Baseball drops two at Hope - will return to face Hope in MIAA Tournament
Saturday, May 04, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor, Photo Credit: Jeff Febus
HOLLAND, Mich. - After a two-game split with Hope at Fifth Third Ballpark Fri., May 3, the Calvin men’s baseball dropped two games by scores of 8-5 and 7-6 (9 innings) at Boeve Stadium on the campus of Hope College Sat., May 4. Fortunately for the Knights, they had already earned a berth in the MIAA Tournament for the first time in three years with the win at Fifth Third. Hope jumped all over the Knights in the first two innings of game one. The Flying Dutchmen scored one run in the first and seven runs in the second. Calvin chipped away at the lead scoring runs in three consecutive innings to cut the lead to 8-5. The Knights could not muster any more runs, and dropped game one. In game two, junior Cory Laster gave up three earned runs in five innings, and was in line for the win when Calvin scored four runs in the top of the sixth. Both teams scored a single run before Hope tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh after Calvin walked the bases loaded. Hope eventually won the game on a walkoff single by TJ Klein in the bottom of the ninth. With its win, Hope clinches a share of the MIAA championship and the top seed in the MIAA Tournament. Calvin, now 16-23 on the season and 15-13 in the MIAA. The Knights clinch the fourth seed, and will return to Holland to face the Flying Dutchmen in the MIAA Tournament final. The game is scheduled for Wed., May 8. The time is to be determined.
Megan Visser Named to All-MIAA Second Team in Women’s Tennis
Saturday, May 04, 2013
For the second consecutive year, Calvin College sophomore Megan Visser has been named to the All-MIAA second team in women’s tennis. A native of Kalamazoo and a graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School, Visser filled the No. 1 singles spot for Calvin this spring and went 3-5 against league opponents. She also played at No. 1 doubles and went 2-6 against league opponents. During the year she was named MIAA Women’s Tennis Player of the Week once. Visser was part of a Calvin women’s tennis team that finished 6-13 overall this spring and in fourth place in the final MIAA regular season standings with a 4-4 league record. The Knights later qualified for the four-team MIAA Tournament before bowing to eventual tournament champion Hope.
Calvin Lands Three on All-MIAA Men’s Tennis Team - DeMaagd Named Lawrence Green Scholar-Athlete
Saturday, May 04, 2013
The All-MIAA men’s tennis teams have been announced and three members of the MIAA tri-champion Calvin men’s tennis team have been so honored. Seniors Brian DeMaagd and Preston Phillips have been named to the All-MIAA first team while senior Philip Reinken has been named to the second team. In addition, DeMaagd has been named the recipient of the MIAA’s Lawrence Greet Scholar-Athlete Award. DeMaagd is the fifth individual in Calvin men’s tennis history to receive the honor. Jeff Admiral was the first recipient from Calvin in 1994 followed by Dan Meester in 1995, Jon VanderArk in 1997 and Ricky Tilton in 2008. The award is based on academic performance in memory of the late Lawrence “Doc” Green, physical educator, athletic trainer and coach at Hope College.
Baseball Splits Twinight Doubleheader With Hope at Fifth Third Park - Clinches MIAA Tournament Berth
Friday, May 03, 2013
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 Olivet drop at least one game to Kalamazoo. Both scenarios worked out for Calvin on Friday as Kalamazoo defeated Olivet 4-1 earlier in the day while Calvin split its doubleheader with Hope. 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. Calvin will close out the regular season on Saturday at Hope with a doubleheader slated to start at 1 p.m.
Men’s tennis falls to Kalamazoo 6-1 in MIAA Tournament Finals
Friday, May 03, 2013
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. Calvin finishes its season at 13-6. The Knights won their first conference championship in program history with a conference record of 5-1.
