12.89) and 200 meters (26.89).
Calvin's 4x100 meter relay team of Busscher, senior Stephanie Bennett (Rockford, IL/Christian Life Center), sophomore Maria Steblay (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie HS) and junior Amy Sybesma (Cerritos, CA/Valley Christian HS) took first place in a time of 51.47.
Field events were a big plus for the Knights as sophomore Natalie Kmet (Paw Paw/Paw Paw HS) won the shot put with a throw of 35-1 while sophomore Ayooluwa Ayoola (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Christina Geating (Abington, PA/Abington HS) tied for first place in the high jump (5-1 3/4). Senior Hilary Banning (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian HS) won the long with a leap of 16-5 3/4 and the triple jump with a leap of 34-9 1/2.
Sophomore Stacie Mead (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern HS) took first place in the discus (103-6) while Geating won the pole vault (9-6 1/4).
Senior Lauren Madden (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian HS) won the javelin with a throw of 107-3.
The bulk of Calvin's distance runners did not compete on Friday but will compete at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Saturday.
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Hope 93, Calvin 60
HOLLAND, MICH. - The Calvin men's track and field team competed in a rare non-conference dual meet at Hope on Friday afternoon and dropped a 93-60 decision.
One of the highlights for the Knights came from junior Erik Holstege (Kewsick, VA/Monticello HS) as he took first place in the 110 high hurdles (15.37).
Freshman Blake DeGroot (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) was also stellar, leading a 1-2 Calvin finish in the 400 meters with a time of 51.48 while sophomore Justin Dykema (Zeeland/Unity Christian HS) was second in 51.98.
Sophomore Joel Brouwer (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Christian HS) won the 200 meters in a time of 23.18.
Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team of Brouwer, Dykema, sophomore Alex Karr (Madison, WI/James Madison HS) DeGroot took first place in a time of 3:34.34.
In the field events, sophomore Ben de Waal Malefyt (Midland Park, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) won the discus with a toss of 139-1. Sophomore Luke Wolters (Vincennes, IN/South Knox HS) won the pole vault (13-11 1/4) while sophomore David Dadzie (Accra, Ghana/Ghana International School) won the javelin (159-1). Sophomore Eric Jipping (Canton/Plymouth Christian HS) also captured the shot put with a throw of 48-0 3/4.
The bulk of Calvin's distance runners did not compete on Friday but will compete at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Saturday.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Albion 6, Calvin 3
The Calvin women's tennis team fought hard but came up on the short end of a 6-3 score to visiting Albion Friday afternoon inside the Huizenga Tennis and Track Center. The Knights are now 3-8 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA while Albion improves to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in league play.
Albion grabbed the early lead by taking two of the three doubles points. Freshman Liz Turner (Audubon, PA/Delaware County Christian HS) and junior Courtney Selvius (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) came up with an 8-4 win at three doubles.
In singles play, Calvin claimed two points with Selvius defeating Christina Khim 7-6, 6-1 at six singles and Turner winning 6-3, 5-7, 10-7 at five singles. At four singles, freshman Ellie Benzel (San Dimas, CA/San Dimas HS) came close before falling 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Calvin returns to action next Wednesday when it travels to Kalamazoo for a 4 p.m. match.
Received on Sat Apr 5 01:54:33 2014
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