Saturday, May 9, 2015

2015 Baseball May 7 @ Unity Christian

Holland Christian concluded its series against Unity on Thursday after splitting Wednesday's doubleheader. Williams and Sterenberg both had RBI singles in the first inning. York made the score 3-0 after a deep sacrifice fly. In the next inning, Riemersma hit a hard ground ball through the infield that scored Brady Brower from second base.

After four innings, the game was tied 4-4.

They scored five runs in the next inning to win the game 9-4.

Coby Curtiss finished 3-for-5 an RBI and Mike Mokma finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Holland Christian will play against Zeeland West next week.  

2015 Girls Soccer May 6 vs. Holland

Holland Christian hosted Holland on Wednesday night. Last time the teams met, the Maroons won 2-1 in double overtime.

Alexi Zastrow kicked off the game's scoring with an amazing move past a defender and a lefty strike from 25 yards out. The game went into halftime with the Maroons on top 1-0.

Libby VanderLee found the back of the net a few minutes into the second half. Libby's sister, Sadie, scored the next goal off a feed from Laura VanPutten.

Kristen Marsman added the final goal by heading a cross from Alexi Zastrow into the back of the net.


Holland Christian improves to 6-4-2 with tonight's victory. They will be back in action on Monday, May 11 at Byron Center. 

2015 Baseball May 5 vs. Unity Christian

Holland Christian and Unity played their doubleheader on Wednesday after rain postponed it on Tuesday. Brady Brower drove in Josh Sterenberg on a sacrifice fly in the second inning for the Maroons only run of the game. Unity finished with three runs on six hits while the Holland Christian had its run on five hits. Mike Mokma led the team with two hits.

Josh York pitched all seven innings and only gave up one earned run.

The Crusaders held a 2-0 lead for the majority of the second game. Coby Curtiss cut the deficit in half by hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Maroons went into the final inning down 2-1.

David Williams drilled the first pitch he saw 375 to straightaway centerfield for a leadoff double. Josh Sterenberg followed with an infield base hit. Josh Sterenberg and David Williams were on second and third, respectively, with one out. Brandon Dykgraaf hit a suicide squeeze bunt with hopes of tying the game—they got more. The pitcher picked up the ball and threw home to prevent the run. The ball got past the catcher, allowing Williams to score and Josh Sterenberg to slide in safely for the Maroons' fifth walkoff victory of the season.

Josh Sterenberg pitched all seven innings and only gave up one earned run.

The Maroons will conclude this series on Thursday, May 7 with a 13-5 record.  

2015 Girls Soccer May 4 @ Hamilton

Holland Christian played at Hamilton on Monday night in search of another conference victory. The Maroons got off to a rough start and could never make up for it. The Hawkeyes scored the first and only goal on their first shot just a few minutes into the game. The Maroons put 14 shots on frame in the second half but could not find the back of the net.

“We need to take this time in the season to reevaluate our tactics, mindset, and effort” commented Coach Slenk.

Holland Christian will take a 5-4-2 overall record into Wednesday's game against the Holland Dutch.

2015 Baseball May 4 @ Allegan

Holland Christian played in Allegan on Monday afternoon in search of its eighth consecutive non-conference victory. The Maroons' first two runs came from RBI doubles from David Williams and Brandon Riemersma.
They rallied for six runs in the fourth inning: Three from errors, one from a Brady Brower sacrifice fly, and the other two from a two-RBI Williams sacrifice fly.
The Tigers added two runs in their half of the inning to make the score 8-4 after five innings.
Jaylen Kouw and Josh Sterenberg both hit RBI singles in the next inning to seal the 10-4 victory.
Riemersma, Sterenberg, Williams, Shoemaker, and Kouw all had two hits. Williams led the team with three RBIs.

Cam Shoemaker pitched five innings and earned the win. Spencer Slenk relieved him with two hitless innings.

Holland Christian will take a 12-4 overall record into Tuesday's doubleheader vs. Unity.

2015 Baseball May 2 @ TK Wooden Bat Tournament

Holland Christian participated in the TK Wooden Bat Tournament on Saturday. They played against Harper Creek in the first game. After two innings of play the score was knotted at 2-2. The Maroons escaped a bases loaded, one out scenario in the bottom of the third inning after getting a 1-2-3 double play ball. Each team had five runs after four innings. The Maroons took the lead after scoring four runs in the seventh inning. Josh York hit a two RBI double to center field and Spencer Brewer followed with a two RBI single to right field. Holland Christian finished the game on top 13-5 thanks to eight unanswered runs to end the game.

