Angels sweep Cats
Week 2, Game 1 :Angels vs Cats
There was an ominous sky looming as the Cats took the field for game one against the Angels. Aaron Troyansky was off to a good start on the mound retiring three of the first four and fighting through a brief rain delay in the first.
Nicolas Migeot marched out for the Angels, and after allowing a leadoff single he bore down to get the next few outs without any damage being done. Nicolas led off the top of the second for the Angels with a line drive to centerfield that bounced past the centerfielder advancing him to second. With a man on second and no outs Ludovic Geuquet singled, and there were runners on first and third no outs. Florentin Goyens followed with a groundball up the middle that the Cats turned for a double play. The first blood of the game was drawn; the angels led 1-0.
The bottom of the second was relatively uneventful as Nicolas only allowed one runner to reach base. Then the Angels were right back at it; Thomas Vandenabeele started things up with a walk and Jerome Sana followed with a single. Thomas Stevens grounded to short, the Cats tried to turn it, but the throw was late and bounced away from the first basemen. This allowed Vandenabeele to score on the play, making the tally 2-0 Angels.
The Cats started the inning with the top of their lineup and were poised to do some damage. Kristof Van Droogenbroeck hit a ground ball to third and reached base on a throwing error. Nicolas stormed back striking out the next batter, but then the Cats responded with three singles in a row. When the dust had settled, the score stood 3-2 Cats.
The next few innings were quiet. Finally, in the top of the eighth, Sana reached base to start the inning. Stevens followed with a single, and the Angels had runners on first and second with no outs. Cedric Nauts laid one down, the ball rolled slowly up the third baseline. The pitcher, Ethan Guevin sprung off the mound to field the ball. It was a tough play, and the throw to first came up a little short, loading the bases for the Angels. Migeot helped himself out with a single through the left side of the infield, driving in two, and taking the lead for the Angels 4-3.
With runners on second the third and one out, Goyens lined one to centerfield driving in two more. The Angels weren’t done and with two outs Adrien Stokart singled and Adren Geuquet walked to start things back up for the Angels. Vandenabeele singled to drive in one more extending the Angels lead. Sana reached base and stole second putting runners on second and third for Stevens, who lined one to left plating the final two runs of the inning. After was all said and done the score stood 10-3 Angels.
The damage was done and the Cats were not able to push any across in the last two innings. Nicolas Migeot pitched a complete game, struck out six, and is credited with the win.
Week 2, Game 2 :Angels vs Cats
It was a cold stormy day as the Cats and the Angels prepared for the final game of the weekend. For the second day in a row it was raining as the home team took the field. Cedric Desmedt was on the hill for the Angels and came out hard retiring the first three batters in order.
The bats were quiet for the first few innings and first blood came for the Angels in the third. Thomas Vandenabeele started things off with a walk. The next two batters loaded the bases and Cedric Nauts recorded the Angel’s first hit of the game driving in one. Angels led 1-0.
All was quiet until the bottom of the fifth. Jerome Sana was hit by a pitch and Thomas Stevens walked. The Angels had runners on first and second with one out. Cedric Nauts hit a ground ball to short, the throw bounced away from the first basemen allowing Sana to score and Stevens to advance to third. Then Theodore De Bellefroid singled to left field, plating Stevens. Angels lead 3-0. The Angels weren’t done yet, Nicolas Migeot doubled, scoring two. When the final out of the inning was recorded the Angels led 6-0.
Cedric shut the door on the Cats and soon after the Angels were back at the plate. Stevens lined one down the left field line to start the inning, and advanced to third on Theodore De Bellefroid’s double to right. Migeot 2 for 4 on the day, recorded his third RBI, with a single to left. With the bases loaded and two outs Jerome Sana, doubled to left center field, driving in two. The Angels led 11-0.
Desmedt retired the next three Cats in order to end the game. Desmedt pitched seven innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven, and is credited with the win.
STARS SHINE BRIGHT IN GAME 2
The Angels traveled to Mortsel for the last contest in a two game set. After a big win the day before, the Angels were anxious to add another tally in the victory column. The Stars starter, Nguyen Boulet Diaz, began the game by walking both Ronny Heymans and Thomas Vandenabeele. The third batter, Thomas Stevens hit into a fielder’s choice putting runners on first and third with one out. The intrepid Stevens stole second putting two runners in scoring position. The gamble paid off as Nicolas Migeot singled to center field scoring two. Ludovic Geuquet followed with a long triple, making the score 3-0 Angels.
