Complete games help Hamilton sweep Allegan

April 13, 2011

HAMILTON, Mich. — Great pitching and hitting are hallmarks of a successful baseball team, and the Hamilton Hawkeyes used a little of both Wednesday.

Coming off a fifth-place finish at the Coldwater Tournament, the Hawkeyes received complete games from senior Nate White and junior Keith Phillips in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Allegan, 13-1 and 5-3.

“Our pitching tonight, I think, was really the story,” DeGood said. “Nathaniel pitched very good in the first game, and Keith pitched really good in the second game … That was his best outing of the year.”

Hamilton (5-2 overall) will next see action Saturday at the Hudsonville Tournament. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 10 a.m.

GAME ONE
Hamilton 13, Allegan 1

The Hawkeyes scored runs during all four trips to the plate in game one, ending the game after the top of the fifth inning per MHSAA mercy rules.

Singles by seniors Ben Baker and Cody Buresh and juniors Joey DeGood, Keith Phillips and Daniel George keyed a six-run fourth inning that took the visiting Tigers out of the game.

White (2-0) allowed a lone run during five innings of work, while surrendering six hits, striking out seven and walking only one Allegan hitter.

“Tonight to come out here and play like we did was really good,” Phillips said. “I’m really proud of my teammates. We all played really well. Nate pitched really well in the first game.”

Hamilton scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Senior center fielder Connor Hagen was hit by a pitch to open the game, stole second base and was driven in by Buresh’s RBI single. Senior R.J. Flowers then doubled to score Buresh.

The Hawkeyes tacked on three more runs in the second inning after White reached on a dropped third strike with two outs. Hagen’s double scored White, while Phillips had a double of his own to score Hagen. Flowers singled to score Phillips.

Hagen went 1-for-1 with the double, hit by pitch and two walks. He scored three runs. Phillips finished 3-for-3 with the double and 2 RBIs. Flowers was a perfect 2-for-2 with the double and a walk.

NOTES: Junior Andrew Stehle collected his first varsity hit in his first at bat of the season … George tallied his first varsity RBI with his third-inning single, scoring Buresh … The Hawkeyes have now won two games via the mercy rule this season

GAME TWO
Hamilton 5, Allegan 3

Hamilton’s bats cooled during game two of the doubleheader, but Phillips’ performance on the mound ensured the Hawkeyes would only need a few runs.

The junior scattered five hits and three runs in seven innings of work to earn the complete-game victory. Phillips (1-1) recorded 10 strikeouts and walked four en route to his first career varsity win.

Hagen provided the spark for the offense with his fourth-inning home run that just cleared the left-field fence.

“Tonight was a very good game for the Hamilton program, especially after our two losses at Coldwater,” Hagen said. “Coming back to beat Coldwater, we’ve kind of started a little three-game rally that’s been really nice.”

NOTES: Hagen is the fourth different Hawkeye to notch a home run this season … Phillips also went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and was hit by a pitch … DeGood finished 2-for-2

Hawkeyes drop pair, finish 5th at Coldwater Tourney

April 9, 2011

COLDWATER, Mich. — After spending a week in Isle of Palms, S.C., during Spring Break, the Hawkeyes ran into trouble Saturday in the Coldwater Tournament.

Hamilton (3-2 overall) dropped 9-6 and 5-3 decisions to Fremont (Ind.) and Bay City John Glenn, respectively, before nabbing a 10-7 victory in the day’s final game over host Coldwater.

“Today was a good team building day for us,” Hamilton coach Ken DeGood said. “We struggled a little bit early in the day, and we had three games that were three runs or less. I think that’s something that will building character for us.

“I think (today) let us know what we need to do,” he added. “We have some things we need to work on.”

The Hawkeyes will have to wait until Wednesday to rebound, as Hamilton plays host to the Tigers of Allegan for a doubleheader match up. First pitch of game one is slated for 4:15 p.m.

GAME ONE
Fremont (Ind.) 9, Hamilton 6

Facing Fremont in the tournament’s opening round, Hamilton looked poised to grab momentum early.

The Hawkeyes loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but a home-to-first double play and strikeout ended Hamilton’s golden opportunity.

After Fremont plated one run in the third inning off Hamilton starting pitcher Nate White, the Hawkeyes responded by scoring five runs during the next two innings.

