PRAGUE BASEBALL WEEK RESULTS
Tuesday
Hope 10, Moscow 0 (7)
Sweden 10, Czech Juniors 3
Czech National 11, Slovakia 0 (7)
Australia 14, Prague Select 11
Wednesday
Slovakia 9, Moscow 2
Sweden 4, Australia 3
Prague Select 12, Czech Juniors 0 (7)
Hope 10, Czech Nationals 3
Thursday
Australia 11, Czech Juniors 1
Czech Nationals 14, Moscow Select 0 (7)
Hope 10, Slovakia 0 (7)
Prague Select 6, Sweden 0
Friday
Czech Juniors 21, Slovakia 1
Sweden 11, Moscow 11
Australia 7, Hope 4
Czech Nationals 6, Prague Select 4

POOL STANDINGS
Pool A: Hope 3-0, Czech Nationals 2-1, Slovakia 1-2, Moscow 0-3.
Pool B: Prague Select 2-1, Australia 2-1, Sweden 2-1, Czech Juniors 0-3

Saturday Results
Championship - Czech Nationals 5, Australia 3
Third Place - Hope 10, Prague Select 2
Fifth Place - Czech Juniors 10, Sweden 9
Seventh Place - Slovakia 9, Moscow 2

Game Reports
All Results

Saturday, June 30

The Flying Dutchmen celebrated their first international experience by winning the consolation championship of the "Prague Baseball Week" on Saturday.

Playing their sixth game in as many days, coach Stu Fritz's Dutchmen won for the fifth time by defeating the Prague Select allstars, 10-2.

Fritz paid tribute to his veterans and players of the future, especially with the pitching rotation. Steve Tompkins, a first-year player from Glen Ellyn, Ill., started and gained the victory with five solid innings. Matt Schrader, another first-year player who hails from Port Huron, Mich., pitched the next two innings, leaving with Hope ahead 8-2.

It was time for two pitchers who have contributed to Hope's collegiate success in recent seasons. Anthony Pastrick from St. Joseph, Mich. and Mike Rodgers from Saline, Mich. made quick work of the Czechs as each retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings respectively.

This game was not in doubt for very long. The Flying Dutchmen scored five runs in the second inning, added three more in the sixth and finished with one in both the eighth and ninth.

Eight Hope players had a hit as the Flying Dutchmen collected a tournament-best 14. Leadoff hitter Matt Sattler Brighton, Mich. had three hits, including a double along with three RBIs, while Jeff Ichesco of Saline, Mich. came off the bench to hit three singles. Collectin two hits apiece were Robby Poll of Grandville, Mich., and Curtis Moran of Allendale, Mich.

SATURDAY SUMMARY
Prague 000 101 000 - 2 6 1
Hope 050 003 011 - 10 14 1
Hope Pitching: Steve Tompkins, 5 IP, 1R, 1ER, 4H, 0BB 4SO; Matt Schrader, 2 IP, 1R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2SO; Anthony Pastrick, 1 IP, 0R, 0ER, 0H, 0BB, 0SO; Mike Rodgers, 1IP, 0R, 0ER, 0H, 0BB, 1SO.
Winning Pitcher: Steve Tompkins.
Hope Hitting: Matt Sattler 3-for-6, Robby Poll 2-5, Mike VanderVelde 0-1, Curtis Moran 2-3, Scott Sommavilla 0-1, Jeff Ichesco 3-3, Matt VanderVelde 0-1, Pete Zessin 1-2, Matt VanBeek 0-2, Scott Snyder 0-2, Drew Bedan 1-3, Andrew Bedan 1-1, Brock Doud 0-1, Joey Goeb 0-1, Alex Fryer 1-3, Tim Judson 1-3, Rich Burling 0-2.
Doubles: Matt Sattler, Drew Bedan.
RBIs: Matt Sattler 3, Robby Po ll 2 , Jeff Ichesco 1, Matt VanderVelde 1, Scott Snyder 1, Brock Doud 1.
Stolen Bases: Matt VanderVelde.