However, it was clear that the Stars didn’t come to the ballpark to merely roll over and die. In the bottom of the first, their leadoff batter recorded the first of four hits in the inning and before the dust had settled the Stars had two runs of their own.
As the game wore on, offense ruled the day. In fact, runners reached base in all but two half innings. With over ten hits recorded for both teams, the squad with the best defense would likely end up on top.
Nevertheless, the Angels came right back in the top of the second. Cedric Nauts led off with a single and a stolen base, putting a runner on second with no outs. Ronny Heyman singled to drive him in and the Angels now led 4-2.
The bottom of the second turned out to be a rough inning for the Angels. After Harold Gerard started things by striking out the lead off batter, a walk, error, and another walk loaded the bases. Cedric Vandesompele approached the dish with his mouth watering and promptly hit the hardest ball of the day to left center field for a triple, driving in three runs and putting the Stars ahead. Then one Vandesompele was driven in by another Vandesompele—this time it was Sebastian—leaving the tally at 6-4 Stars.
The Stars tacked another run on in the bottom of the third, and the score was 7-4. Unfortunately, the Angels couldn’t muster the big hit as they stranded five runners in scoring position through the next four innings.
Finally in the top of the sixth, the Angels managed to push one across. Ronny Heymans singled with one out to start things, Vandenabeele walked putting Ronny into scoring position, and Stevens finished the job with a single scoring Heymans.
The score stood at 7-5, but the Stars quickly responded by plating their first run since the third inning. Still, the Angels clung to the last remaining vestiges of hope in the top of the seventh when Florentin Goyens led off with a double. Nauts followed with a ground ball to the right side advancing Goyens to third. Matthieu Deltombe then finished the job with a ground ball to short stop. With two outs and nobody on base, Ronny Heymans sent a ball into the left centerfield gap, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
The final two innings were quiet on both sides, and the Stars came out on top 8-6. Nguyen Boulet Diaz was awarded the win in impressive fashion with a complete game victory on the mound. Nguyen fielded his position exceptionally well and focused his concentration when necessary to get the big outs in key situations, stranding six runners in scoring position.
ANGELS RALLY IN COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY
After a long mid-season break, the Angels returned to the diamond hoping to start the second half of the year off on a positive note. Cedric Desmedy took the mound in the top of the first endeavoring to mow the Stars down in order, but a formidable Stars lineup lied in wait. After the first two batters walked, a wild pitch advanced the duo of runners to second and third respectively. Then back-to-back singles by the three and four hitters drove two runs in.
With runners on first and second, the Sebastian Vandesompele walked loading the bases for Bryan Beutels. Bryan dribbled a soft ground ball up the middle that snaked past the pitcher for an infield hit, plating home the third run of the inning. With no outs and the bases loaded, Desmedy managed one strikeout before a walk sent another run home.
There was one out and the bases were loaded when Ben Vannoffel hit a ground ball to second base. With the specter of a double play looming, Florentin Goyens flipped the ball to second for the first out. However, the subsequent throw sailed wildly past the first basemen and the fifth run of the inning scored. It was now first and third with two outs. Lieuen Buerns, the leadoff batter, stepped up to the plate and promptly singled to right. The base runner on third scored easily while the man on first advanced to third.
Buerns then took a sizeable lead when the pitcher, Cedric, attempted to pick him off at first. Thomas Vandenabeele, playing first base, fired to Jerome Sana at second sparking a run down. As the precarious pickle ensued, the runner on third headed for home. Nevertheless, his efforts were ultimately for naught when Jerome set his feet and fired a laser beam towards home that skipped into the catcher’s glove for an easy tag and the final out of the inning.
After a rough top of the first the Angels trailed the Stars 6-0. In the Angels half of the first, Ronny Hemans led off with a single. Thomas Vandenabeele followed with a ground ball to second. The Stars tried to turn a pair, but it was their turn to now botch a readymade double play of their own with an errant throw to first base. With one out and a man on second, Thomas Stevens hustled to beat out a slow roller to third. The late throw enabled Vandenabeele to score easily from second. That was all the Angels could muster in the top of the first, leaving the score at 6-1.
After a rough first inning, Cedric settled in and got down to business. The revitalized hurler shut down the Stars and only allowed one more hit though the next six scoreless innings. With the first inning out of sight and out of mind, Cedric effectively turned the page, allowing only five hits through seven innings and giving the Angels offense a chance to spark a comeback.
