Baseball Recap October 7, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Kinheim repeats as Dutch champion!
Nederlands
HAARLEM (Neth.) - Corendon Kinheim on Sunday repeated as Dutch champion after winning 4-1 vs. Konica Minolta Pioniers to complete a 3-game sweep and win its fourth title in club history. Kinheim earlier won the championship in 1978, 1994 and last year.
The last time a club from Haarlem won back-to-back titles was Haarlem Nicols, which did it in 1988 and 1989. This was also the last time a team captured two consecutive titles, before Neptunus went on to win seven in a row from 1999-2005.
This was the fourth 3-game sweep in Series-history. Amsterdam Pirates was the first when it swept Neptunus in 1990, then Neptunus themselves did it twice vs. HCAW, 1991 and 2002.

The game was again visited by some 2000 spectators, including Dutch Major League-pitcher Rick van den Hurk, who in April made his big league-debut with the Florida Marlins, and former legendary Dutch national team-players like Hamilton Richardson, Herman Beidschat and Gé Hoogenbos.

Pioniers appeared to open the score in the first inning when Kinheim-starter Vaughan Harris gave up an one-out double to Norbert Lokhorst, who then advanced to third on a grounder by Glenn Romney, but then the inning ended on a new grounder. Kinheim then did score the first run in its first at bat and again a defensive error by Pioniers set things in motion. With one out, René Cremer singled, then advanced when second baseman Norbert Lokhorst committed an error on a possible double play-grounder by Dirk van 't Klooster. Vince Rooi then followed with a single to give Kinheim the lead. The bases were loaded when Tjerk Smeets also singled, but then Van 't Klooster was force out at home on a grounder by Jeffrey Verbij to third baseman Marcel Venema, who then caught a line drive by Roel Koolen to end the inning.

...Marlins-pitcher Rick van den Hurk (left) and his father... ...attended Game 3 of the Holland Series... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the fourth inning, Jourick Blanco and Edwin de Graaf singled with two outs, but then Nick Fridsma popped out. In the home of the fourth, Kinheim added two more runs after another error in the Pionier-defense produced the first run in this at bat. Jeffrey Verbij led off with a single, then Roel Koolen fouled out. Next, Wouter Heemskerk also singled, then the two runners advanced on a grounder by Denny Beljaards to first baseman Dè Flanegin. Thinking it was the third out, Flanegin started running towards the dug-out and rolled the ball back into the infield. Verbij reacted alertly and scored. ,,It was a stupid move. I didn't know what happened'', said Flanegin, who hinted he might return again next season. Initially, it was believed both he and pitcher Richard Orman were to retire after this season. Orman will indeed, but Flanegin isn't sure yet. ,,I don't know yet'', Flanegin said. Hereafter, the bases were loaded when Danny Rombley walked and René Cremer singled. Kinheim then increased the lead when Heemskerk and Rombley both scored on a single by Dirk van 't Klooster. Pionier-starter Roger Kops then ended the inning with a strikeout, but Kinheim was leading 4-0.

...Hundreds of spectators came to the Pim Mulier Stadium for Game 3... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Pioniers scored its first and only run in the fifth inning. Good throwing Kinheim-Australian Vaughan Harris started with a lead-off walk for Jefferson Muzo, who was then forced out at second base on a comeback-grounder by Michael Duursma. Next, Norbert Lokhorst singled, but he also was forced out on a grounder by Glenn Romney, followed by a single by Dè Flanegin, which enabled Duursma to score. But Harris then ended the at bat with a strikeout and would retire six batters in a row, before Lokhorst (who was 3-for-5) doubled in the seventh inning.

While Pioniers committed three errors, their defense also made some nice plays, like a foulout-catch against the fence by first baseman Dè Flanegin and two fine plays by short stop Michael Duursma, who made a good catch in the fifth and a had a great fielding action in the seventh when Kinheim had the bases loaded. For Kinheim, second baseman René Cremer made a nice catch in the seventh inning.

Maarten Mulder came on in relief of Roger Kops in the fifth inning and threw two good innings, before Nelson Santander Olajo took over in the seventh. With one out, the Venezuelan righthander again had problems with his control, as he had in the first two games. He walked Dirk van 't Klooster and Vince Rooi, then gave up a 2-out single to Jeffrey Verbij to load the bases, before Michael Duursma made a nice action on a grounder by Roel Koolen to end the inning. In the eighth, Santander hit lead-off batter Wouter Heemskerk with a pitch, then struckout the next batter and ended the inning with a double play.

After having thrown seven solid innings, Vaughan Harris was relieved by David Bergman, who retired the side in the eighth, before closer Michiel van Kampen pitched the ninth. He gave up an one-out infield-hit to pinch-hitter Glennsig Polonius and walked Michael Duursma with two outs, but then Norbert Lokhorst flied out to centerfield to end the game, the Holland Series and the 2007 season. Van Kampen, who was the winner on Saturday, earned his second save and was voted the Series Most Valuable Player. ,,Really? That's fun. Also because they're considering a reliever for a change'', Van Kampen reacted.

...Jeffrey Verbij (left) and Head Coach Ben Thijssen... ...celebrate their second title in a row... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

,,It hasn't been easy'', winning Head Coach Ben Thijssen said. ,,Against Pirates, we had to go all the way in the Play-Offs, on Saturday we were trailing 3-1 in the ninth inning, but we finished the season nicely.'' This season, Kinheim had the most stable team and led the league from Day One. In June, it won the European Cup and it let in most offensive categories. Ben Thijssen: ,,We played very solid defense, had the highest batting average and our pitching staff has performed real well, I have to give a big compliment to my Pitching Coach Eelco Jansen for this.'' Despite these positive aspects, Thijssen didn't expect to sweep Pioniers, especially as they themselve had swept DOOR Neptunus in the Play-Offs. Last year, Kinheim needed all five games and had to come back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Pioniers and capture their first title in 12 years. ,,But this was a very different Pioniers than last year'', Thijssen concluded. ,,Then they set a record for most double plays in the Holland Series and now they had some eleven or twelve errors in three games, which were in our favor.'' In three games, ten errors were officially registered on the scoresheets.

,,Defensively, this has been one of the worst Holland Series in years, so many errors were made'', Pioniers' Head Coach Frank Koene reacted. ,,This season, we played good defense, but what we have shown now was Holland Series-unworthly. You tell me what's the reason for this, because I don't know. When you like baseball, these might have been attractive game, because a lot was happening on the field, but as a coach and a team you can't win this way.'' Looking ahead to next season, Koene said: ,,In principle I want to stay, but you never know what happens''.

,,This is unbelievable'', winning pitcher Vaughan Harris said after capturing the title. ,,This is two times now, first winning the European Cup in Italy and now this, I have never experienced something like this. I have won the national championship in Australia, but that not even comes close to this. I would be happy to come back next year and play again in the Netherlands.''

By capturing the title, Kinheim also kept a promise. In April, after returning from a successful training camp in Turkey, Kinheim's loyal Equipment Manager Ron Dekker suffered a heart attack and passed away a few days later. In remembrance of Dekker, this season the players played with a badge with his initials 'RD' on their shirts. Ben Thijssen: ,,Ron was a real clubman and on his funeral we promised him that we would make it a good season. Before every home game, his favorite music, the 'Icecream Shuffle', was played and we dedicated the European Cup-win to him.'' Stated Thijssen's Bench Coach Marcel Joost, a longtime friend of Dekker: ,,Ron was here today.''
(October 7)

More championship photos

Line Score & Box Score
Final Standings & Scores