Holland Public Schools

The Holland Dutch baseball team added two wins to their season record against the Calvin Christian Squires in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday night. In game one, the Dutch bats came out hot scoring six runs in the first two innings. In the top of the first, they scored three in the first four at-bats, after Sophomore Ethan Byrd blasted a three-run home run to left field for his first of the season and second for the team. Byrd added a single to his total as well. Senior Jacob Torres also had his way at the plate, going 2-3 with two walks, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Senior Cody Rozema added a hit and three walks to the total, Senior Gabe Bos drove in one with a double, Junior Tanner Kingery was 2-4 at the plate, and Sophomore Asher Folkert, Senior Ryland Vanderploeg, and Junior Damian Arispe each had a hit as well. On the mound Rozema was efficient and effective for the Dutch, pitching all seven innings allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out two in his second win on the season. Game two was another story, with runs being hard to come by for both teams. The Dutch had plenty of baserunners, but were unable to capitalize until the top of the sixth inning when a rally was started by Senior Ryland Vanderploeg's two-out infield single. After a subsequent walk to Junior Jay Cantu resulted in a pitching change for the Squires, Senior Gabe Bos drove a first-pitch double to the left field fence to score Vanderploeg. Sophomore Ethan Byrd followed that up with a hard single to left field to score Cantu. It was just enough for Senior Robby Wiersma, who kept the Squires' bats at bay for 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one run and three hits while walking three and striking out five, earning his first win of the season. Byrd came in to close out the game, striking out the last batter to earn the save. The Dutch improved to 4-12 and remain 1-11 in the OK Black. They next play on May 9 at home against Thornapple Kellogg in a non-conference single game.