2022 Belgian Division 1: Round 7

In the seventh round of the 2022 Belgian Division 1, the following doubleheaders were scheduled: Brussels Kangaroos @ Deurne Spartans, Namur Angels @ Hoboken Pioneers, Sunville Tigers @ Merchtem Cats, Brasschaat Braves @ Gent Knights, and Borgerhout Squirrels @ Mortsel Stars.

Brussels Kangaroos – Deurne Spartans (3 – 4 ; 2 – 6)
De Club – Brussels Kangaroos Baseball & Softball Club With a rather thin roster, the Brussels Kangaroos headed to Deurne take on the local Spartans. Game one was an attractive game in which the pitching of both parties did well. The offense of both sides, on the other hand, was shaky at times. Brussels, committed four errors that led to only one unearned run miraculously. Anyhow, the Deurne Spartans opened the score in the second inning, when a single by Eder Hernańez Sarao and a sac fly to left field by Nando Mostaert, drove in a run each. In the next inning, the Kangaroos tied the game when Alain Cedeño Daudinot scored on a bunt and an error by the first baseman.
Mauro van Mook could score the game-tying run on a sac fly by Luis Unda. But in the very same inning, the Spartans regained the lead. Alexis Marquez drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center field. Marquez scored himself after he stole second, advanced to third on an error by the shortstop and crossed home plate on a fielders choice. Even though the ‘Roos got within a run from the Spartans, they stayed at the wrong side of the score.
Anderson Denny Gerdel Nieto pitched a complete game for the win. He allowed three runs on five hits and three walks and struck out eight. Despite pitching a solid game, Kevin Desmedt took the loss. In seven innings of work, he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, as he struck out seven.
The best hitter for Spartans was Leonel Reina, who went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

In game two, the Kangaroos never stood a chance. The result wasn’t a blowout score, but still the team was outscored and outhit. A sac fly in the first inning by Alexis Marquez gave the Spartans the lead. But the Kangaroos would bounce back in the top of the third when they scored on a solo shot by Jhan Poll Henrique Ramon. The Spartans bounced back in the bottom of the same inning. A single by Johiner Alfonso Arguinzones Ocanto/ an E3 allowed Leonel Reina to score. A two-run homer by Frank Alejandro Prieto Burgos extended Spartans lead. After Kevin Desmedt cut the Spartans’ lead in half thanks to a solo home run, Deurne scored two more runs to reach the final score.
Edgardo Jose Nieto Castillo earned the win. He pitched a seven-inning complete game in DEU flag which he allowed two runs on four hits and a walk and struck out five. Jayde Thorne took the loss. He lasted 4.1 innings and gave up four runs (one earned) on nine hits and struck out one.
Johiner Alfonso Arguinzones Ocanto was the best hitter for Spartans. He went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

Namur Angels – Hoboken Pioneers (0 – 10 ; 0 – 13)
NAM flag It was a day soon to forget for the Namur Angels. The team was shut out in both games.
Even though it looks like the Namur Angels forfeited game one as the result was 9-0 after five innings, the Hoboken Pioneers won game one 10-0 in seven innings. Unfortunately, the score is not updated on the website of the KBBSF/FRBBS.

In game two, Hoboken took the lead when Xander Verspreet singled home Benjamin Goffaux. The Pioneers would combine for three runs in the third and fourth inning, before their offense exploded in the sixth inning. Single by Jason Jie Sam Foek and Benjamin Goffaux, doubles by Nicky Mertens and Toon Hendrickx, a triple by Kevin Delgado, and a inside-the-park-home run drove in eight runs. Another run was scored on a wild pitch.
Ben van Nuffel earned the win after an inning in relief, in which he gave up one walk. HOB flag
Carlos Cortes took the loss. In six innings, he allowed thirteen runs (eight earned) on eleven hits and ten walks, and struck out eight.
Average-wise, Jason Jie Sam Foek was the best hitter for Hoboken Pioneers, as he went 1 for 1.

Sunville Tigers – Merchtem Cats (1 – 11 ; 2 – 3)
No photo description available. Where the Sunville Tigers did not stand a chance in game one, they gave the Merchtem Cats a run for their money in the second game.
Merchtem needed seven innings to win game one. In each inning, the team scored at least one run. It all started in the first inning when the Cats scored Tom Rombauts singled to center field to drive in Ewout Vrijders. From there, the club never looked back.
The Sunville Tigers scored their only run in the sixth inning, when Ferre van Hees hit a sac fly that drove in Pepijn Hendrickx.
Clément Dupuis pitched six innings for the win. He gave up one run on three hits and two walks and struck out three. Milan Mulkers also pitched six innings but took the loss. He allowed eleven runs (eight earned) on ten hits and eight walks, and struck out one.
With two hits out of three at-bats, Tom Beeckmans was the best hitter for the Merchtem Cats. Tom drove in two runs and scored twice.

