In the eighth round of the 2022 Belgian Division 1, the following doubleheaders were scheduled: Hoboken Pioneers @ Brussels Kangaroos, Merchtem Cats @ Deurne Spartans, Sunville Tigers @ Namur Angels, Ghent Knights @ Mont-Saint-Guibert Phoenix, and Brasschaat Braves @ Borgerhout Squirrels.
Hoboken Pioneers – Brussels Kangaroos (9 – 4 ; 3 – 5)
Even though the final score wasn’t all that big, the Brussels Kangaroos didn’t stand much of a chance in game one. The Roos managed to collect five hits, but their opponent collected eighteen hits. The Kangaroos got of a quick start as they took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. A bunt, followed by a throwing error, allowed Luis Manuel Veras Luciano to score the opening run. Cedric Desmedt singled up the middle to drive in two runs. But two innings later, Hoboken tied the game when Dennis de Quint doubled to left field to drive in Benjamin Goffaux, Thomas de Wolf scored on a passed ball, and Xander Verspreet singled home Dennis de Quint. In the following three innings, Hoboken would score five more runs and added one more in the top of the ninth. The Kangaroos added a run to their score in the ninth inning as well.
Owen Vanthillo earned twe win. In two innings in relief, he gave up three walks but struck out three as well. Mauro van Mook took the loss. In five frames, he gave up eight runs (seven earned) on fifteen hits and three walks as he struck out two.
Xander Verspreet had a career day, as he went 5 for 5 with two RBI.
In game two, Kevin Desmedt’s gem was the main reason for the Kangaroos win. Desmedt pitched a seven-inning complete game in which he gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out five. The Kangaroos didn’t have much problems with the pitching
of the Pioneers. They jumped on Zane Hendrickx in the first two innings and scored five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks. Hendrickx struck out three.
After the second inning, the Pioneers pitching staff settled down and limited the Roos to three more hits in the remainder of the game.
Luis Unda was the best hitter for the Brussels Kangaroos, as he went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
Merchtem Cats – Deurne Spartans (4 – 10 ; 2 – 6)
By the time the Merchtem Cats got on the board, the Deurne Spartans had a comfortable 4-0 lead already. A single by Alexis Marquez in the third inning, a double by Eder Hernanez Sarao in the fourth inning, and a groundout by Frank Alejandro Prieto Burgos, drove in four runs. The Cats scored their first run in the top of the sixth, when Zachary Ollila scored on a wild pitch. The Spartans countered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Cats did the same in the top of the seventh. A single by Rusty Huber drove in a run and when Tom Rombauts reached base on a throwing error, two runs were scored on the play.
A groundout and a wild pitch added two more runs for the Spartans in the eight inning to reach the final score.
Matthew de Permentier earned the win. In seven innings, he allowed four runs (one earned) on nine hits and two walks, as he struck out nine. Nick van de Voorde took the loss. He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk, and struck out one.
Steff Roymans was the best hitter for the Spartans. He went 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
The second game was a bit closer affair, but still the Merchtem Cats didn’t really stand a chance. Until the fourth inning, they could keep up with the Spartans with the score tied at one, but from the fourth inning, Deurne walked away. Spartans scored twice in the fourth on a catch error and on a fielder’s choice. A single by Leonel Reina in the fifth drove in another run, and in the sixth, a throwing error, and a single by Hsibullah Niazi drove in two more. In the seventh inning, the Cats scored one more run on a wild pitch to reach the final score.
Sam Ruijter earned the win. In four innings (of a seven-inning game), he allowed one
unearned run on a hit and five walks, as he struck out seven. Rusty Huber took the loss after six innings of work. He allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk, and struck out eight.
Hsibullah Niazi was the best hitter for the Spartans as he went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
Sunville Tigers – Namur Angels (4 – 26 ; 4 – 12)
The Sunville Tigers didn’t stand a chance in both games vs the Namur Angels.
The Angels needed only five innings to finish game one. After the first inning, the race was already run, as the Angels scored fourteen (!) runs. In the third inning, the Angels rehashed the whole thing again, as they scored ten runs. In the fourth inning, the Angels added two more runs to their score. All the Tigers could do was score two runs in the first and two in the fifth.
Lucas Heymans pitched a five-inning “complete” game in which he allowed four runs on eight hits and six walks, and struck out seven. He needed a lot of pitches (hundred and thirty-five) to accomplish the feat. Poor Milan Mulkers took the loss. In four innings, he allowed twenty-six runs (twelve earned) on sixteen hits and ten walks as he struck out one.
With eleven runners left on base, it was also a game of missed opportunities for the Sunville Tigers.
The best hitter for Namur was Stéphane Daspremont, who went 3 for 4 with four runs scored.
Even though the Sunville Tigers lost with double digits in game two, it was more bearable than the first game. After three wild pitches, an RBI single and a 5-3 groundout, the Namur Angels had a 5-0 lead in the first inning already. Their bats were silenced in the next two innings but from the fourth inning, they scored seven more runs. A fielding error and a single to center field resulted in two runs for the Tigers in the top of the sixth inning. One inning later, they added two more on a double by Luca Pignatelli, who tried to stretch the double into an inside-the-park home run, but was thrown out at the plate. 
