by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
After 24 hours of rain wreaked havoc on Namur’s field on Friday, the Angels’ home and regular season opener was postponed Saturday due to unplayable field conditions [editor note: ruled a forfeit by the federation; the Angels plan to appeal the decision] Consequently, the Angels, who were eager to play after a long off-season, had to settle for just one game last weekend against the Port of Antwerp Royal Greys. The Angels and Greys clashed Sunday in Antwerp in what turned out to be a pitcher dominant affair.
In the opening frame of the afternoon each team exchanged a quick 1,2,3 half inning, which foreshadowed the limited offensive performance that would ensue. Angels’ pitcher Zachary Potter and Greys’ hurler Adam Crabb each only relinquished four hits allowing each starting pitcher to last the full nine innings of the contest.
After each team posed minor threats with base runners in the game’s early innings, the Angels struck first in the top of the sixth frame. Angels’ right fielder Cedric Nauts led the inning off by lining a single that fell in left field and then advanced to second on a sac bunt by the Angels’ leadoff man Phillip Van Woensel. After a pop up off the bat of Ronny Heymans careened off the glove of the Greys’ second baseman, the Angels had runners on first and third with one out. The Angels’ shortstop Henry Perkins then lifted a fly ball into right field, which allowed Nauts to tag at third and score the run that ultimately became the deciding factor in the contest.
Pitcher Zachary Potter took the game from this point, working out of a one-out jam in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third. Potter averted danger after surrendering a walk and a double by then recording a strikeout and getting the last out of the inning on a ground ball to short. After nine innings of play the Angels came out on top of a 1-0 final.
Potter recorded the win with eight strikeouts and four walks on his way to the four-hit shutout. Crabb took the loss while fanning three batters and walking only one for the Greys in his complete game effort.
The Angels’ shortstop Henry Perkins recorded two hits on the day while each Kevin Roevens and David Herssens notched a double for the Greys.
The Angels will next take the field on Saturday, April 25th at Borgerhout against the Squirrels.
{mrb-result:2009-04-18|2009-04-19|BE}
{mrb-standing:belgium-2009}