By Ross Weener

Sports Editor

Spring is in the air, and all of this Spring's sports are also in full bloom. This week's update will take a look at how each of Calvin's teams are doing so far this year.

Softball

Calvin softball is having its share of trouble trying to play a game lately. Both of the Knight's games scheduled for this past Tuesday and Wednesday were cancelled because of weather or lack of umpires. Despite this fact, Calvin was able to get in some action this past weekend at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Invitational in Terra Haute, IN. The Knights returned with a stellar 3-1 record and look to use that momentum to move into the rest of the league season. In the first game of the double header against the tournament host Rose-Hulman, Calvin jumped out big early and rode that momentum to a 10-0 mercy rule victory. Knight ace Rachelle Heyboer pitched flawlessly, giving up only three hits over six innings pitched. She struck out two and walked none. In the second game Calvin was not so fortunate as it could not get by the tough pitching of Rose-Hulman ace Lauren Clark and dropped the game 3-2. The Knights rode a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning but their pitching broke down and the Fighting Engineers were able to take advantage. In Saturday's double header against Franklin College (IN) Heyboer turned in another spectacular performance on the mound as she amassed her first collegiate no-hitter. In the opinion of head coach Amber Warners, ``Rachelle was one bad call away from a perfect game.'' That bad call occurred in the fourth inning as Franklin batter Suzie Thompson hit a shot down to third base and was corralled by freshman third baseman Laurel Sands on a tough defensive play. Sands quickly threw over to Rachel Dyksterhouse at first base, and despite a marvelous stretch by Dyksterhouse the umpire ruled Thompson safe. To all sitting at Rose-Hulman softball field it appeared as though the umpire was wrong, but despite the groans of the Calvin bench Sands was charged the fielding error. Little did anyone know that this play in the fourth inning would be the key in keeping a perfect game for Heyboer. Riding Heyboer's strong right arm the Knights put the mercy rule on Franklin 9-0. In the second game the Calvin offense came alive, striking for 17 of their 22 runs in the third and fourth innings alone. Calvin was led in hitting as both senior centerfielder Lyndsay Heinkel and sophomore pitcher Keri Cole each notched three hits. Sands also notched her first collegiate home run as she belted a pitch way over the leftfield wall, for a three run blast. Freshman Kara Van Kooten and Cole combined for the win, scattering four hits and giving up zero earned runs.

Calvin returns to action this weekend as they travel to Adrian for a doubleheader with the Bulldogs.

Baseball

Regionally ranked and currently undefeated in the MIAA the Calvin baseball team is off to a great start to say the least. Currently tied for eighth in the Great Lakes Region, Calvin is 6-0 in the conference heading into this weekends series with Adrian (9-10 overall, 4-2 MIAA).

On this past Wednesday the Knights took on Manchester College of Indiana, defeating them 10-7. Although this game seemed like another non conference game it proved to be one of regional importance, as Manchester came into Calvin Field tied with the Knights in eighth place in the Great Lakes Region.

The key play of the game that blew the top off for Calvin came in the bottom of the seventh inning when sophomore Bryce Weston belted a pitch over the left field fence to give Calvin a 10-3 lead. Weston's grand slam would prove to be the difference as Manchester scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth innings to make the final score 10-7. Collecting three hits was Mark Jansen while Griffith and Matt Dehoek each picked up two hits.

Last weekend Calvin was in league action as they swept all three games from the Albion Britons in the weekend series. Calvin received a stellar pitching performance from senior tri-captain Mike Ott, lifting the Knights to a 3-1 victory. Ott went the distance, scattering four hits over nine innings and striking out 10 batters. Even more impressive was the fact that of his nine innings pitched Ott sat the visiting Britons down in order eight of those nine innings. For his efforts Ott was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week, the fourth time in his career he has donned this prestigious accolade. In the second game of the series Calvin once again rode its strong pitching as it collected a 3-1 win using the right arm of freshman ace Jim Deters. The Knights received to runs from the duo of tri-captains seniors Mark Jansen and Ben Dykhouse in the bottom of the fifth inning. The runs broke a 1-1 tie as Jansen garnered an RBI single and Dykhouse a bases-loaded walk. In the final game of the series the Knights were able to fins their bats and cruise to a 11-2 victory. Highlighted by a seven run third inning Calvin also received a strong pitching performance from senior Andy Miedema as he improved his pitching record to 3-1. Miedema went all seven innings, scattering eight hits and striking out five batters. In Calvin big third inning the Knights were able to take advantage of key Briton mistakes as Dykhouse, Darrell Heuker, Aaron Griffith, Tim Hansen, and Matt DeHoek all picked up RBI's.

Calvin returns to action this weekend traveling to Adrian for a weekend series with the Bulldogs.

Track and Field

Both the men's and women's track team jumped out to 2-0 records in the MIAA with impressive wins on Wednesday afternoon. While both teams have turned in impressive performances at invitationals all spring, on Wednesday the Knights turned it up a notch garnering some NCAA provisional qualifications.