Brandon Riemersma had three hits, scored three runs, and stole three bases. Spencer Brewer had three hits and five RBIs. The Maroons had 17 hits altogether.

David Williams earned the win on the mound and Brady Brower came in to relieve.


They faced the host school Thornapple Kellogg in game two. Josh York and Jaylen Kouw scored the game's first two runs in the second inning off an error and a wild pitch, respectively. Josh York, Spencer Brewer, and Brady Brower all had RBI singles in the Maroons' five run fifth inning. The Trojans scored four runs in the sixth inning but the Maroons hung on for the 7-4 victory.

Sophomore third baseman highlighted the second game with three hits, an RBI, and a run scored.

Spencer Brewer pitched all seven innings and struck out seven batters.


The Maroons improve to 11-4 with both of today's victories. Holland Christian will play at Allegan on Monday before Tuesday and Thursday's games against Unity.  

2015 Baseball April 30 @ Byron Center

The Maroons began Thursday's action in Byron Center by resuming Tuesday's 5-5 ballgame in the ninth inning. The Bulldogs had men on first and third with two outs. A diving stop by sophomore shortstop Coby Curtiss prevented the run from scoring. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Maroons loaded the bases with only one out. Brandon Riemersma scored after Josh Sterenberg laid down a bunt. The Maroons won the game 6-5 in walkoff fashion—the fourth time this season.

Byron Center held a 6-0 lead after five innings. Brandon Riemersma got the Maroons on the board by hitting an RBI triple to the right-center gap. Riemersma scored on the next play. David Williams tacked on the third and final run by plating Mike Mokma on an RBI single.

Riemersma led the Maroons with three hits, an RBI, and a run scored.


Holland Christian will participate in a wooden bat tournament on Saturday at TK Middleville.  

2015 Girls Soccer April 29 @ Zeeland West

The Maroons played against Zeeland West on Wednesday night. They played against the wind in the scoreless first half. Becka Maguire broke the ice with a goal with just under 19 minutes to play in regulation. Alexi Zastrow's throw in was headed by Abby Koops in Maguire's direction before she finished it. Tessa VandeWalker added the second goal on a lefty shot in front of the goal.

Holland Christian improves to 5-3-1 overall, 4-1 OK Green with tonight's conference victory. The team will be in action on Friday, May 1 at Grand Rapids Christian.


2015 Baseball April 28 vs. Byron Center

Holland Christian played two games against Byron Center on Tuesday afternoon. Josh Sterenberg evened the score at 1-1 in the first inning with an RBI single up the middle. They tacked on another run on a throwing error by the catcher. The Bulldogs regained the lead in the third inning, 3-2. They scored an insurance run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth. Josh Sterenberg earned his second RBI of the day by singling in David Williams to make the score 6-3 after six innings. The Maroons had two men in scoring position in the seventh inning but were unable to complete the comeback.

Josh Sterenberg went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Byron Center jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second game. Josh York's RBI single scored Mike Mokma to make the score 2-1 after one inning. Byron Center scored two runs in the fourth inning. In the Maroons' half of that inning, Coby Curtiss drove in two runs by reaching on a fielding error. Mike Mokma followed by driving in Brandon Riemersma. David Williams drove in the go-ahead run by hitting a double off the centerfield fence. Byron Center tied the game at 5-5 in the fifth inning. The teams played three more innings of scoreless baseball before the game was called for darkness. For the second time this season, the Maroons will finish game two of the doubleheader on Thursday before the third game begins.

Williams finished with three hits while Sterenberg and Brandon Dykgraaf finished with two apiece.

The Maroons will take an 8-3 record into Thursday's series finale at Byron Center.  

2015 Girls Soccer April 27 vs. Unity Christian

Holland Christian hosted Unity Christian on Monday night in a battle of two undefeated OK Green teams. Unity came into the game as the top-ranked team in division three. The Maroons kept up with the Crusaders for the first half as neither team found the back of the net.

Unity scored three goals in the second half to take home the victory.

Holland Christian will kick off against Zeeland West on Wednesday, April 29. 

