by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
Game 1
This weekend marked the beginning of the Division 1 playoffs and the quest for the Belgian Cup. The Namur Angels hosted the Port of Antwerp Greys to kick things off. The first game would not disappoint those in attendance.
The Angels sent Harold Gerard to the mound to face the Greys tough lineup. Gerard would throw six strong innings of one run ball while giving the Angels a chance to win. Unfortunately for Gerard, Greys starter, Adam Crabb also pitched well.
The offenses for both teams were quiet until the bottom of the fourth when the Greys got on the board. David Herssens led things off with a single. After moving to second on a groundout he was knocked in on a single by Gert Rosiers to give the Greys the 1-0 lead.
Namur would finally respond in the sixth inning to the tune of three runs.
After constantly leaving runners stranded early in the game the Angels finally capitalized. Brian Hurld led off with a walk which was followed up by a hit batsman and a bunt single by speedster Ronny Heymans. With the bases loaded Cedric Nauts doubled to knock in all three runners and give the Angels a 3-1 lead.
In the seventh inning the Greys answered right back. They pushed five runs across against reliever Nicolas Migeot which was the result of some shaky defense, walks, and a few timely hits by Merksem.
Down three runs going into the ninth the Angels rallied. Jason Holowaty walked and Jerome Sana was hit by a pitch. Evan Romanchuk then singled to load the bases. Holowaty would scamper home on a wild pitch and Ronny Heymans delivered the clutch two out single that plated the tying runs.
Things would end abruptly for the Angels though as the Greys won in walk-off fashion in the tenth. After loading the bases with no out, Greys leadoff hitter, Sam D’Olivero singled in the winning run. The final score was 7-6 in favor of the Greys.
Game 2
Less than twenty four hours later the Angels were back to exact some revenge for the previous day’s meeting. This would prove to be another barn burner of a game.
The Angels sent Brian Hurld to the mound to stifle the Grey’s bats.
Unfortunately in the first inning the Greys would get two runs on a throwing error that got past the first baseman.
They would respond in the bottom of the inning by pushing three runs across. Jason Holowaty and Phillip Van Woensel singled to get things started. Holowaty would score on a sacrifice fly by Todd Emr. Ronny Heymans was later walked which forced a run in. Nicolas Migeot then singled in the go ahead run to give the Angels a 3-2 lead.
The Greys fought right back and evened things up in the next inning. They would eventually take the lead in the fourth after Tom Van Extergem singled in Jamie Verheylewegen to put the Greys on top 4-3.
In the sixth inning Namur’s bats would come alive. Edouard Vanheer singled to get things started. He moved to second on a wild pitch and was driven in by Nicolas Migeot to tie the game. Finding themselves down a run again in the next inning, the resilient Angels scored again as Phillip Van Woensel scampered home on a wild pitch.
The Angels came to bat in the eighth with the score all square 5-5. Jason Holowaty led things off with a walk. Todd Emr stepped up to the plate later in the inning with Holowaty still stranded on first. He ripped a line drive just inside the right field foul line that made it all the way down into the corner. With Coach Chris Dassy and the entire Angels bench waving their man home, Holowaty beat the throw and the Angels now had the lead 6-5.
Brian Hurld came back out in the ninth to shut the door. After setting down the first two batters in order he followed with a walk but ended the game by picking off the runner at first. The final score Angels 6, Greys 5.
Complete Results Belgian Playoffs Week 1:
Saturday, August 22
Hoboken Pioneers – Brasschaat Braves 5-3
Port of Antwerp Greys – Namur Angels 7-6 (10)
Sunday, August 23
Brasschaat Braves – Hoboken Pioneers 1-8
Namur Angels – Port of Antwerp Greys 6-5