Carlos Cortes earned the win. In a seven-inning complete game, he four runs (three earned) on six hits and eight walks, as he struck out ten. Mika Rosiers took the loss. He lasted two innings, and allowed five runs on three hits and a walk, and struck out one.
This time, Lucas Heymans was the best hitter for the Namur Angels. He went 3 for 4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
Ghent Knights – Mont-Saint-Guibert Phoenix ( 1 – 19 ; 2 – 16)
Also a very lopsided series in another part of Wallonia, where Mont-Saint-Guibert Phoenix pummeled their opponent. After only three innings in game one, Phoenix had a lead that was more than commanding. A throwing error and a dropped fly ball allowed them to score two runs before Daniel Abiles hit a grand slam to left field. One inning later, Mont-Saint-Guibert nearly repeated as they scored four runs thanks to Julien Muyldermans, who drew a bases-loaded walk, Jacob Biller who hit a two-run double, and Quentin DeVreese who hit a sac fly to center field. A fielding error allowed the Knights to score their sole run of the game.
Florian Lekeu earned the win. In seven innings, he gave up one run on six hits and five walks, and struck out one. Aaron Meert took the loss. He lasted three innings, in which he gave up ten runs (two earned!) on four hits and five walks, as he struck out two.
The best hitter for Mont-Saint-Guibert Phoenix was Daniel Abiles, who went 2 for 4 with a home run, five RBI, and a run scored.
The second game wasn’t much different. A seven-run lead after two innings and a Phoenix club that walked away in the following innings. Only in the fourth and the seventh inning, the Ghent Knights scored a run. The defense of the Knights committed seven errors, which led to six unearned runs. Quentin DeVreese had a career game as he went 4 for 4. He was a home run shy of the cycle, drove in one run and scored four times himself.
Robbe De Jongh pitched five solid innings in which he allowed an unearned run on four hits, as he struck out four. Bram Hoflack couldn’t find the strike zone as he gave up three consecutive walks. As a result he was sent to the outfield and Björn Wollaert took over. Hoflack was credited for the three runs that followed and as a result, he took the loss.
Brasschaat Braves – Borgerhout Squirrels ( 10 – 5 ; 9 – 2)
The Brasschaat Braves remain the only unbeaten team in the Belgian Division 1.
In game one vs the Borgerhout Squirrels, starting pitcher for the Braves, Cade Johnson, had an almost superhuman outing. Something went wrong with the scoring system. As a result, the pitching change was not mentioned. Cade Johnson lasted four innings and needed one hundred and thirteen pitches. but the number of pitches. He threw hundred and ninety-three pitches to accomplish the feat. Johnson was replaced by Yves Poesmans, who pitched the remaining five innings without allowing a run. So Yves Poesmans earned the win.
Until the fifth inning, the Squirrels could keep pace with the Braves as they scored five runs and the Braves only two, but in the fifth inning, the Braves regained the lead, and never looked back. Two wild pitches and two RBI-singles drove in a total of four runs in that fifth inning. After a one-run sixth, the Braves added three insurance runs in the ninth inning thanks to a double by Jamie Verheyleweghen, a sac fly by Axel Poesmans, and a single by Robin Roevens. No surprise that Cade Johnson earned the win. José Gregorio Pérez Silva took the loss. In 4.1 innings, he gave up six runs (three earned) on two hits and nine walks, as he struck out eight.
Robbe de Boey was the best hitter for the Braves, as he went 2 for 2 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.
A big thank you goes out to Brasschaat Braves’ manager Kevin Peeters, who informed the Dutch Baseball Hangout about the mistakes in the box score that surrounded Cade Johnson.
Where the Brasschaat Braves had to fight their way back from trailing by three runs, they took an early lead that never was in danger. On a bases-loaded walk, drawn by Yves Poesmans, Jamie Verheyleweghen could score the opening run. Only in the second and the seventh inning, the Braves did not score at least one run. In the fourth inning, Nick Vanthillo recorded two quick outs thanks to a 6-4-3 double play, but then couldn’t;t get out of the inning and was tabbed for three runs. By the time the Borgerhout Squirrels got on the board, the Braves had a commanding 7-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Steven de Lannoy singled home Zion de Brauwer. A single to center field by Matthias Group, drove in Timen van Geel for the Squirrels’ second and final run.
Arthuur Driessens earned the win as he pitched a complete game (seven innings) in which
he allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks, and struck out four. Nick Vanthillo took the loss. In 3.2 innings, he allowed six runs on three hits and nine walks, and struck out three.
Three Braves hitters went 2 for 2: Yves Poesmans, Raxon Martinez, and Jamie Peeters. Poesmans was the best hitter of the three as he hit a double, drove in four runs and scored once.
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