by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
Game 1
The Angels made their way to Brasschaat on Saturday looking to get back on the winning track. They handed the ball to the big lefty Harold Gerard. Unfortunately for Gerard and the Angels things would get off to a rocky start.
In the bottom of the first inning Braves leadoff hitter Filip Van den Eynde got things going with a walk. Randy Georgiadis followed up the walk with a two run shot to left. Gerard would then settle down and get out of the inning.
Braves starter Koen De Clerck was determined to make the two run lead stand as he shut the Angels down through the first four innings. In this fifth however, the Angels offense would awaken from its sleep to tie the game. Shortstop Todd Emr doubled deep to left which was followed up by a walk to Jerome Sana. Later in the inning Edouard Vanheer would line a single to left, scoring Emr and getting the Angels on the board. Sana advanced to third on the single and scampered home to tie the game on a passed ball.
With a renewed sense of confidence on the mound Gerard continued to settle down and exert his will on the Brasschaat batters. He pitched eight scoreless innings after the rocky first and put the Angels in a spot to take one on the road.
In the top of the sixth Thomas Vandenabeele and Todd Emr would hit back to back singles to right. With two on and one out up stepped third baseman, Jerome Sana. He would put the Angels on top for good with a towering three run homer to right center.
The Angels would tack on two more runs in the ninth for some insurance to give them a 7-2 lead. Gerard came out in the ninth and continued is stellar performance with a quick one, two, three inning to give the Angels the victory.
Game 2
The Braves traveled to Namur on Sunday to complete the two-game home-and-home series. Both teams took the field for what would end up being a lopsided rain shortened affair.
The Braves came out swinging with leadoff hitter Randy Georgiadis singling sharply to center field. After a walk and an error Jef De Belder would single in the game’s first run. The following batter, Ken Hendrickx, also singled in a run. After the first inning the Angels found themselves in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
The quick two run lead would be all that Braves starter Clayton Cooper would need. Cooper pitched five innings of two hit ball while striking out nine Angels. With the Angels offense unable to get going the Braves took advantage scoring two more in the second inning along with lone runs in the third and fourth innings.
In the top of the sixth inning heavy rain ended the Angels chances at any possible comeback. After an hour of work on the field it was deemed unplayable. The final score was 6-0 with the Braves winning the rain shortened tilt.
{mrb-result:2009-07-04|2009-07-05|BE}
{mrb-standing:belgium-2009}
Photos: © Frédéric de Laminne, www.event-pics.be