by Namur Angels, www.namur-angels.be
The Namur Angels baseball team got off to a rocky start this season, dropping their first two games of the season to the Borgerhout Squirrels.
Game 1
The season opened Saturday afternoon (9/4/11) in Antwerp, as the Angels hit the road to contest Borgerhout. The Squirrels took an early lead off of Angel’s starter Justin Latta (University of Maine; Lubbock, Texas), scoring 2 runs in the first inning and another three in the second. Several of the runs were unearned, however, as the Angels struggled defensively in their first game of the regular season. Latta settled down as the game progressed, holding the Squirrels scoreless for the remainder of his outing (5 IP, 5 runs, 4 hits, 4 Ks).
Jose Cruz (Borgerhout Squirrels) plated 2 runners in the first with an RBI single to center, while Steven DeLannoy provided the damage in the second inning. The five run lead supplied enough run support for pitcher Louis Larrinaga for the majority of the game.
The Angels struck offensively when veteran outfielder Cedric Nauts singled home American import Michael Perkins (UNC Charlotte; Skaneateles, New York) in the top of the 6th inning. Perkins was 2 for 3 in the game, with 3 stolen bases and a run scored. Nauts also pitched 3 solid innings in relief, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, striking out 3.
The Angels finally got to starter Larrinaga in the ninth, scoring 4 runs on aiding hits by Angel Williams Rosario, Vincent King, and a 2RBI triple by Thomas Vandenabeele. Rosario and King each had a pair of hits in the game, but the late rally by the Angels came up “too little too late” as the game concluded with a 7-5 loss.
Game 2
Namur played their first home game Sunday (4/10/11), giving the nod to young starter Cedric Desmedt . Cedric dominated early on, striking out several Borgerhout hitters in consecutive scoreless innings (6 IP, 4 runs, 6Ks).
The Angels struck first, when outfielder Adrien Geuquet showed off his speed stealing home with catcher Michael Perkins in a rundown between first and second. The Angels carried the 1-0 lead into the fifth inning, until a bases clearing double by Borgerhout’s first baseman Kevin Vervloet plated 3 Squirrels.
Borgerhout’s pitcher Yannick Gontier proved overpowering, pitching seven strong innings and only allowing one run. The Angels couldn’t seem to crack the hard throwing righty, despite a two-hit performance by Namur shortstop Theo De Bellefroid.
The Angels got solid relief innings from Kevin Desmedt and Nicolas Migeot, but couldn’t muster enough runs to effectively reenter the ballgame. Defense got sloppy late, resulting in a 10-1 loss in the home opener.
The Angels look to get in the win column next weekend, as they travel to Antwerp to battle the Brasschaat Braves Saturday at 15:30.
{mrb-result:2011-04-09|2011-04-10|BE}