by www.namur-angels.be
Namur Angels lose Belgian Series Opener
Entering their first Belgian Series since 1998, the Angels were ready to take on the Pioneers for baseball glory. Game 1 of the 2011 series was just what you hope to see as a fan, a back-and-forth hard fought game. Unfortunately for the Angels, they took the last punch of this contest and fell by the score of 11-7 on Saturday (24.09.2011).
The Angels got on the board first in the top of the third inning when Ludovic Geuquet reached on an error and eventually came around to score on Nicholas Frederick’s RBI single. The Pioneers wasted no time coming back though, as they brought in three runs despite getting only one hit in the bottom of the third. The Pioneers continued to extend their lead to 5-1 by bringing in two more runs in the fourth without getting any hits.
The Angels would not go down without a fight, however, as Michael Benton, Theodore deBellefroid, Jerome Sana, and Cedric Nauts started off the 6th inning with four consecutive hits, and all eventually came around to score tying the game at 5-5. In the 7th the Pioneers took the lead back with two runs again coming on no hits, but two sac flies. The Angels fought right back with two more in the top of the 8th on a two out, two run single by Angel Williams Rosario. In the bottom half of the inning the Pioneers put the Angels down for the count by bringing home four more runs finishing the scoring at 11-7.
Cedric Desmedt got the start for the Angels and pitched into the fourth inning when an injury to his ankle forced him to leave the game, leaving his status as questionable for the rest of the series. He finished going 3 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs but only one earned. Nicolas Migeot pitched the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs, 3 earned. Free passes and defense killed the Angels as they gave up 7 walks, 2 hit by pitches, and made 7 errors leading to 7 unearned runs.
Offensive standouts for the Angels were Nicholas Frederick with three hits, Theodore deBellefroid with two hits, and Jerome Sana and Angel Williams Rosario with two RBIs each. The Belgian Series continues on Sunday (25.09.2011) in Wepion.
Pioneers outlast Angels in 12 Innings
The Angels finished their first weekend of the Belgian Series with another tough loss to the Pioneers. In a long 12-inning game in which both starting pitchers pitch into extra innings, the Pioneers were able to finally bring in the winning run in the 12th and take a two games to none lead over the Angels putting them just one win away from the championship.
The pitching in this game was phenomenal while Pioneers starter Kenny Vanden Braden pitched 10 innings of great baseball only to allow three runs on 5 hits while getting a no-decision. Justin Latta was superb again for the Angels as he threw all but one pitch for the Angels lasting 11 2/3’s innings coming out after an error allowed the go-ahead run to score in the 12th inning. He finished allowing only 5 hits and struck out 14 while being charged with the loss. Nicholas Frederick came in and got the final out on just one pitch.
After the Angels jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning again on a Jerome Sana RBI single scoring Angel Williams Rosario, the Pioneers punched right back with a run of their own in the third to tie the score. The Pioneers would take a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning only to see it be erased in the sixth after an error allowed Nicholas Frederick to score and then Theodore deBellefroid singled home Michael Benton. The scoring stopped there, however, until the 12th when the Pioneers finally ended it.
There were only 11 total hits in this game, 5 by the Pioneers and 6 by the Angels. Jerome Sana was the Angels biggest producer as he had two hits and an RBI. This loss makes every game a must win now for the Angels as they must win out to become champions of Belgium. These same two teams are back at it again with Game 3 of the Series coming up next Saturday (01.10.2011).