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.