Baseball - Spring 2009
Varsity Baseball Team
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Varsity Baseball
5/18/09 - Season Ends
Our season ended today in the opening round of the IHSA regional. The Sentinels of Westmont prevailed 9-2. We took an early lead in the first inning when Kevin Hansberger was hit by a pitch and scampered home on a long double to left-centerfield by Nathan Tameling. The Sentinels waisted no time in their half of the inning regaining the lead 3-1. We were only able to manage 3 hits the rest of the game. In the 4th inning Johnathan VanByssum doubled in Tameling who had been hit by a pitch. Kyle Venhousen and Dane VanReken added singles. Westmont scored runs in four of their next five at bats leading to the final score.
5/12/09 - Knights Top Trojans
We traveled to Palos Heights to face Chicago Christian today and ended up on the short end of a 10-2 final score. We were only able to garner 5 hits...one each by Robert White, Nathan Tameling, Johnathan VanByssum, Troy Ellens and Mitch Vlasak...and stranded 12 baserunners. We scored one run in the 1st inning when VanByssum singled in Tameling who had doubled. Kevin Hansberger scored on a passed ball in the 3rd.
5/11/09 - Timothy Tops Luther South
We won both games of a doubleheader. Johnathan VanByssum was the winning pitcher in a 15-0 opening game victory. Aaron Foster earned the win in our 13-3 nightcap victory.
5/9/09 - Trojans Lose Two to Vikings
We traveled to Lansing today for a doubleheader against Illiana Christian. We lost the opener 9-3. Johnathan VanByssum was our offensive leader going 3-4 with 1 RBI. Matt Meyer chipped in with 2 hits. Troy Ellens, Mitch Vlasak, and Nathan Tameling (also 1 RBI) each added one.
We lost the second game of the twinbill 13-1. Robert White was 2-2 and scored our only run. VanByssum picked up another hit in this game.
5/8/09 - Trojans Topped by Walther
After having a thunderstorm wash out yesterday’s 4-1 first inning lead, we were able to once again jump on top 3-0. Robert White walked, stole second base, and was singled home by Kevin Hansberger. Nathan Tameling doubled to right field scoring Hansberger. Matt Meyer knocked in Tameling by singling. But that was the end of our scoring for the day. The Broncos scored 5 in the home half of the inning and added six more for the final score of 11-3. We were only able to manage 3 more hits the rest of the game...Johnathan VanByssum singled in the 3rd, Meyer doubled in the 6th and Adam Bulthuis doubled in the 7th.
5/6/09 - Trojans Nip Broncos
Matt Meyer singled home Johnathan VanByssum with the winning run in our 7th inning, come-from-behind, 5-4 victory over Walther Lutheran today.
Kevin Hansberger scored on a wild pitch in the first inning to give us an early lead. VanByssum added to that with a home run in the 3rd. Walther scored one run in the 5th and another in the 6th to knot the game at 2-2. In our half of the 6th, Meyer doubled and his run later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Troy Ellens giving us a 3-2 lead. The Broncos took advantage of two sacrifice flies in the top half of the 7th to take a 4-3 lead. It could have been more, but one of the sacrifices was snared on a fantastic catch by Troy Ellens at the fence in deep right field. The run scored on the sacrifice fly, but the catch prevented more from scoring. In our half of the 7th, Robert White reached base on a single and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Hansberger. Walther intentionally walked VanByssum. Kyle Venhousen hit a groundball that the shortstop bobbled. White scored the tying run on the play and we had runners on first and second. Meyer then came through with his game-winning single.
5/2/09 - Doubleheader Drought
In the opener of the twinbill, Nathan Tameling pitched well, but we lost 5-1. Tameling allowed only 2 earned runs and struck out 4. Dane VanReken scored our only run in the 3rd inning. He singled and a couple of batters later was driven in on a single by Kevin Hansberger. Kyle Venhousen had our only other hit (double).