Vandenabeele, who was 3 for 5 on the day with two doubles and a triple, started things in the third for the Angels with a one out double. Stevens joined in with a double of his own, making the score 6-2. The Angels were well on their way. Cedric Nauts added his second single of the day, putting runners on first and third with two outs. Cedric stole second, leaving two runners in scoring position for Florentin. Before Florentin had a chance to drive the pair home, however, a wild pitch allowed Stevens to score and Cedric to advance to third. With the score now 6-3, Florentin drew a walk. The next batter, Adrien Geuquet, drove a ground ball to third that careened off the third basemen’s glove, allowing Cedric to score the fourth run.
With runners on first and second, the bottom of the lineup led the final charge. Adrien Stokart, 2 for 4 on the day, ripped a liner to right field loading the bases. Matthieu Deltombe then scorched another line drive to center field easily scoring Florentin. Geuquet, on the other hand, rounded third and was heading for home as Nguyen Boulet Diaz threw a perfect one hop strike into the catcher’s glove, beating Geuquet by a step to make the final out of the inning. The Angels marched back out into the field in for the top of the fourth with new life and a score of 6-5 Stars.
After a few quiet innings of baseball, the Angels bottom of the lineup sparked another rally. Adrien Stokart led things off in the bottom of the sixth with a walk. Matthieu immediately followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with nobody out. Ronny then walked to load the bases for Vandenabeele and his hot bat. Vandenabeele rocked his third extra base hit of the day, driving in three and breaking the game wide open. With their first lead of the day, the Angels’ Tom Stevens hit a hard ground ball off the third basemen’s chest to drive in the fourth run of the inning, making the score 9-6 Angels.
The bottom of the seventh started out just like the sixth. Adrien Stokart led things off for the Angels, this time with a hit to right field, followed by a stolen base. Matthieu wasted no time and smashed a ball to right for a single that drove in Adrien. Ronny did the same, and the Angels had runners on first and second with no outs. Stevens singled driving in Matthieu, and the Angels led 11-6 going into the eighth inning.
After a pitching change, Adrien Stokart entered the game for the Angels and effectively shut the door on the Stars. Stokart came in aggressively throwing strikes and forcing contact. The eighth went by quickly with Stokart getting the first two batters to fly out early in the count, and finishing up with a ground ball to Jerome at short.
Although the Stars made the ninth inning interesting by starting off with back to back singles, Stokart kept attacking the zone and finally recorded the last three outs of the game.
The Angels won 11-7 in a come from behind win. Cedric Desmedy is credited with the win and Adrien Stokart is awarded the save.
NAMUR ANGELS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE VS. HOBOKEN
By: A.P. Beauregard
Knowing that in order to maintain the possibility of a playoff berth they needed to, at minimum, register a split decision in their weekend series with Hoboken; the Namur Angels did just that taking the Sunday game in what is only the second defeat of the year for the Pioneers.
Saturday’s game, June 26th, was a pitchers’ contest from the outset as Terrence Antonacci of Hoboken squared off against fellow right-hander Shouta Ichinoseki of Namur. The game moved along in what can be best described as a typical baseball rhythm, sharp pitching quieting the offense while good defensive play stymied any attempt at collective outbursts of scoring. Unfortunately for the home Angels, this meant the short end of the stick in a 6-1 defeat. Hoboken registered runs in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th innings and left the rest to Antonacci who went eight quality innings in picking up the win. In support of their starter the Pioneers were led offensively by second baseman Dennis Ribbens whose 2-3 at the plate anchored a seven hit attack. Namur also was able to collect seven hits; two coming off the bat of Adrien Geuquet, who counted a double amongst his 2-4 afternoon.
The sense of urgency was palpable on Sunday as the Angels knew that a consecutive defeat would make elimination an ironclad certainty. Luckily for them, the man with the ball led the initiative and set the tone for his teammates to follow in the form of 8 2/3 innings pitched, 4 strikeouts, and only 3 runs allowed. While Cedric Desmedt no doubt played center stage, he was buoyed by a potent and aggressive offense that supported him throughout. Gracjan Kraszewski went 3-5 while Thomas Vandenabeele, Theodore De Bellefroid, and Ludovic Geuquet all had 2-5 days at the plate. Hoboken was led at the plate by centerfielder Steven De Lannoy who contributed a 2-3 outing to his team’s offense. The final score read 8-3 Namur.
