by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
On Saturday, Namur was looking to confirm their 5th place in the standings with a win against their perennial dark horse, the Merchtem Cats.
Before the first pitch, a little celebration was organized in honor of Ronny Heymans who played 21 years in his hometown going through the ups and down of the Angels.
Heymans will trade the cleats and the bat for a pair of trainers and a fungo as he will join the Angels D1 coaching staff next season.
Nicolas Migeot was getting the ball for the Angels to square off against American hurler, Ethan Guevin.
The Cats threatened right away as they placed 2 runners in scoring position thanks to a single by Kristof Vandroogenbroek and a double by Bram Denys. Migeot escaped the jam with a strike-out and a ground ball hit right at him for the 3rd out.
In the bottom half of the inning, Guevin struggled with control, walking 2 of the first 3 Angels hitters.
With runners at the corners and 1 out, Jérôme Sana reached on a fielder’s choice scoring the young Thomas Vandenabeele. Cedric Nauts followed with a flare to left field to score the second and final run of the inning.
The second inning looked promising Merchtem after Gallo and De Lauw reached on consecutive base hits, but again, Migeot stepped up keeping the Cats at bay.
In the Angels’ 3rd inning, the home team was increasing their lead thanks to a base hit from Heymans, a double from Tom Stevens and another RBI ground out by Sana.
And that was it for the Angels offense, as they scattered only 3 more hits through the next 5 frames.
Merchtem, didn’t surrender, putting guys on base in 8 of the 9 innings and finally getting rewarded with a run in the top of the 7th.
In the 9th, the Cats were putting a final charge with Guevin reaching on an error by Florentin Goyens, leading off the inning. Bram Denys followed but got robbed of a base hit by the same Goyens who made a diving back-handed grab before he promptly got up, pushing off the bag for the forced play and firing to 1st for a key double play.
The next batter, Ruud De Winde reached base on a single to right before another ground ball to Goyens ended the game.
Both pitchers went the distance. Guevin struck out 5, walking 2, allowing 3 earned runs and is charged with the loss.
Migeot struck out 5, walking none for 1 earned run to get the win.
Sunday, for the last game of the season, Namur was travelling at Merchtem to write the last page of a somewhat disappointing season on a good note.
The young power pitcher Cedric Desmedt was in charge to defeat the Cats one last time but Merchtem didn’t want to make it easy, scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning on 2 hits, 2 walks and an error.
In the top of the 4th frame, Tom Stevens hit a lead-off double before Sana and Nauts flied out. De Bellefroid then crushed a 2-out triple to allow Stevens to get the Angels on board.
In the 5th, Jordens reached base on a fielder’s choice, Vandenabeele reached on a walk before the veteran Heymans, ripped a 2-RBI double down the 3rd base line to give the Angels their first lead, 3-2.
Merchtem tied the contest in the 6th with De Winde reaching on an error, a sacrifice hit, a passed ball and an RBI ground-out by Kenny Dom.
A big 7th inning from the visitors, who saw Vandenabeele, Heymans and Stevens cross the plate, put the Angels on top again, 6-3 before turning the ball to reliever, Jérôme Sana.
Sana allowed one unearned run in 3 innings, striking out 2 and walking 2 to pick up his first save in D1.
Former Columbia catcher, Tom Stevens, 3 for 5 on the day made a farewell gift to the Angels with the last run of the ballgame, 8-4.
Stevens had a stellar campaign in Belgium and inspired the whole team.
Heymans finished his career on a base hit and will be missed in the line-up but will be much needed in the coaching staff to help the young Angels’ team to reach its potential.
As the season is over, 5 Angels will cross ocean this week. Of course, Tom Stevens who will go home, but also Vandenabeele, Goyens and Deltombe who will join the European Player Showcase in Florida while coach Chris Dassy, who was awarded a spot in MLB coaches development program with the Royals, will be headed to Surprise – AZ, thanks to the European Baseball Coaches Association.
Photo: © Frédéric de Laminne, www.event-pics.be