Calvin Track & Field Teams Wrap Up MIAA Titles - 11th and 12th Conference Crowns of Year for Knights
Friday, May 03, 2013
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 achieving the feat together 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 which 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.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Move Into First Place at MIAA Field Day
Thursday, May 02, 2013
HOLLAND - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams moved into first place on the first day of competition at the MIAA Field Day hosted by Hope College. The MIAA Field Day is worth one-half of the final league crown. The MIAA Jamboree - held three weeks ago - makes up the remaining half. Both Calvin teams took first place at the earlier MIAA Jamboree. Through one day of competition, the Calvin men’s team has 72 points, 38 points ahead of Hope while the Calvin women’s team has 62.5 points with Alma second with 58 points.Ranked 24th nationally, the Calvin men took first place in just one event on Thursday but flashed strong depth throughout the day to pile up an early first place point total. Senior David VandeBunte led the charge by winning the 10,000 meters in a time of 31:17.38. On the women’s side, Calvin took first place in two events Thursday. Senior Carissa Verkaik got the day rolling by winning the high jump for the third consecutive year, doing so with a jump of 5-3. She was one of three Calvin high jumpers to score points as sophomore Christina Geating was second and sophomore Kelley Tuinenga seventh. Action continues on Friday at 10 a.m.
Men’s tennis defeats Hope 5-4 in MIAA Tournament Semifinals
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Coming off a loss at the hands of the Flying Dutchmen last week, the Calvin men’s tennis team hosted Hope in the MIAA Tournament semifinals May 2 looking for revenge. The match lasted well over four hours, and also included a rain delay. Calvin edged Hope, defeated the Flying Dutchmen 5-4 at Strikwerda Tennis Center. The Knights won two of three doubles flights. Preston Phillips and Phil Reinken won at first doubles while Brian DeMaagd and Loukas Peterson won at second doubles. Calvin needed three of six singles flights to win the match, and got exactly that. Phillips won a 6-4, 7-5 match over Parker Bussies at second singles. Jarrod Brower defeated Jon Panzer 6-0, 6-3 at fifth singles. The decisive flight came at fourth singles. Loukas Peterson defeated Kyle Kreps in three sets by scores of 7-6 (4) 6-7 (6), 6-3. Calvin improves to 14-5 on the season and is also 5-1 in the MIAA. The Knights earn a berth in the MIAA Tournament final for the third consecutive year. Calvin will travel Kalamazoo to take on the Hornets tomorrow, May 3, for a 4:00 p.m. match at Stowe Tennis Stadium.
Women’s tennis falls 5-0 at Hope in MIAA Tournament Semifinals
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
HOLLAND, Mich. – The Calvin women’s tennis team saw its season come to an end Thursday, May 2, on the campus of Hope College. The Knights fell 5-0 to the Flying Dutch in the MIAA Tournament semifinals. In a match played at Vande Poel-Herrings Stadium, Hope won all three doubles flights. Calvin did put up a fight in two of the three flights, however. Seniors Jordan Ipema (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) and Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) fell to Melissa Bieri (Holland/Holland Christian) and Anna Garcia (Battle Creek/Lakeview) 8-6 at second doubles. Calvin sophomores Samantha Reitsma (Grand Rapids/Northpointe Christian) and Ali Roode (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) were defeated by Stephanie Huffman (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern) and Andrea Pickelman (Marshall/Marshall) 8-5 at third doubles. Hope needed to win only two singles flights to clinch the match. The Flying Dutch won the first two matches off the courts. Casey Baxter (Saline/Saline) defeated Ipema 6-1, 6-1 at second singles. Leah LaBarge (Hudsonville/Hudsonville) defeated Calvin junior Bethany Zoerhof (Holland/Holland Christian) 6-2, 6-1 at fourth singles. The match was played to decision. Calvin finishes its season with a 6-11 record including a 4-4 mark in MIAA regular season play.
Carissa Verkaik Is a Repeat Selection on BCAM Academic All-State Team
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
BCAM Academic All-State Women's College Basketball Team
Carissa Verkaik has added another honor to her Calvin College awards case. Verkaik was recently named to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Academic All-State team for the second straight year. She was joined on the BCAM Academic All-State Collegiate Division team by Karli Harris of Davenport University, Liz Ellis of Hope College, Niki DiGuilio of Central Michigan University Talisha Bridges of Wayne State University. The 6’2 senior center earned her fourth consecutive MIAA Player of the Year award and was named the DIII Player of the Year. Carissa averaged 20 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks while leading her team to a 23-4 overall and 15-1 MIAA record. She scored over 2,000 points in her career. The Elementary Education major will graduate with a 3.76 GPA and was a Capital One Academic All-American.
