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 Desmedt 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, Desmedt 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 Heymans 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 Desmedt is credited with the win and Adrien Stokart is awarded the save.
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 Heymans 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.
Results
Final Round Top Four:
Saturday, August 21:
K. Deurne Spartans – Brasschaat Braves 3-0
Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys 11-2
Sunday, August 22:
Brasschaat Braves – K. Deurne Spartans 4-2
Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers 1-13
Standings:
- Hoboken Pioneers 4-0
- K. Deurne Spartans 3-1
- Brasschaat Braves 1-3
- Port of Antwerp Greys 0-4
Final Round Bottom Three:
Saturday, August 21:
Namur Angels – Mortsel Stars 11-7
Sunday, August 22:
Mortsel Stars – Namur Angels 8-6
Standings:
- Mortsel Stars 2-2
- Merchtem Cats 1-1
- Namur Angels 1-1
Photo: (c) Frédéric de Laminne, www.event-pics.be