Friday, June 29 - Australia 7, Hope 4

The Flying Dutchmen met their match on the international stage Friday bowing to the Australian Provincial allstar team 7-4 in a championship bracket game of the Prague Baseball Week tournament.

The loss puts coach Stu Fritz's squad in the consolation championship game against one of two Czech squads, the national team or the Prague allstars. Those teams were playing in a Friday night game for the right to meet Australia in Saturday's championship.

The Flying Dutchmen were forced to come-from-behind against an Australian delegation that is a regular in this tournament. The Aussies were champions in 1999.

The teams were locked in a scoreless duel through five innings. The Aussies put four runs - three of them unearned - on the board. Hope came back with four runs in the seventh inning. Australia answered with three in the eighth.

The Flying Dutchmen used four pitchers. Starter Matt Richardson was chased in the sixth. Reliever Robby Poll was unable to quell the Australia rally and exited after only one-third of an inning. Michael Dekker took the loss allowing three earned run in the seventh. Dustin Wuis closed out the game.

Hope's runs came from an RBI single by Joey Goeb, a dramatic squeeze bunt play that brought two runs home and a bases-loaded walk to Bill Lutke. The squeeze was executed by batter Matt VanderVelde and baserunners Matt Sattler and Mike VanderVelde.

Hope ended with seven hits led by Brock Doud and Joey Goeb with two singles each. All of Hope's hits were singles.

FRIDAY SUMMARY
Australia 000 004 030 - 7 8 1
Hope 000 000 400 - 4 7 1
Hope Pitchers: Matt Richardson, 5.1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 0SO; Robby Poll, 0.3 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 0S0; Michael Dekker, 1.2 IP, 3R, 3ER, 2H, 2BB, 1SO; Dustin Wuis, 1.2 IP 0R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 0SO.
Losing Pitcher: Michael Dekker.
Hope Hitters: Matt Sattler 1-for-4, Matt VanBeek 0-4, Mike VanderVelde 0-3, Bill Lutke 1-3, Andrew Bedan 0-1, Matt VanderVelde 1-2, Brock Doud 2-4, Scott Sommavilla 0-2, Scott Snyder 0-1, Rich Burling 0-1, Tim Judson 0-1, Joey Goeb 2-4.
Hope RBIs: Matt Sattler 1, Bill Lutke 1-3, Matt VanderVelde 1.
Stolen Bases: Scott Sommavilla.

Thursday, June 28 -- Hope 10, Slovakia 0 (7)

The Flying Dutchmen have advanced to the championship game of the Prague Baseball Week tournament after posting their second mercy victory in pool play by blanking the Slovakia select team 10-0 on Thursday.

Coach Stu Fritz's MIAA champions went 3-0 in pool play. Previous victories were recorded over Moscow Select 10-0 and the Czech national team 10-3.

The championship round begins Friday. Hope will play an afternoon semi-final game against Australia, the second place team in the tournament's other pool.

The Flying Dutchmen again displayed their talent on the mound and at the plate. Three pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter, Hope's second of the tournament. Starter Brian Guerriero allowed Slovakia's only hit, a single by the game's second batter. Guerriero went on to strike out six batters over his three innings. Middle reliever Shawn Grose pitched allowed Slovakia only one baserunner with a walk and finished with three strikers. Closer Anthony Pastrick got five of his six outs on strikeouts, three in-a-row in a perfect sixth.

A mixed Hope lineup gave five first-year players an opportunity to start. Hope's 10-hit attack was led by Scott Sommavilla whose three hits included two-run home run, a double and single. Leadoff hitter Scott Snyder had a pair of singles as did number two hitter Robby Poll. Alex Fryer hit a double.

