Almost 50 years to the day when it was set, one of the oldest records on the books in Dordt athletics fell when Gyeongju Kim struck out 21 batters in a 3-1 win over Hastings on March 26. 

The righthander, in his second season with the Defenders, went the distance in the 11 inning performance and walked one with three hits allowed in helping the Defenders start a three-game winning streak.  The native of Seoul, South Korea threw 139 pitches in the contest with over 90 for strikes.

"I grew up throwing a lot of pitches playing in South Korea.  I was able to maintain my power and speed and I think the program the coaches have us on helped and I also do crossfit for personal fitness," said Kim.

Kim's catcher on Saturday was Luke November. November said the game plan with Kim was pretty simple.

"We wanted to pound the zone and if we did that we'd get some quick outs or a bunch of strikeouts," said November.  "He got a bunch of strikes early, was able to move the ball across the zone and he maintained his velocity."

The pair have formed a chemistry in November's first season with the Defenders.

"Luke understands me and makes me comfortable," says Kim.

The connection began in the fall when the Cape Town, South Africa native joined the baseball team.

"I caught games this fall and we've grown from there.  He pounds the strike zone and I love framing his low pitches," said November.  "Game by game the pitcher-catcher relationship is growing."

And what of the now former record holder Guy De Haan?  The  1972 Dordt graduate now resides in Pella, Iowa and doesn't have a distinct recollection of that March 24 meeting with Covenant in 1972—partly because he was high volume strikeout pitcher.  He does remember it was part of spring break trip for the Defenders where they played Covenant at Lookout Mountain.  That Defender team ended the season 7-7 and started the season with four straight wins and was coached by Syne Altena.  De Haan explains how he struck out so many batters.

"I threw a 12-6 curveball right over the top and it dropped off at the end like a sinker.  I had great catchers and I made them work.  My strikeout pitch was the curve and they had to get it out of the dirt.  There were many innings where I'd get four strikeouts in an inning because the batter would go after one in the dirt but the catcher had a hard time handling it," said De Haan.

The 15 strikeout day in 1972 was part of a 54 strikeout season for De Haan who played two of his  seasons at Dordt with his older brother Case.  Case ended his career at Dordt in 1970 with 147 career strikeouts and Guy had 149 career strikeouts when he finished his career.

"I was privileged to be Casey's younger brother and he had an amazing fastball. My fastball wasn't like his but he taught me at a young age to throw the curveball and that was my pitch," said De Haan.  "I have such great memories of going to Dordt.  I loved going to Dordt and I loved playing baseball for Dordt College."

And his thoughts on now being second all-time in the record books for strikeouts in a game?

"I was thrilled to know I still held a record from my time at Dordt.  I hadn't thought about it in forever and I am so pleased for Gyeongju—that's fantastic and I'm thrilled for him. I think I speak for all my Dordt baseball brothers when I say it's about time!" said De Haan.