by Mike Perkins, www.namur-angels.be
Offense Explodes: Angels Send Pioneers Packing
Fresh off a 9 run performance last week, the Namur Angels continued slugging this Saturday (30.4.2011) against the defending champion Hoboken Pioneers. Namur powered its way to an impressive 18-8 victory, mercy-ruling the Pioneers in only 8 innings of work.
The Angels struck quickly off of Pioneers starter Tom Lorrentop, plating their first 5 hitters of the game. Vincent King led the offensive surge, going 3-5 with 4 RBIs in the game. King tripled, doubled, and then homered in his first three at-bats, only missing a single to hit for the cycle in the game.
Catcher Michael Perkins continued swinging a hot bat while homering in his third consecutive game. Perkins supplemented his 5th inning, 3-run homerun with 2 doubles in the game, finishing 3-4 with 4 RBIs and 4 runs scored.
The Geuquet brothers both had impressive days, with Ludovic and Adrien both collecting 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI apiece. Other offensive standouts included Thomas Vendenabeele (2-4, 3 runs scored), Angel Williams Rosario (2-5, RBI), and Florentin Goyens (1-5, 3RBI). Goyens solidified the victory with a 2 RBI game-winning single in the 8th, giving the Angels a 10 run lead and resulting in the mercy rule.
On the pitching side, American Justin Latta got off to a shaky start, allowing 2 runs in the first, but settled down to throw 6 strong innings and earn his 2nd win of the season. Latta allowed 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 Pioneers. Nicolas Migeot capped off the victory, throwing the seventh and eighth innings and allowing 4 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits
Pioneers Outlast Angels 3-1 in Pitchers’ Duel
After combining for 26 runs the day before, it would’ve been hard to predict a pitcher’s duel between the Hoboken Pioneers and Namur Angels the following day. But pitching was certainly the story Sunday (1.5.11), when starters Cedric Desmedt and Terence Antonacci squared off in Hoboken.
Antonacci managed to hold the Angels’ explosive offense in check, showing masterful control of the strike zone with a four-seam fastball, changeup, and sharp slider. The only run Namur managed to score was in the second inning, when shortstop Theo De Bellefroid crossed the plate after a string of Pioneer errors.
The Angels had runners in scoring position throughout the game but couldn’t manage to crack Antonacci, who often made his best pitches when runners were on 2nd and 3rd base. Namur scattered 6 singles in the game, with outfielder Thomas Vanenabeele collecting the only multi-hit performance for the Angels (2-4, Stolen Base).
Angel’s starter Cedric Desmedt took the loss, but threw his second consecutive complete game of the season. He matched Antonacci’s outing the majority of the game, carrying a 1-1 tie until the seventh inning. The damage came when Hoboken’s DH Tiemen Van Geel blooped a single to right field, scoring third baseman Tim Veraghtert. The Pioneers scored another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly.
Despite the loss, Desmedt once again showed that he is one of the most dominating pitchers in the Belgian League. He allowed only 3 runs on 5 hits, while striking out 8 and walking 5 over 8 innings of work.
With the loss the Angels dropped to 4-4 on the season, and now sit in the ‘middle of the pack’ in the standings of the Belgian League. Namur looks to improve their record next Saturday when they take on the Mortsel Stars at home at 15:30.
{mrb-result:2011-04-30|2011-05-01|BE}
{mrb-standing:belgium-2011}
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