THURSDAY SUMMARY
Slovakia 000 000 0 - 0 1 2
Hope 052 110 1 - 10 10 3
Hope Pitching: Guerriero, Grose (4), Pastrick (6) and Curtis Moran, Andrew Bedan (4).
WP: Guerriero 6SO, 2 BB
Others: Grose 3SO, 1 BB; Pastrick 5SO, 0BB
Hope Hitting: Scott Snyder 3-for-5, Robby Poll 2-5, Mike VanderVelde 1-3, Joey Goeb 0-1, Dustin Wuis 0-0 (pinch runner), Pete Zessin 1-1, Mike Rogers 0-0 (pinch runner), Scott Sommavilla 3-4, Curtis Moran 0-1, Andrew Bedan 0-2, Jeff Ichesco 1-4, Tim Judson 1-2, Rich Burling 0-0 (hit by pitcher twice), Alex Fryer 1-4.
RBIs: Scott Snyder, Robby Poll 2, Mike VanderVelde, Scott Sommavilla 2, Tim Judson, Alex Fryer.
Double: Scott Sommavilla and Alex Fryer.
Homerun: Scott Sommavilla.

Wednesday, June 27 -- Hope 10, Czech National 3

The Flying Dutchmen literally swung a heavy bat Wednesday as they defeated the host national Czech team 10-3 in a nationally televised game.

The victory puts coach Stu Fritz's Dutchmen at 2-0 in pool play at the "Prague Baseball Week" tournament. Hope's final game in pool play will be Thursday against the Slovakia national team. The pool play standings will determine the pairings for the consolation and championship brackets to be played out on Friday and Saturday.

The Flying Dutchmen were greeted by the U.S. Ambassador to The Czech Republic, Richard Graber. Coach Fritz presented the ambassador with a pair of hard-carved wooden shoes. The ambassador threw the ceremonial first-pitch, a perfect strike.

It was all Hope the rest of the way. The Flying Dutchmen scored twice in both the first and second innings.

The Flying Dutchmen collected 13 hits, led by Mike VanderVelde who went 5-for-5 and Matt Sattler who was 4-for-5 with a pair of triples.

Hope has outscored their first three opponents on this first-ever international trip 25-3.

Perhaps the only thing that could slow down this offense is a lack of bats. Hope is playing in a wooden-bat tournament. The team brought 24 new Louisville Sluggers with them. However, on Wednesday the Flying Dutchmen broke eight of them and are now down to 14 bats with three games to play.

Coach Fritz might well be headed to a Prague sporting goods store on Thursday for more bats.

Mike Rodgers, the MIAA's most valuable pitcher this past spring, gain the victory with six innings of work. He left with Hope leading 6-1. He struggled through a lot of the game, but was able to strand nine Czech baserunners. Robby Poll and Michael Dekker finished the pitching chores.

Mike VanderVelde, who set the Hope record for career hits, had five singles and drove in four runs.

WEDNESDAY SUMMARY
Hope 220 101 022 -- 10 13 4
Czech 001 000 011 -- 3 8 4
Mike Rodgers, Robby Poll (7), Michael Dekker (9) and Bill Lutke, Brock Doud; Keprta, Mraz (3) and Winkler.
WP: Rodgers 4 BB, 4 SO.
LP: Mraz 1BB, 6 SO
Hope Triples: Matt Sattler 2
Hope Batting: Matt Sattler 4-for-5, Matt VanBeek 1-3, Mike VanderVelde 5-5, Alex Fryer 0-1, Bill Lutke 1-3, Brock Doud 0-2, Matt VanderVelde 0-5, Richard Burling 0-2, Tim Judson 1-2, Scott Sommavilla 0-3, Scotty Snyder 0-2, Pete Zessin 0-2, Andrew 0-1, Curtis Moran 0-1, Joey Goeb 1-4.

Tuesday, June 26 -- Hope 10, Moscow 0
Hope College opened play in the Prague Baseball Week tournament with an impressive 10-0 victory over a select team from Moscow, Russia on Tuesday.

This historic trip came close to having a historic baseball moment as pitcher Dustin Wuis hurled a one-hitter in the abbreviated seven-inning game, ended because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Pool play continues Wednesday night when a much-anticipated game between Hope and the Czech national team is televised live across The Czech Republic. The U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Richard Graber, is scheduled to throw the opening pitch.