We also lost the nightcap...19-2. Tameling gave us a first-inning lead with his first homerun of the year. He scored another run in the 3rd...walking, advancing on Johnathan VanByssum’s double, and scoring on Venhousen’s single.
4/30/09 - Trojans Fall Again
Our PSL record fell to 2-4 after losing to Aurora Christian today...12-0 in 5 innings. Troy Ellens, Kevin Hansberger, and Robert White were the only players to notch hits. In the second inning, while covering a lot of territory, centerfielder Adam Bilthuis recorded all 3 putouts. Kudos go out once again to Mr. Woudstra (AD) who got our field in good playing condition after another night of rain.
4/28/09 - Eagles Soar Over Trojans
The Aurora Christian Eagles flew into town this afternoon and were victorious...13-3 in 6 innings. By the time AC finished batting in their half of the third inning, they were on top 6-0. We rallied in the bottom of the inning and cut the lead to 6-3. Robert White singled and was sacrificed to second by Kevin Hansberger. Nathan Tameling was hit by a pitch, then Johnathan VanByssum singled, driving in White. Tameling came home on a wild pitch, followed by VanByssum scoring on an errant throw back to the pitcher. But we were to score no more, and Aurora added 6 more for the final score. Tameling, and Troy Ellens were the only other Trojans to garner base hits.
4/25/09 - Trojans Top Bisons from Fenton
We defeated the Fenton High School Bison 7-1 today in the second game of the Elmhurst Classic. Nathan Tameling scattered 4 walks and 5 hits to earn the win in a game cut to six innings because of lightning and rain. Besides the strong pitching of Tameling, we also played well defensively...highlighted by Dane VanReken's acrobatic catch in left field in the 4th inning. The offense was led by Kyle Venhousen who had a 3-4 day at the plate, driving in 5 runs. VanReken, Nathan Tameling, Johnathan VanByssum, and Troy Ellens (2 rbi) all had two hits on the day
4/23/09 - Skid Continues at IMSA
We took an early 1-0 lead today on Rob White’s (3-4) leadoff homerun. But IMSA answered and took the lead in the bottom of the inning scoring 4 runs via 3 walks and 2 hits. We plated another run in the 2nd when we strung together 3 straight singles (Matt Meyer, Troy Ellens, and Mitch Vlasak). But once again IMSA scored 4 in the bottom of the inning. We traded runs for the rest of the game and ended up losing 13-8. Ellens and Vlasak each added another hit and Dan VanReken had 2 singles.
4/22/09 - Trojans Lose Two
The Elgin Westminster Warriors traveled to Elmhurst for a double-header today. The Warriors came out swinging the bats in the opener of the twinbill and jumped out to a 5-run 1st inning lead...tacking on 3 more in the 2nd. We were able to push a run across the plate in the bottom of the 4th. Robert White reached base on an error and Johnathan VanByssum drove him home with a deep double to right-center. But that’s all the offense we could muster and the score ended 8-1.
In the first inning of the nightcap, Matt Meyer singled to drive in Robert White who had doubled, but once again the Warriors tallied 5 runs in their half of the inning. They added 2 more in the 3rd and 1 in the 4th. We were able to add 2 in the 5th inning. Kevin Hansberger led off with a single. White doubled, driving in Hansberger. Kyle Venhousen then drove in White, but once again the Warriors pitching stymied us and the final score was 8-3.
4/18/09 - Streak Snapped
We traveled to Lisle today and lost 12-2 to the Lions. The first two innings were a struggle. After only allowing 3 hits, but serving up 5 walks and committing 2 errors, we found ourselves behind 7-0. We closed the gap in the top of the 3rd. Robert White singled and later scored on a double by Johnathan VanByssum. Kyle Venhousen then drove in VanByssum. Troy Ellens came on in relief and pitched 3 scoreless innings; however he tired in the 6th and the Lions scored 5 runs to close out the game. We had a few chances while Ellens kept the game close, but could never push another run across the plate.