On the men's side the Knights were able to defeat Hope 122-31 and Alma 134-7. Calvin was able to take advantage of a trio of 1-2-3 finishes by its distance runners in the 1500 meter, 3000 meter steeplechase, and the 5000 meter. In the 1,500 meters, senior Joel Klooster led a 1-2-3 Calvin sweep with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 3:52.97. He was followed by sophomore Hendrik Kok in second place (3:53.17) and senior Peter Armstrong in third place (3:55.80). The times by Kok and Armstrong were both provisional qualifying efforts. In the steeplechase senior Justin Pfruender (Midland) led the pack with a first place and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 9:17.52. Sophomore Kris Koster was the Calvin winner in the 5000 meters as he notched a time of 15:36.88.

In the throws, freshman Nate Meckes continued his strong first-year campaign as he won the shot put with an NCAA III provisional qualifying mark of 50-4 while also placing second in the discus with a career-best mark of 145-1. Senior Ryan Moore captured the discus for the Knights with a mark of 157-9. In the javelin, senior Ben Talsma took first place with a throw of 173-4.

Calvin also had two double-winners in senior Keith VanGoor and freshman Jeremy Knoester. VanGoor won the 400 meters (49.60) and 200 meters (22.45) and ran legs on Calvin's first place 4 x 100 (43.88) and 4 x 400 meter (3:22.25) relay teams. Knoester captured the high jump (6-2) and triple jump (40-7 ½) and took third in the long jump (18-2 ¼).

In the women's competition, Calvin shattered two school records with both individuals breaking their own school marks. In the 100 meter hurdles, junior Annie VanderLaan shattered her own school record in winning the event with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 14.93, breaking the previous school mark of 15.05. VanderLaan also captured first place in the 200 meters (26.02) and ran a leg on Calvin's first place 4 x 400 (3:59.68) relay team. In the discus, Calvin junior Katie Corner shattered the school record for the fourth time this spring and her own record for the third time as she unleashed a first place throw of 147-2. Corner's winning throw was an NCAA III provisional qualifying mark and was just four inches short of an automatic qualifying performance. It surpassed her previous school record by nearly 10 feet.

Corner also took third in the shot put (39-7 ½) while junior Mandy VanDenBosch took second in the shot put with a throw of 40-0.

Senior Rachel Veltkamp also had a big day for the Knights in winning the long jump (17-2) and pole vault (11-0) while running the lead-off leg on Calvin's 4 x 100 meter relay team that took first in 49.34.

Tennis

Both Calvin tennis teams continue to improve from last years performances as the women stand at 6-3 overall, 0-1 MIAA while the men currently hold a 5-8 overall record and 1-0 mark in the MIAA.

The men continue their turnaround season with a brand new team, a brand new team that sent Albion to a 6-3 defeat on Tuesday afternoon. A far cry from last seasons 9-0 defeat to the Britons the Knights are showing improvement top to bottom. Calvin will return to action on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM for a non-conference match with Wheaton College.

Results from the Albion match: SINGLES¯1. Kevin Van Haitsma © d. Dave Swan 6-3, 6-2; 2. Tom Zeilstra © d. Brian Reed 6-3, 6-4; 3. Matt Brady (A) d. Jon Meyer 6-2, 6-0; 4. Jon Miedema (C) d. Jason Ryan 6-1, 6-0; 5. Nate Kraai (C) d. Zac Eskau 6-3, 6-1; 6. Mark Brieve (C) d. Jordan Rich 6-2, 6-2.

DOUBLES¯1. Swan/Reed (A) d. VanHaitsma/Zeilstra 7-5, 7-5; 2. Meyer/Miedema (C) d. Brady/Eskau 7-5, 7-5; 3. Ryan/Rich (A) d. Kraai/Dave Bartels 6-4, 6-4.

The women are in the midst of another solid season under the direction of mentor Jerry Bergsma. Already 6-3 on the year, Calvin will look to rebound from the disappointing season ending injury of sophomore Renee VanDommelen sustained last week. The Knights fell to the Albion Britons 8-1 to drop to 0-1 in league action this year.

Results from the Albion match: DOUBLES 1 Greene, K Dumas defeat Skodiski/Baic 6-4, 6-2 2. Arend, E Dumas defeat Pater/Mans 6-2, 6-4 3. Radner/Madura defeat Plaisier Petz 7-6 97-4), 6-1

SINGLES-1.Greene (A) defeat Sally Skodinski 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 2.Erica Baic (CA) defeat K. Dumas 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 3.Arend (A) defeat Rachel Pater 6-4, 6-2 4. E Dumas (A) defeat Trisha Plaisier 6-1, 6-0 5. Radner (A) defeat Laura Mans 6-2, 6-3 6. Thomas (A) defeat Jessica Petz 6-4, 6-3