With a six week break ahead, Namur is off until August 7th, all the Angels can do is watch and wait. At 10-12 they remain in 5th place in the playoff hunt, currently on the outside looking in, however their win on Sunday was perhaps the team’s most important victory all year. If things ahead of them in the standings shuffle around and they can pull off a sweep of 2nd place Antwerp on the final weekend, perhaps the Angels will look back to Sunday’s victory as the catalyst for a journey into the postseason.
NAMUR ANGELS AND K. DEURNE SPARTANS SPLIT KEY MATCHUP
By: A.P. Beauregard
A showdown ripe with playoff implications, the Namur Angels took on the K. Deurne Spartans in a two game set on the 19th and 20th of June. With both teams fighting for the last two coveted spots in the four team playoff, a three way race with the Brasschaat Braves, the Spartans and Angels would trade wins that, uncustomarily, both times went to the visitor.
Saturday, June 19th, was a low scoring ball game throughout thanks in large part to stellar pitching from Namur starter Shouta Ichinoseki as well as his right-handed counterpart, Deurne’s Alexis Marquez. The Spartans led 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth and were just three outs from victory when a furious rally from visiting Namur changed the tide of the day. Four base on balls, two hits, and a hit batsman accounted for 4 runs that appeared to now put the decision into the hands of the Angels, however, the day’s quota for drama had yet to be satisfied. Attempting to answer in the bottom of the ninth, Marquez looped a two out single to right that brought the margin to 6-4 but instead of settling for a pair of runners in scoring position, the Spartan runner from second base strayed too far off the bag after the throw had come into home plate. Far enough, in fact, to allow Namur catcher Gracjan Kraszewski to flip the ball to shortstop Theodore De Bellefroid who applied the ensuing game ending tag.
De Bellefroid led Namur with three hits, while teammate Ronny Heymans contributed a 2-4 showing at the plate. Matt Brunnig pitched two and a third strong innings picking up the win in relief.
The Spartans were led at the plate by Marquez’s three hit day while Johan Silva, Manuel Martinez, and Tony De Telder each had two hits apiece.
Sunday’s conclusion in Namur proved unhappy for the home team as timely hitting, solid defense, and effective pitching propelled the visiting Spartans to a 9-4 victory. Seven players in the Deurne line-up reached base via hit, while Alexis Marquez again spearheaded the offense with his second consecutive three hit performance.
The home Angels were lead by Matt Brunnig as the winning pitcher from the day before counted two triples and a double amongst his 3-4 afternoon. Ronny Heymans, Thomas Vandenabeele, and Matthieu Deltombe each had a base hit as well.
The Angels will be off to Hoboken next weekend for the first game of a two game series against the first place Pioneers.
NAMUR ANGELS AND BRASSCHAAT EXCHANGE WINS OVER THE WEEKEND
By: A.P. Beauregard
Pitching, pitching, pitching. We’ve all heard the clichés about team building, winning championships, and why it’s no coincidence that the man with the ball is assigned position # 1 on the score sheet. Worn out or not, the old adages held true when the Namur Angels and the Brasschaat Braves squared off in a pair of games on the weekend of June 12-13. The teams would split the series with both games holding strong mound work as the theme throughout.
Saturday’s game in Brasschaat went 4-2 to the hometown Braves. Although Angel starter Shouta Ichinoseki turned in a very solid showing himself (a complete game 4 run, 4 strikeout outing) it was not enough to match the line of Brasschaat’s Clayton Cooper: complete game, 3 hits allowed, 13 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Braves were led at the plate by Hans Heyrman, Tim Maes, and Alberto Valerio, each player picking up two hits while Heyrman included a home run in his day.
Namur, which mustered only 3 hits total, was led by Ludovic Geuquet’s 2-4 and Theodore De Bellefroid’s one hit, a solo home run over the wall in left-center in the eighth inning.
Sunday’s game in Namur was a chance at redemption for the home team, and hoping to stay in the thick of things for the playoffs, the Angels seized the opportunity in a 7-5 win.
The victory truly was a collective effort as each man in the Namur line-up hit safely on the day, headlined by Ludovic Geuquet (2-2) and Jerome Sana and Matthieu Deltombe, both 2-4. As effective as the Angels offense was, starter Cedric Desmedt was even sharper. The hard throwing righty carried a no-hitter through six innings before finally giving way to the strong relief pitching of Nicolas Migeot who ensured Desmedt’s performance would not go to waste. As team wins go, Namur can certainly chalk this one up to the top of the list.