White blasted his first home run of the season over the right-field fence in the bottom of the fourth inning to give Hamilton the lead. The lefty’s three-run blast plated juniors Joey DeGood and Will Braschler, who had reached via hit by pitch and a walk, respectively.

After senior shortstop R.J. Flowers doubled to open the fifth inning, senior right fielder Cody Buresh brought home two runs with a deep drive over the left-field fence. Buresh’s first homer of the season gave Hamilton a 5-1 lead.

Fremont charged back, however, and chased White after five strong innings of work. The Hawkeyes tacked on another run in the sixth inning thanks to junior Keith Phillips single, but Fremont notched eight runs in the final two innings to grab the 9-6 victory.

White received a no decision after allowing two runs on five hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out six Fremont batters.

Senior Ben Baker (1-1) was saddled with the tough-luck loss in two innings of relief. Flowers finished 1-for-2 with two walks, Braschler walked three times and senior center fielder Connor Hagen went 2-for-2 with two walks.

GAME TWO
Bay City John Glenn 5, Hamilton 3

Hamilton had little time to recover after the late-inning loss to Fremont and immediately faced Bay City John Glenn. Once again, the Hawkeyes held a late lead but could not quite shut the door on a feisty opponent.

John Glenn plated two runs in the top of the seventh inning and the Hawkeyes could not muster a response in a 5-3 defeat.

Trailing 2-0, the Hawkeyes pushed three runs across the plate in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 3-2 lead.

White knocked in a sacrifice fly, Hagen had an RBI single and senior second baseman Adam Schreur tallied an RBI triple to round out Hamilton’s scoring.

Phillips (0-1) scattered three runs and seven hits over six innings.

Hagen finished 2-for-3 with a walk, while Phillips went 4-for-4. Schreur, seeing his first action of the season after recovering from off-season surgery, was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

GAME THREE
Hamilton 10, Coldwater 7

The Hawkeyes exacted revenge for their earlier losses on host Coldwater in the tournament’s final game.

Five walks and RBI singles by Hagen and Buresh helped Hamilton stay close in the early innings, but the Hawkeyes broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning. Hagen’s double, a single by Phillips and a bases-clearing triple highlighted Hamilton’s late inning push.

Four different pitchers saw action for the Hawkeyes, but Buresh’s (1-1) three innings were enough to earn the victory. The senior allowed no runs while surrendering only two hits.

Hagen finished 3-for-5 with a run scored, while DeGood went 1-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Bats, pitching help Hamilton topple Middleville

March 30, 2011

HAMILTON, Mich. — The remnants of a long Michigan winter has had little effect on the Hamilton baseball team’s hitting.

Despite facing temperatures that dipped into the 30s for the second straight day, the Hawkeyes put up their second double-digit run total of the season Wednesday in a 10-7 victory over former conference rival Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg.

Hamilton (2-0 overall) weathered a late comeback attempt by the Trojans. After Middleville pulled within three in the final frame and with the game-tying run at first base, junior Joey DeGood ended the game with a strikeout to earn a one-out save. It was DeGood’s first save of his young varsity career.

“I throw pretty straight, not the hardest, but I throw strikes,” DeGood said. “It took a couple extra warm ups. The ump let me because it was pretty cold out.”

Junior Keith Phillips took the mound in his first varsity start and scattered four runs on two hits in three innings of work. Senior Ben Baker (1-0) worked 3 2/3 innings in relief to earn the win.

“Today was typical of an early season game, with the cold weather,” Hamilton head coach Ken DeGood said. “The pitchers struggled a little bit to throw strikes, had to battle back, and ended up having some pitches over the middle.”

The Hawkeyes trailed only briefly before taking their cracks at the plate. Highlighted by senior right fielder Cody Buresh’s two-RBI double, the Hawkeyes scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never relinquished the lead.

Hamilton did most of their damage in the third inning against Middleville pitcher Robby Enslen. The Hawkeyes plated five runs during the inning as Hamilton received doubles from Baker and senior second baseman Brandon Hulst.

“Everybody was hitting the ball and contributing offensively,” Baker said. “Overall we did a really sweet job of hitting, even off of (Enslen), who was throwing some heat.”

Hamilton will travel to Isle of Palms, S.C. for Spring Break. The Hawkeyes are next in action April 9 in the Coldwater Tournament.

NOTES: Hamilton did not commit an error for the second straight game … Senior shortstop R.J. Flowers scored three runs … Senior center fielder Connor Hagen opened the game with a double down the left field line