The left-handed Wuis was flirting with a no-hitter with one out in the seventh inning when a crosswind-aided flyball eluded the Hope leftfielder. Wuis, who is from Kalamazoo, Mich., ended with eight strikeouts. He walked two and hit a batter. At one point he retired 13 batters in-a-row.

The Flying Dutchmen bunched their runs, scoring three times in the first inning and then seven in the sixth. Hope had just seven hits, all singles, but took advantage of four walks, four hit-batters and two errors.

Coach Stu Fritz again used nearly every position player. Pete Zessin, of Holland, Mich., collected a pair of singles and drove in two runs. Scott Sommavilla of Holland, Mich. drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single.

Hope's final game in pool play on Thursday will be against the Slovakia national team. The results of pool play will determine the brackets for the championship round to be played Friday and Saturday.

TUESDAY SUMMARY
Moscow 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2
Hope 300 007 x -- 10 7 2
Markin, Filepov (6) and Nesvdba; Wuis and Doud, Bedan (6).
WP: Wuis 8 SO, 2 BB
LP: Markin 2 SO, 4 BB
No extra base hits
SB: Matt Sattler, Scott Snyder, Mike VanderVelde, Joey Goeb.
Hope Hitting: Matt Sattler 1-3, Scott Snyder 0-2, Matt VanBeek 1-1, Mike VanderVelde 0-2, Robby Poll 0-0 (BB), Brock Doud 1-3, Andrew Bedan 0-0 (HP), Bill Lutke 0-2, Curtis Moran 0-0 (SAC), Pete Zessin 2-3, Jeff Ichesco 0-2, Scott Sommavilla 1-1, Joey Goeb 1-2, Alex Fryer 0-1, Tim Judson 0-3

Monday, June 25 -- Hope 5, Swedish Nationals 0

Nine pitchers combined to throw a three-hit shutout as the Flying Dutchmen, playing their first game-ever on foreign soil, blanked the Swedish National team 5-0 in a "friendly" game in Prague, The Czech Republic on Monday.

The exhibition served as a prelude to Hope's participation in the 26th annual eight-team Prague Baseball Week which begins Tuesday in the Czech capital.

Coach Stu Fritz approached Monday's game with the goal of giving every player on the trip an opportunity to play. He nearly accomplished that save one player, pitcher Dustin Wuis, who will start in Tuesday's tournament opener against a team from Russia.

Few games in the 137-year history of Hope baseball had as much historic significance as Monday's contest. The Flying Dutchmen played an international opponent for the first time and in a stadium nearly 4,500 miles from Holland, Mich.

Nine pitchers, each throwing for one inning, was also unpredecented. Each threw a single inning in a pre-determined rotation. Matt Schrader of Port Huron, Mich., Hope's seventh inning hurler, was credited with the victory. He left a scoreless game which changed to a 3-0 Hope lead in the bottom of the seventh. The Flying Dutchmen added two unearned run in the eighth. Four of Hope's five runs were unearned as the Swedes committed three errors.

Hope's unique pitching rotation began with Shawn Grose of Fairless Hills, Pa. followed inning-by-inning by 2. Matt Richardson of Niles, Mich., 3. Mike Rodgers of Saline, Mich., 4. Brian Guerriero of Holland, Mich., 5. Pete Zessin of Holland, Mich., 6. Steve Tompkins of Glen Ellyn, Ill., 7. Matt Schrader, 8. Anthony Pastrick of St. Joseph, Mich., and 9. Michael Dekker of Hamilton, Mich.

The pitching corps scored the three hits over three innings combing for three strikeouts and three walks. Sweden stranded eight baserunners, four in scoring position.

The game-winning hit came from Robby Poll on an RBI single with two outs in the seventh. The Flying Dutchmen scored two more in the seventh on a throwing error. Matt Van Beek delivered an RBI fielder's choice in the eighth inning.

Hope ended with 10 hits. Scotty Snyder of Berrien Springs, Mich. collected a pair of singles while designated hitter Drew Bedan had a double and single.

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