The Hope College baseball team opens MIAA Tournament play today at 4 p.m. with a nine-inning game at Calvin College.
The Flying Dutchmen are 21-19 overall after finishing third in the MIAA regular-season standings after going 17-11 in league play.
Hope's sixth consecutive 20-win season was secured with seven wins over the final eight games.
Click here to follow the game through Calvin's audio stream.
Click here to follow the game on Live Stats.
Click here for Adrian College's MIAA Tournament page.
Photo of Tim Bodine by Rob Kurtycz, Hope College Sports Information
Hope Coach Continues Extended Success
Hope coach Stu Fritz has led the Flying Dutchmen to their 13th 20-win season in the past 14 seasons and 15th in his 21 seasons as head coach. Fritz owns an all-time record of 456-332-2 for a .663 winning percentage. Fritz is in tie for MIAA baseball championships won by a coach with nine (2013, 2007, 2006, 2003, 2001, 1998 and 1998). He shares the mark with Albion College's Frank Joranko.
Flying Dutchmen's MIAA postseason history
This is the second time Hope and Calvin have met in the MIAA Tournament. Hope won last year's first-round game 7-3 in Holland. Hope is 107-56 all-time vs. Calvin. The Flying Dutchmen also are 0-2 against Adrian in the MIAA tournament. Hope has not played Kalamazoo in the league tournament. The Flying Dutchmen are 3-4 all-time in MIAA postseason action.
Hope Makes It 3 Straight In MIAA Tournament
The Flying Dutchmen have qualified for the MIAA Tournament in all three years of its existence. Hope owns a 3-4 record in MIAA Tournament player. In 2013, the Flying Dutch beat Calvin 7-3 before losing at home to Adrian College 11-6 and Trine University 3-2. In 2012, Hope reached the championship game but lost to Adrian 17-2. The Flying Dutchmen reached the title game by winning two elimination games — 7-0 over Albion then 3-1 over Trine — after losing to Trine 6-3 in the opener.
Flying Dutchmen Catcher A Versatile Threat
Senior catcher Eric Vachon of Sterling Heights,
Michigan (De La Salle Collegiate), is a versatile threat who has excelled at the plate behind the plate for the Flying Dutchmen. He ranked first in the MIAA during league play in RBIs with 27 and doubles with 12. Vachon was 10th in the MIAA with a .367 batting average. Vachon recorded a career-high eight RBIs during an 18-2 win against Olivet College on May 3. Vachon also tied for
second by throwing out nine runners trying to steal.
Other Hope Players Rank Among Top Hitters
Two other Hope players are among the MIAA leaders in batting average. Senior centerfielder Tim Bodine of Gurnee, Illinois (Warren Township HS), is 12th at .356, while sophomore second baseman Brady VanderWeele of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Comstock HS) is 15th at .338. Bodine ranked fifth in the league with 36 total hits.
Flying Dutchmen Pitching Fourth-Best In MIAA
The Flying Dutchmen recorded the fourth-lowest ERA during MIAA play. They allowed 80 earned runs over 190 2/3 innings for an ERA of 3.78. Sophomore starting pitcher Austin Goodyke of Grandville, Michigan (Calvin Christian HS), tied for 11th with a 3.35 ERA. Goodyke surrendered 15 earned runs in 40 1/3 innings. Junior starting pitcher Currey Thomas of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS), was fifth with 32 strikeouts. Thomas is tied for seventh at Hope with 11 career complete game, including five this season.
Flying Dutchmen Fielding At An Elite Level
Hope proved to be the MIAA's best fielding team during league play. The Flying Dutchmen had a fielding percentage of .968 that included 572 putouts and 236 assists to a league-low 27 errors.