2015 Baseball April 27 @ Comstock Park

Holland Christian traveled to Comstock Park on Monday for another non-conference game. With the bases loaded in the second inning, Spencer Brewer drilled a two-RBI single up the middle. Spencer Slenk followed with another RBI base hit. The Maroons scored two runs after a walk and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. The score was 5-3 after the second inning.

Slenk drove in another run with an infield single in the third inning.

The Maroons earned runs 7, 8, 9, and 10 all on fielding errors.

David Williams drove in Mike Mokma and eventually rounded the bases for the Maroons' 12th run of the game.

Sterenberg and Huisman both had RBI singles in the sixth inning.


The game ended 14-3 after six innings due to the mercy rule.  


David Williams finished 3-3 with two RBI. He also pitched four innings and struck out five. The Maroons combined for a season high 16 hits.

Holland Christian will host Byron Center in a conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 28.

2015 Baseball April 22 vs. Holland

Holland Christian welcomed the Holland Dutch to its field on Thursday after sweeping Tuesday's doubleheader at Holland. Josh Sterenberg drove in Brandon Riemersma on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-1 after one. The teams had a combined no-hitter through five innings as the first 40 batters failed to reach base on a hit. The game was still tied 1-1 after the regulation seven innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Dutch had two men in scoring position with one out. Josh York struck out the next batter and forced the following batter to popout.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Brandon Riemersma got the first hit of the day for Holland Christian on a short ground ball to the pitcher. Riemersma stole second and advanced to third on a Coby Curtiss single. Mike Mokma drove in Riemersma with a line drive single to left, giving the Maroons their third walkoff victory of the season.

Josh York pitched all eight innings, threw 122 pitches, struck out 12 batters, and only allowed two hits.

Holland Christian will take a 7-2 record into Monday's game at Comstock Park.  

2015 Girls Soccer April 22 vs. Byron Center

The Maroons hosted the Byron Center Bulldogs on Wednesday night despite the snowy conditions. Holland Christian had complete control throughout the entirety of the match. They led 6-0 at halftime and finished the game on top 7-0.

Libby Vanderlee led the scoring with two goals. Sadie VanderLee, Abby Koops, Mikaela VanHuis, Bekah Maguire, and Alexi Zastrow all scored one.

The Maroons will host Unity Christian on Monday, April 27.

2015 Baseball April 21 @ Holland


The Maroons played in another conference doubleheader on Tuesday at Holland. The Dutch kicked off the scoring by putting three runs on the board in the second inning. Spencer Slenk rounded the bases in the third inning to make the score 3-1. Slenk scored again with two outs in the fifth inning when Mike Mokma reached on an error. The Dutch padded their lead with two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth. Holland Christian went into the seventh and final inning down 5-2.

After a couple of Dutch fielding errors and nice hits, David Williams approached the plate with the bases loaded. He drilled the ball to the left field fence on the first pitch, clearing the bases, tying the game, and putting himself in scoring position. Josh Sterenberg singled in Williams for the go-ahead run. The Maroons finished the game on top 7-5.

Mokma pitched six innings, struck out eight and earned the win. Sterenberg pitched the final inning, struck out two and earned the save.

Mokma, Williams, and Sterenberg all went 2-for-4.

Game 2:

A Coby Curtiss double and a Mike Mokma triple gave the Maroons a 3-0 lead after the first inning. In the second inning, Riemersma walked, stole second and third, and scored on an error. The Maroons led 5-0 after three innings.

In the fourth inning, Josh Sterenberg doubled in David Williams and then went on to score himself.

The Dutch put up three runs in the final couple innings but were unable to overcome the deficit. The Maroons won the second game 7-3.

Sterenberg struck out seven in six innings for the win. David Williams, who usually catches, came in and pitched the final inning. D-Will struck out two of the three batters while only throwing 12 pitches.

2015 Girls Soccer April 20 @ Holland

The Maroons played against their conference rivals from Holland on Monday evening. The Dutch found the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead. With ten minutes remaining in the first half, Alexi Zastrow placed a corner kick into the middle where sophomore Abby Koops was there to head it into the back of the net. The teams went into halftime tied 1-1.

The second half was dominated by the Maroons but the scoreboard remained even. The teams went into overtime, twice. With two minutes remaining in the second overtime, the Maroons had another corner kick. Alexi played a short give-and-go pass to Kristen Marsman before she ripped it past the Dutch keeper from the corner of the 18. The time ran out with the Maroons on top 2-1.

Holland Christian improves to 3-2-1 overall, 2-0 OK Green.