Visiting Brasschaat saw 2-4 days at the plate each from Hans Heyrman, Jilles Sel, and Jef De Belder.
Angels' shortstop De Bellefroid selected for the 2010 MLB European Academy
2005. Theodore De Bellefroid decides to play baseball and joins the Brussels Kangaroos where he plays on the cadets B-team under the helm of the current Little League Director for Belgium, John Miller.
In 2008, Theo gets selected by the junior national team.
A year later, he becomes a starter and takes part in the European Championship Junior in Bonn where his 0.389 batting average ranks 3rd on the team.
A few weeks prior he had already become a starter on the Kangaroos 1st division team at the age of only 16.
In 2009 he becomes a member of the new-born LFBBS Belgian Baseball Academy.
The LFBBS Academy is one of the 2 academies supported by the Belgian Federation and endorsed by Major League Baseball. In the first edition of the academy; 10 kids aged 14 to 18 sharpened their mental, physical and technical skills from November to June under the supervision of the best local coaches.
In 2010, he signs with the Namur Angels hoping to reach a new level in his development.
2005 is not only the year where De Bellfroid made his first steps in baseball, it's also the year of creation of the MLB European Academy.
The MLB Academy, a training camp where the 55 of the best talent between 15 and 19 years old from Europe and Africa spend 3 weeks of full time baseball under the guidance of top coaches like Lee Smith, Barry Larkin, Brent Mayne, Bruce Hurst…
193 players from 26 European and African nations have taken part in the academy since 2005. 40 of them signed contracts with MLB organizations, 17 went on to play College baseball in the USA.
Only 4 Belgian players have ever received the honor to be part of the MLB
Academy.
Benjamin Dille (2005), the best 2nd baseman in the Dutch Major League (Neptunus Rotterdam); Thomas DeWolf (2007), the only Belgian player to ever sign a contract with an MLB club (New York Mets), Harold Gerard (2007-Namur Angels) and Kenny Vandenbranden (2007- Hoboken Pioneers) who are 2 of the leading Belgian pitchers from the Belgian National team who will play the European Championship in Germany in late July.
Theodore has helped to prove the MLB representatives right in supporting the Belgian Academies and he also helps our younger players in having faith that they can achieve great things if they work on it...until, perhaps, Theo reaches another goal…
NAMUR ANGELS AND K. MORTSEL STARS SPLIT WEEKEND SERIES
By: A.P. Beauregard
On Saturday, June 5th, the Namur Angels met the K. Mortsel Stars in Flanders and the contest would prove to be a see-saw tale of two games, both clubs controlling halves of the match in what would end up a 10-6 Star victory.
The first half of the game, namely the opening five innings, were all Namur. The visitors jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and starting pitcher Shouta Ichinoseki silenced the opposition in support of his teammates’ offensive onslaught. What seemed headed for a rout would prove, however, to be a prime example of the home team chipping away while simultaneously holding down the fort. Over the ensuing four innings the Angels would strand countless base runners as Mortsel relief pitcher Jake Huffman prevented Namur from tacking on any more to their lead. While Huffman was doing his part in keeping his team in the game, the offense was doing theirs. A 6-2 game became 6-3 in the sixth, then 6-5 after seven, all setting the stage for a flood of offense in the bottom of the eighth that would prove to be the difference. Following a walk, a pair of singles, and a sacrifice bunt that had put the home team ahead 7-6; Mortsel first baseman Scott Bolcoa homered to right field to run the margin to 3 and produce the final tally of 10-6.
Bolcoa led Mortsel at the plate with a 3-5 showing, while teammates Lieven Buerms and Cedric Vandensompele recorded 2 hits apiece. Huffman picked up the win, pitching sixth and two-thirds in relief.
For Namur, newcomer Matt Brunnig turned in an impressive debut going 2-4 at the plate with a double and a single. Nicolas Migeot and Cedric Nauts both hit 2-5, while Ludovic Geuquet, Jerome Sana, Gracjan Kraszewski, Theodore De Bellefroid, and Thomas Vandenabeele each had one base hit apiece. Ichinoseki threw the ball well but was credited with the no-decision.
Sunday’s game, June 6th, was over before it began as Namur won on the account of forfeit. Next weekend the Angels (7-9) will travel to Brasschaat to face the Braves (7-8), winners of four in a row.