4/16/09 - Trojans Improve to 2-0 in PSL
Our victory today at Luther North improved our league record to 2-0. Our bats came alive at Riis Park and ignited the 23-3 victory. Robert White led the hit parade by going 6-6 with 5 RBI. Kyle Venhousen and Johnathan VanByssum each had 3 hits and 3 RBI. Nathan Tameling was 2-4. Matt Meyer, Brad Wieringa, Adam Bulthuis, Mitch Vlasak and Troy Ellens each contributed a hit. Kevin Hansberger also drove in 3 runs. VanByssum...giving up only 3 hits...pitched all 5 innings to earn the victory. The Wildcats had a small rally in the 3rd inning, but were thwarted by centerfielder Aaron Foster’s diving catch in the gap between right and center.
4/15/09 - Trojans Gain First Win
We notched our first win of the season today in our P.S.L. conference opener against the Wildcats of Luther North. Nathan Tameling was terrific on the mound, going the distance in the 9-inning, 1-0 shutout victory...striking out 15 and walking 2. Matt Meyer had a game-high 3 hits. Tameling, Adam Bulthuis, Kyle Venhousen and Robert White each contributed one hit. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Kevin Hansberger walked, Robert White beat out the intended sacrifice bunt, and Johnathan VanByssum moved them both up with another sacrifice bunt. The Wildcats intentionally walked Tameling to load the bases and set up a double-play situation. The next batter, Venhousen ,put the ball in play and Hansberger beat the throw home.
4/7/09 - Varsity Baseball Loses to St. Joe's
After taking time off for spring break, we entertained the Chargers from Westchester St. Joseph this afternoon. The actual playing of the game was in doubt early, but after a lot of wind and sunshine...and a terrific job by our grounds crew (Mr. Woudstra), the field was in great condition. After the week off, we were a little rusty and only managed three hits today...doubles by Nathan Tameling and Johnathan VanByssum and a single by Kyle Venhousen. After reaching on a walk and stealing second base, Mitch Vlasak scored our only run of the game. Tameling pitched well after the long layoff, but was undone by some poor fielding in the 3rd inning. The final score was 12-1. Next on tap is Ridgewood at home on Thursday, with PSL league play beginning next week.
3/26/09 - Trojans Lose to Broncos
Playing our third tough opponent in three days, we fell to Montini today. After struggling defensively in the 1st inning and allowing 5 unearned runs, we dug in our heels and fought back. We cut the lead to 5-3, but ended up on the short end of a 10-3 score. Nate Tameling did not walk a batter in his 4 innings of pitching; with 2 assists, Adam Bilthuis continued his strong play in right field; Johnathan Vanbyssum had two hits; Robert White picked up his first hit of the season; and Kyle Venhousen lined a double off the right field wall to drive in a run.
3/25/09 vs Nazareth Academy Spoils Trojans Home Opener
On a cold spring day we hosted the Roadrunners of Nazareth Academy in our home opener. Naz went back to LaGrange Park with a 12-0 victory. Against Naz’s tough pitching we only had four baserunners during the game...Dane VanReken and Kevin Hansberger both notched singles and Nathan Tameling walked two times. Johnathan VanByssum and Robert White shared mound duties and both showed promise for the rest of the season.
3/24/09 Trojans Lose Opener 6-3
We traveled to Wheaton to play the Spartans of St. Francis and took an early 2nd inning lead when Kyle Venhousen reached base on an error, stole 2nd base, and Dane VanReken drove him in with an opposite-field double. St. Francis tied the game in the bottom of the inning and then took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 3rd. In the top of the 4th, VanReken had an infield single, Adam Bulthuis walked. They later both crossed the plate to knot the game at 3-3. St. Francis scored single runs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Nate Tameling pitched the first three innings striking out 5 and walking 1. Troy Ellens entered the game in the 4th inning and in his varsity debut struck out 3 and walked 2.
Sports Calendar/Schedule/Scores (www.myschoolcalendar.net)