CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 18, 2014
Baseball Takes Two From Alma;
Track and Field Has Strong First Day at Al Owens Classic;
Men's Tennis Nipped Again - This Time by Albion;
Men's Lacrosse Falls in Hard-Fought Affair at Alma
BASEBALL
Calvin 4, Alma 3
Calvin 3, Alma 1
Calvin stretched its win streak to five games with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Alma College Friday afternoon at Calvin Field.
The Knights (17-11 overall, 11-7 MIAA) took the first game 4-3 and then won the nightcap 3-1 to move into sole possesion of second place in the MIAA standings, one game ahead of Hope and two games ahead of Kalamazoo.
In the opener, Calvin broke a scoreless tie with a three-run fifth as the Knights loaded the bases with no outs and then plated two runs on a two-run RBI single by sophomore Jordan VanderWall (Wyoming/South Christian HS) that brought home senior Matt Schepel (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Peter Cupery (Holland/Holland Christian HS) who had singled. Sophomore Jalen Bouma (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS) then scored from third third on an infield error by the Scots.
Alma was not done however as the Scots placed their first two runners aboard in the top of the seventh, driving Cupery from the mound and senior Jeff Victor (Holland/Holland Christian HS) on to attempt to save the game. Victor was unable to hold the lead however as the Scots scored three runs before Victor was able to get out of the inning.
Calvin struck right back as VanderWall reached base on a one-out error and moved to second on a single by freshman Colt Wolfe (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids HS). Senior Kyle Spoelma (Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) singled to load the bases.
The Scots were able to keep the bases loaded by striking out the next Calvin batter but junior Grant VanPutten (Holland/Holland Christian HS) then ripped a shot into the hole near second base on a 2-2 count that Alma's second baseman fumbled, allowing VanderWall to scamper home with the winning run.
Victor (3-0) picked up the win in relief while Van Putten and Spoelma both had two hits apiece.
In game two, Calvin scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first highlighted by a run-scoring double by Wolfe that brought home Cupery.
Alma touched Calvin starter Nate Schepers (Holland/Holland Christian HS) for a run in the third but Schepers allowed only one hit over the next three innings while Calvin picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly to center by Bouma.
In the seventh, Victor came on again in relief and gave up a leadoff single but closed the game out with a ground ball that led to a force out and then a second ground ball that led to a game-ending double play. Victor picked up the save in relief - his fifth of the year.
Calvin had nine hits in the win led by Schepel who was 3-for-3 with a double while VanderWall had a pair of hits as well.
Schepers got the win to improve to 3-2 on the year, striking out four and walking one.
"It was a good day," said Calvin baseball coach John Sparks. "We found a way to win two games and that's what it's all about at this stage of the conference season. We're starting to pick up some confidence and momentum. The challenge now will be to keep it going."
Calvin is back in action on Monday when it concludes its four-game series with Alma, traveling to Klenk Park for a conference twinbill slated to start at 2 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
ALLENDALE - Calvin had a solid first day of competition at the Al Owens Classic at Grand Valley State University Friday afternoon. With just a handful of field events scheduled for Friday, Calvin had a limited amount of competitors but the Knights still managed to provide a strong impact.
In the men's javelin, sophomore David Dadzie (Accra, Ghana/Ghana International School) unleashed a career-best throw of 192-7 that allowed him to take first place. The throw was a career-best by more than 10 meters and currently places Dadzie 12th on the NCAA III qualifying list in the event.
In the women's triple jump, senior Hilary Banning (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian HS) took second with a season-best jump of 37-4. Her jump currently places her 15th on the NCAA III qualifying list in the event.
The bulk of the meet competition will take place on Saturday. Live results will be available online at: http://www.gvsulakers.com/livestats/c-track/index.htm
MEN'S GOLF
WEST OLIVE - The Calvin men's golf team took fourth at the second MIAA NCAA spring qualifying tournament, posting a team score of 321 strokes. Hope hosted the tournament round on Friday at the Wuskowhan Player's Club.
Trine took first place on Friday with a team score of 305 while Adrian was second with 306 and Hope third with 307.
Hope continues to lead the overall standings heading into Saturday's final round by a six-stroke margin over Trine. Calvin is 24 strokes out of first place.
Calvin's top finisher on Friday was senior Ross Ryzenga (Holland/Holland Christian HS) with a 77 followed by senior Mark Allen (Oconomowoc, WI/Lake Country Lutheran HS) with an 80. Senior Jake Hoogstrate (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomore Justin Crow (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) had rounds of 82 while junior James VanNoord (Troy/Troy Athens HS) had an 83.
Connor Doria of Adrian was Friday's medalist with a round of 72.
Saturday's final round is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Wuskowhan Player's Club.
MEN'S TENNIS
Albion 5, Calvin 4
For the fourth consecutive conference match, Calvin was defeated 5-4 - this time by Albion at Calvin's Strikwerda Tennis Courts Friday afternoon.
Calvin again took two of the three doubles points but but could only squeeze out two singles points to drop the match and fall to 5-11 overall and 0-5 in the MIAA.
In doubles action, sophomore Matt Buesing (Hoffman Estates, IL/Fremnd HS) and senior John Strikwerda (Holland/Holland Christian HS) claimed an 8-4 win at number-two doubles while junior Tom Griffin (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Christian HS) and senior Stephen Healy (Twin Lakes, IN/Twin Lakes HS) won 8-5 at number-three doubles.
Albion regained the lead at 3-2 behind victories at number-one and number-two singles. Strikwerda gained a 6-3, 6-3 win at number-five singles and Healy was a 6-3, 6-2 winner at number-six singles but Albion gained a three-set win at number-three singles, leaving the match tied 4-4.
The match came down to number-five singles and with Albion's David Richter up 5-1 in the third set against Buesing, the match appeared all but over but Buesing fought back to win the next four games to tie the third set 5-5.
Richter then held serve to go up 6-5 and broke Buesing in the next game to win the match 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and clinch the overall victory for the Britons.
Calvin will close out its season on Tuesday when it hosts rival Hope at 4 p.m. at the Strikwerda Tennis Courts.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Alma 8, Calvin 4
ALMA - Looking for its first conference win of the year, Calvin dropped a hard-fought 8-4 decision to host Alma Friday night at Bahlke Stadium.
Calvin (2-10 overall, 0-4 MIAA) trailed 3-0 after the first quarter but outscored the Scots 4-2 in the second quarter to trail just 5-4 at halftime.
Calvin spread the scoring wealth around in the second quarter as freshmen Andrew Haan (Holland/Holland Christian HS), Joel Schaefer (Clarkston, MD/Annapolis Area Christian HS)), Mikal Wessel (Oviedo, FL/Oviedo HS) and Chris Griffin (Howell/Hartland HS) all scored single goals.
Calvin started to run out of steam in the second half however as the Knights were outshot 9-4 in the third quarter and 9-5 in the fourth quarter when the Scots (6-9 overall, 1-4 MIAA) broke through for three insurance goals.
Senior Casey Harless (DeWitt/DeWitt HS) had 10 saves for Calvin in goal while junior Jonathon Vanden Ende (Huntsville, ON/Huntsville HS) had six ground balls.
Freshman Jake Hortsman (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) also won 8-of-14 faceoff attempts.
Calvin returns to action next Wednesday when it hosts rival Hope in its regular season home finale at 4 p.m.
Received on Sat Apr 19 00:52:19 2014
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