NAMUR AND MERCHTEM EACH TAKE ONE GAME IN WEEKEND SERIES
By: A.P. Beauregard
Namur winning in walk-off fashion, an American pitcher throwing a complete game victory for Merchtem, and the Angels and Cats splitting a weekend series, sound familiar? What was Namur’s Remi Gillet homering to cement a 13-2 Angels win and Merchtem’s Reid Jackson striking out 12 in a 4-3 triumph on opening weekend in April became the Angels’ Cedric Nauts sending everyone home with a bases clearing double and the Cats’ Ethan Guevin going the distance to salvage a split on the last weekend in May, the 29th and 30th. Ironically, even the weather played its part in the parallel, as the teams battled cold, blustery, and rainy conditions throughout both games.
A sloppy game from the start, Saturday’s contest slogged its way through a rain delay to a 10-7 score heading into the last turn at bat for the home Angels. Leading off the bottom of the ninth inning for Namur was first baseman Thomas Vandenabeele whose prompt single set the stage for the forthcoming dramatics. These last minute fireworks came six batters later from right-fielder Cedric Nauts who, following a base hit by Ronny Heymans and walks by Adrien and Ludovic Geuquet, stepped to the plate with a scenario enacted in backyards and sandlots for as long as baseball has been around: bottom of the ninth, down two runs, two outs, bases loaded. Wasting no time, Nauts scorched a line drive to left field which commenced the merry-go round of base runners and the celebration that followed in a 11-10 victory for Namur. 4-5 at the plate, Nauts also picked up the win pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless relief of Gracjan Kraszewski and Angels starter Shouta Ichinoseki.
Vandenabeele, Heymans, Theodore De Bellefroid, and Adrien Stokart all added two hits apiece to the Namur attack. For the Cats, Geert Cleymans’ 3-6 and Tim Vanlierde’s 2-4 led the way.
Sunday’s match, May 30th, was the story of a strong performance by Merchtem’s Ethan Guevin in a 10-5 Cats victory. Batting out of the #3 spot in the line-up Guevin turned in a 2-5 showing at the plate that was not to be outdone by his work on the mound: a complete game, 9 strike-out outing.
Geert Cleymans contributed 2 hits as did teammate Ruud DeWinde, while 8 Cat players in the line-up produced at least one base hit to aid the offense.
Namur was led at the plate by Nicolas Migeot whose 2-3 was further enhanced by 2 runs scored and a base on balls that saw him reach base safely 3 out of 4 plate appearances, while Ronny Heymans and Gracjan Kraszewski each recorded 2-4 afternoons. Ludovic Geuquet, Adrien Geuquet, and Matthieu Deltombe each had one base hit to their credit, the brothers Geuquet each registering their one hit for extra bases in the form of a pair of doubles.
The weekend’s results have brought Namur to (6-8) on the season as they remain fourth in the league standings looking ahead to next week’s games against the K. Mortsel Stars (4-10).
NAMUR ANGELS ON SHORT END OF TWO WITH PORT OF ANTWERP
By: A.P. Beauregard
Following a bye week the Namur Angels looked to bounce back from a recent losing streak when they took on the Royal Greys of Antwerp in a weekend set on May 22nd and 23rd. Unfortunately for Namur, they would lose both of the games to drop to 5-7 on the season.
Saturday’s contest in Antwerp, a 3-1 Greys’ victory, was a story of strong pitching from both teams. Both starters, Namur’s Shouta Ichinoseki and Antwerp’s Dennis Van Hoof, would pitch complete games, while Van Hoof especially dazzled in carrying a perfect game into the top of the ninth inning. Angel’s centerfielder Matthieu Deltombe broke up Van Hoof’s bid for perfection by doubling down the left-field line, and following singles by Florentin Goyens and Thomas Vandenabeele, the deficit was only 2 runs. That, however, would be all the offense Namur would muster on a day when those three ninth inning hits were all that would be collected by the visitors. For Antwerp, Kevin Knollenburg highlighted a seven hit team effort with a double and a single.
Sunday’s game in Namur would end up shortened after 7 innings as inconsistent defense from the home team and, most importantly, timely hitting from the visiting Greys’ proved to be the difference in a 19-2 victory.
Six Antwerp players finished with multiple hit showings led by second baseman Tom Van Extergem who went 3-3 on the day with two runs scored and reached base safely all five of his plate appearances (BB, HBP also). Starter Robbe De Jongh went 6 strong in picking up the win.
For the Angels, Gracjan Kraszewski was 2-3 and Thomas Vandenabeele was 1-3 on the afternoon. Both players scored the teams only runs in the top half of the seventh inning.