CKSR (Sarah Bradley Captures One-Meter Regional Diving Crown / Women's Tennis Splits in Ohio / Softball Sweeps Saturday Games)

CALVIN KNIGHT WEEKEND SPORTS WRAP FOR MARCH 4, 2018 (Part Two)

Sarah Bradley Captures One-Meter Regional Diving Crown;
Women's Tennis Splits in Ohio;
Softball Sweeps Saturday Games

WOMEN'S DIVING

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Calvin women's divers had a sensational Saturday at the NCAA Division III Regionals at the University of Chicago. For the second-straight day, Sarah Bradley claimed a regional crown, this time on the 1-meter boards.
"Today was another quality performance for Sarah," said head diving coach Aaron Paskvan. "This is her first time taking both titles and it is another building block for NCAAs. Josie had a good weekend, but we have to be sharper to get through a tough region. I am very happy to be able to coach these quality student-athletes."
A senior from Wheaton, Illinois, Bradley is claiming the 1-meter title for the second-straight year, winning at Calvin in 2017. Bradley completed the sweep after winning the 3-meter event on Friday afternoon. She finished in first place on Saturday with 430.65 points, over 20 points higher than Kayley Alioto of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Bradley scored 42 or more points on her final three dives to secure the crown.
Bradley is one of two Calvin divers to win regional titles, Sam (Klaasen) Ekdom won the 1-meter title in 2013.
"I am really looking forward to nationals," said Bradley. "I am hoping to bring some points in for the team."
A freshman from Zeeland, Michigan, Joselyn Smith finished the event in 12th place with 366.50 points.
Bradley will join six swimmers on the women's side at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships in March in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bradley is also one of two Calvin divers at the Championships with Michael Moentmann qualifying on Saturday.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Wooster 5, Calvin 4
Calvin 9, Marietta 0

WOOSTER, Ohio - The Calvin women's tennis team moved to 4-2 on the year after splitting play in southern Ohio. The Knights started the day getting edged by Wooster, 5-4. The Maroon and Gold responded with a 9-0 sweep of Marietta.
"Today was a quality learning opportunity," said head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "We knew that we were going to have a battle with Wooster and that is what we got. Doubles play proved to be key today. I was happy with how we responded against Marietta. It is always nice to end the day with a victory.
The Scots started the day taking two points in doubles play.
The fantastic freshman duo of Leah Newhof (Caledonia, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Madeline Brouwer (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) defeated Joy Li and Morgan Wagers at No. 1 doubles, 8-5.
After Wooster took two victories in singles play, sophomore Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) pulled off a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Morgan Wagers at No. 4 singles.
After the Scots clinched the match, Madeline Brouwer sank Sarah Duran at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. Sophomore Brittney Statema (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) was victorious at No. 6 singles over Kendra Devereax, 6-4, 6-0.
The Knights came out firing against Marietta.
Freshman Alexis Bonner (Alto, Mich./Forest Hills Central) and Brittney Statema swept Liz Reed and Reagan Haas at No. 3 doubles, 8-0.
Newhof and Brouwer picked up their second victory of the day at No. 1 doubles over Victoria Xie and Latrice Nelson, 8-0.
Senior Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich./Home School) and Anna Asfour closed the book on doubles play with an 8-4 victory over Katie Kitchen and Destiny Grim at No. 2 doubles.
At No. 1 singles, Leah Newhof knocked off Victoria Xie, 6-0, 6-0.
Anna Asfour grounded Destiny Grim at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Madeline Brouwer cooked Katie Kitchen at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Lark Foote swept Latrice Nelson at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Brittney Statema stomped Liz Reed at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Freshman Sydney Ellsworth (Williamston, Mich./Williamston) was victorious over Reagan Haas at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-0.
The Knights will have two weeks off until they play under the Florida sun.
SOFTBALL
Calvin 2, Olivet 1 (8 innings)
Calvin 8, LaGrange 0 (6 innings)

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Calvin softball team had a successful Saturday at the diamond at the Transylvania Pioneer Classic. The day started with a record-breaking performance in a 2-1 victory over Olivet. The day closed with an 8-0 blasting of LaGrange.
"To finish 4-0 is exciting for our team," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "We basically played four games in 24 hours and we stayed enthusiastic and hungry throughout. Our bats were cold in game one, but we found a way to win against Olivet behind our defense and Anna's performance in the circle.In game two, we were able to break through with a big inning behind another solid outing from Ellie in the circle. We were pretty solid in all three aspects of the game this weekend. The bottom of the batting order really fueled our offense. To only allow two runs in four games really shows the potential of our defense and pitching. The box score won't show it, but all of our 21 players contributed to our success this weekend.
The Knights found themselves in a defensive battle against Olivet.
Junior Anna Gernant (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) struck out three batters in an inning four times on Saturday.
Gernant finished the game with a school record 19 strikeouts, passing her own record of 18 that she set in 2017.
The international tiebreaker rule came into play in the eighth inning.
Junior Maddie DeGroot (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) had a single to score sophomore Kayla Groen (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East). DeGroot advanced to second base on the throw.
Senior Jessica Brasser (Rockford, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) tallied the game-winning hit that was able to get Maddie DeGroot across home plate.
Olivet scored one run in the eighth inning.
Anna Gernant only allowed two hits in the victory.
Maddie DeGroot led the game with two hits.
The Knights waited until the sixth inning for the bats to explode against LaGrange.
In the third inning, freshman Grace Stock (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) recorded her first hit at Calvin with a single to center field.
The scoring started in the sixth inning with Kayla Groen sending a shot up the middle that scored senior Kimiko Hinatsu (Romeo, Mich./Romeo).
Sophomore Mallory Hoatlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills) then singled to left field to send junior Kristen Newman (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) home.
The Panthers put in a new pitcher, but saw the same result.
Maddie DeGroot welcomed Emily Smith into the game with a double to left center that scored Kayla Groen.
Jessica Brasser than doubled to right center to score Mallory Hoatlin and Maddie DeGroot.
With two outs, junior Abby Colon (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian) singled to left field to score Brasser.
Kristen Newman put the final nail in the coffin with a single to center field that scored Colon.
Freshman Ellie Borst (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) continued to impress in the circle and only allowed three hits. She also tallied two strikeouts, without allowing a walk.
Freshman Camryn Young recorded her first hit at Calvin in the sixth inning.
Kimiko Hinatsu led the game with two hits.
The Knights will rest for two weeks before they will play 10 games under the Florida sun.
Received on Sun Mar 4 22:38:34 2018