Game two was much more of a game. Once again, Merchtem opened the score, this time thanks to a single by Clément Dupuis that drove in Ewout Vrijders. But the Sunville Tigers took the lead in the top of the fifth. Luca Pignatelli drove in Luc Rosiers with a double to center field. Pignatelli scored himself thanks to a dropped fly error in right field. But the Tigers’ lead was short lived as Merchtem scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on sac flies by Rusty Huber and Clément Dupuis. In the remaining two innings, the Sunville Tigers didn’t come close to scoring a run. MER flag
Rusty Huber pitched a seven-inning complete game in which he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks, and fanned twelve. Andres Ybarra took the loss. He lasted five innings in which he allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and six walks, and struck out four.
The best hitter for the Merchtem Cats was Clément Dupuis, as he went 1 for 2 with a double and two RBI.

Brasschaat Braves – Ghent Knights (19 – 1 ; 22 – 1)
Another series in which one team was vastly dominant over the other.
In game one, the Ghent Knights were limited to one run on five hits by a superb pitching Robin Roevens, who pitched a seven-inning complete game for the win.
Except for the third inning, in which the Braves did not score, Brasschaat scored at least two runs in each of the other innings.
It all started with four runs in the first inning, thanks to RBI-singles by Raxon Martinez, Elias Roberto Macias, and Sam Rabijns, and a sac fly hit by Jamie Peeters.
The Ghent Knights did something back in the bottom of the first inning when they scored a run on a double by Florian Baudé. For the rest, it was a lopsided game.
Aaron Meert took the loss. In five innings, he allowed twelve runs (ten earned) on twelve hits and four walks, as he struck out two.
Raxon Martinez was the best hitter for the Braves. He went 2 for 2 with three RBI and two runs scored.

The second game wasn’t much different. The Brasschaat Braves limited their opponent to one run on five hits. The Braves, their turn, scored twenty-two runs.
After a one-run first, a two-run third and a four-run fourth, the Braves did not score in the fifth and the sixth. A fourteen-run (!) seventh, resulted in a flattering score. Sure the Braves were stronger than their opponent, but fourteen runs in one inning did not reflect the real balance of power.
Yves Poesmans earned the win. In six innings, he allowed one run on five hits and three GEN flag walks, and struck out four. Robin Meuris took the loss. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks, and struck out three.
Once again, Raxon Martinez was the best hitter for the Braves. He went 3 for 4 with a triple, three RBI, and three runs scored.

Borgerhout Squirrels – Mortsel Stars (12 – 5 ; 7 – 9)
BOR flag A surprising result in game two, as the Borgerhout Squirrels may be considered one of the top teams of the Belgian Division 1.
In game one, the Mortsel Stars were outhit (sixteen to seven) and outscored by the Squirrels. Borgerhout took the lead in the second inning when Aaron Solis scored on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI-single by Matthias Group, who drove in Sander De Saedeleer.
After a five-run fourth inning by the Squirrels, their Southern neighbor did something back. In the bottom of the fourth, Shane van Elsacker scored on a wild pitch. In four of the following five innings, the Stars would score a run, but the Squirrels would score five more runs to reach the final result.
Matas Sirgedas earned the win. In two innings of relief, he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks as he struck out one. Arno Plofliet took the loss. He lasted 5.2 innings in wich he gave up nine runs (eight earned) on thirteen hits and six walks and struck out four.
Matthias Group was the best hitter for the Borgerhout Squirrels. He went 5 for 5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

In game two, the Mortsel Stars surprised their northern neighbor. With the score tied at three after the second inning, the Stars scored twice, thanks to an RBI-single by Tobias Papanikitas, that drove in Tibo Soebert, and a passed ball that allowed Kenneth van de Velde to score. After the Squirrels scored a run in the fourth inning, the Stars scored three insurance runs in the sixth. Eventually, they proved to be needed, as the Squirrels scored three runs in the seventh inning as well.
Jeroen van Ackeren pitched 6.2 innings for the win. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks, and struck out two. Yann van den Brande took the loss. In three innings, he gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks, and struck out two.
Mikka Uten was the best hitter for the Mortsel Stars. He went 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Standings after seven rounds:

Division 1 A:

	Team	W	L	T	PCT	GB
1		13	1	0	.929	0
	Hoboken Pioneers
2		12	2	0	.857	1
	Deurne Spartans
3		8	6	0	.571	5
	Brussels Kangaroos
4		7	7	0	.500	6
	Merchtem Cats
5		2	12	0	.143	11
	Namur Angels
6		0	14	0	.000	13
	Sunville Tigers