Hope Sports Report

Hope softball players and alumni players paid tribute to Karla Wolters as she coached her final games on Saturday. The 1,792 in the photo represents the number of athletic contests coached across five sports by Wolters during her distinguished career.

SOFTBALL First Game: Hope 10, Olivet 2 (5) Box Second Game: Hope 4, Olivet 2 BoxFans, including many softball alumni, turned out in large numbers Saturday to pay tribute to Karla Wolters as she coached her final games. The Flying Dutch rewarded her with a doubleheader sweep of Olivet, 10-2 and 4-2. Coach Wolters is retiring from the Hope faculty and as coach after 23 seasons. The wins also assured Hope a 20-win season, the 18th in the 23 seasons under Wolters. Hope ends in a tie for fourth place in the MIAA. Hope's season and Wolters' career have ended unfortunately because only the top four teams in the standings advance to the conference tournament. Hope and Saint Mary's tied at 10-6 with the Belles gaining the tournament berth on the basis of the league's tie-breaker procedure. Senior Deidra Enochs (7-7) concluded her collegiate career with a four-hitter in the opener. Kori Nieuwsma hit a homerun while leadoff hitter Stephanie Faber had three hits and three RBIs. Junior Michelle Marra also ended a .500 pitcher for the year (9-9) as she allowed five hits in the nightcap.

BASEBALL First Game: Hope 7, Kalamazoo 4 Box Second Game: Hope 7, Kalamazoo 1 BoxThe Flying Dutchmen gained sole possession of second place in the MIAA race by sweeping Kalamazoo in a Saturday doubleheader, 7-4 and 7-1. The sweep gave Hope a 3-to-1 advantage in the series against the Hornets. With four games remaining on the season, Adrian (20-4) has a four-game lead over the Flying Dutchmen (16-8). Playing before filled stands at Boeve Stadium, the Flying Dutchmen improved to 24-12 on the season. In the opener, starter Adam Clements (4-2) got the win with freshman Jordan Carrigan gaining his school-record seventh save. Drew Carmody hit his third homerun of the season while Jon Ponte was credited with five RBIs. In the nightcap, Danny Detmar went the distance behind nine strikeouts and clutch pitching that resulted in 10 stranded Kalamazoo baserunners. Pete Zessin hit his fifth homerun of the season.

WOMEN'S TENNIS Flying Dutch 2nd in MIAA Tourney ResultsThe Flying Dutch bowed to rival Calvin 5-3 in the championship match of the MIAA's NCAA qualifying tournament. Coach Nate Price's Flying Dutch finished the season with a 16-8 record. Junior Katherine Garcia of Battle Creek was voted to the All-MIAA first team and was named to the recipient of the Sue Little Sportsmanship Award. Junior Alyssa Austin of Spring Lake was voted to the All-MIAA second team.

MEN'S TENNIS Flying Dutchmen 2nd in MIAA Tourney Results The upset-minded Flying Dutchmen were unable to pull it off as they bowed to perennial league champion Kalamazoo 5-0 in Saturday's championship match of the MIAA's NCAA qualifying tournament. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen end their season with a 16-12 dual match record. Senior John Gardner of Granville, Ohio and junior Bobby Cawood of East Lansing were voted to the All-MIAA first team.

TRACK & FIELD Outstanding Performances Highlight MeetHope tracksters competed in the Aquinas Quad as the final tuneup before the MIAA Field Day next week. Junior John Donkersloot had an NCAA-qualifying performance in the high jump clearing 6-11, a collegiate career best. Freshman Shaelie Harper tied the school record in the triple jump (36-5) while junior Heidi Grooters improved her own record in the hammer (141-0).

MEN'S LACROSSE Flying Dutchmen Bow in CCLA SemisThe Flying Dutchmen bowed in the semi-finals of the CCLA tournament to Dayton 22-13 on Saturday. Hope ends its season with a 12-5 record.