The Hope baseball and softball teams were among the nation's top NCAA Division III teams in several statistical categories this spring.

The Hope baseball and softball teams were among the nation's top NCAA Division III teams in several statistical categories this spring.

Baseball

The MIAA champion Flying Dutchmen posted a 29-13 record.  The team ranked 11th among all Division III teams (351) in fielding percentage with a .967 average.  Other top 100 rankings included: earned run average, 22nd (3.24); pitched strikeouts, 60th (6.9 per 9IP); batting average, 86th (.318) and triples per game, 92nd (0.31).

Several Hope players had top 100 performances: Matt VanderVelde, 50th in batting average (.425) and 95th in toughest to strikeout (once every 18.8 ABs); Brian Baker, 88th in batting average (.414) and 96th in slugging percentage (.632); Matt Sattler, 24th in toughest to strikeout (once every 29.2 ABs); and Mike VanderVelde, 47th in toughest to strikeout (once every 23.3 ABs).

Pitchers with top 100 rankings included: Mike Rodgers, 84th in victories (7), 84th in earned run average (2.42), 46th in total strikeouts (69 in 71IP) and 69th in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (8.8); and Dustin Wuis, 84th in victories (7); and Brian Guerriero, 91st in earned run average (2.45).

Softball

The Flying Dutch posted a 25-13 season record to rank 78th among the 384 NCAA Division III softball programs.  The team ranked 54th in fielding percentage with a .957 average.  Other top 100 rankings included: triples per game, 59th (0.33); stolen bases per game, 61st (0.45); batting average, 74th (.320); and slugging percentage, 75th (.452).

Several Hope players had top 100 performances: Tara Hamming, 24th in sacrifice hits per game (0.35); Jessica Regnerus, 50th in batting average (.455) and 74th in runs scored per game (1.0); Kylee Brouwer, 72nd in batting average (.445) and 99th in runs scored per game (0.97 per game).

Pitchers Ashley Hoogeveen, Deidra Enochs and Sara Fisher each recorded a save to rank 87th.