Game Recaps
June 4, 2011
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — The Hamilton baseball team can lay claim to a district championship for the third time in the past five seasons.
Senior shortstop R.J. Flowers’ two-RBI triple and his ensuing run on an errant throw capped a four-run sixth inning again Allegan to help hand the Hawkeyes a 9-6 victory and their first district title since 2009 Saturday.
Hamilton defeated host South Haven 12-4 Saturday morning to advance to the championship game.
The Hawkeyes (23-7) advance to regional play next Saturday at Gull Lake High School.
GAME ONE
Hamilton 12, South Haven 4
Senior center fielder Connor Hagen started the game with a leadoff home run, but South Haven responded early.
The Rams scored three in the bottom of the opening frame, but the Hawkeyes proved to be too much to handle. Hamilton pounded out 15 hits and scored in every inning but one.
Senior lefty Nate White improved his unbeaten record to 11-0 and struck out eight while walking four. White was also 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Junior Keith Phillips was 3-for-5 with a double, senior Adam Schreur was 2-for-4 with a double, and junior Joey DeGood was 2-for-3. Senior Brandon Hulst had a double and 3 RBIs.
GAME TWO
Hamilton 9, Allegan 6
Hamilton started fast once again, plating five runs over the first three innings. Allegan, however, fought back to take the lead in the fifth inning.
Following a dropped third strike, Allegan pieced together two singles and a walk. With the bases loaded, the Tigers smashed a grand slam to take a momentary 6-5 lead.
But, with two on in the top of the sixth inning, Flowers tagged a two-RBI triple and scored himself when an errant relay throw caromed to the backstop.
Senior Cody Buresh (5-1) relieved Phillips in the fifth inning and earned the win. In almost three innings of work, Buresh walked three and fanned two batters.
May 28, 2011
ST. JOSEPH, Michigan. — The Hamilton baseball team split a Saturday tuneup doubleheader with St. Joseph, winning 4-3 in game one and losing 7-6 in game two.
“Overall this was a good day for us to prepare for the district tournament next Saturday,” Hamilton coach Ken DeGood said. “We have some things to work on this week, but we did some things really well today also.”
Nate White (10-0) remained unbeaten with his game one victory.
The Hawkeyes (21-7 overall) begin district play June 4 at Allegan High School.
May 24, 2011
HAMILTON, Mich. — There was no better time for Hamilton senior Ben Baker’s first career home run than Monday afternoon against rival Holland Christian.
With a share of the O-K Green conference championship on the line and his team trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hawkeyes’ third baseman blasted a walkoff, two-run home run to deep right-center field to hand Hamilton a 3-2 victory.
The Hawkeyes (20-6 overall, 12-1 O-K Green) captured game two of the doubleheader, 5-4, to take home the outright O-K Green conference championship.
GAME ONE
Hamilton 3, Holland Christian 2
Baker provided the late-inning fireworks, but Nate White (9-0) was brilliant while limiting a potent Holland Christian offense to only two runs on three hits.
The senior left-hander recorded 12 strikeouts and walked only three Maroons.
Senior shortstop R.J. Flowers singled to lead of the bottom of the eighth inning with Hamilton behind 2-1. Baker then deposited the first pitch he saw from Holland Christian pitcher Peter Cupery over the fence for the dramatic victory.
“This was probably one of the most exciting finishes I have ever been a part of,” Hamilton coach Ken DeGood said. “This was just a great high school baseball game.”
GAME TWO
Hamilton 5, Holland Christian 4
The Hawkeyes came from behind once again in game two, courtesy of a two-RBI single by junior Keith Phillips.
Hamilton trailed 4-2 entering the bottom half of the sixth inning, but the Hawkeyes pieced together a two-out rally after senior Adam Schreur started the inning with a single.
Junior Simeon VanHeest reached on an error, and senior Brandon Hulst was awarded first via catcher’s interference. After senior Connor Hagen recorded an infield single, Phillips singled sharply to center to score the tying and winning runs.
Baker (4-1) pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the win.
