Before the game, the Opening Ceremony was held with the teams being represented by their flags only instead of the group of players. The European hymn was then sung by Victor Esteve, the winner of 'Operacion Triumfo', the Spanish version of an 'Idols'-like show. Hereafter, Martin Miller, President of the European Baseball Federation (CEB) opened the event, followed by the throwing of the ceremonial first pitch by a young Spanish player named Juan.
(September 7)

Photos of Day 1: Opening Ceremony and Game One

...Tom Stuifbergen...

...Kenny Berkenbosch...

Tom Stuifbergen, who is playing in his first professional season in the organisation of the Minnesota Twins, is bothered by a shoulder-injury and therefore is unable to throw for the national squad in Spain. Earlier this year, he also started his pro-season later because of an injury. Manager Robert Eenhoorn decided to replace him with Kenny Berkenbosch, who plays for Amsterdam Pirates, where Stuifbergen also is a member. Berkenbosch played professionally in the Florida Marlinsorganisation from 2002-2005, before coming back to the Netherlands. From 2002-2004, he also played briefly for Instant Holland Almere '90. In 2006, Berkenbosch played for Mr. Cocker HCAW, before coming to Pirates for this season.
(September 6)

...Rob Cordemans delivers a pitch... ...in Tuesday's exhibition game against Spain... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The Dutch team, in its new compilation of players, played a good game both offensively and defensively. The team collected ten basehits, including two each by pros Hainley Statia, who was the short stop, and Yurendell de Caster, who played on first and second base. Dutch pitchers Rob Cordemans (5 innings), Nick Stuifbergen (3) and Duko Jansen (1) combined on a 2-hitter. The Dutch team faced six different pitchers, who struckout eight batters.

The Dutch got runners on first and second with one out in the second inning, but then Dirk van 't Klooster lined into a double play. In the next at bat, the Dutch opened the score with two runs. Danny Rombley led off with a single, then scored all the way from first when Michael Duursma followed with a double. The Dutch then got the bases loaded when Hainley Statia (with one out) singled and Sharnol Adriana (with two outs) walked. A run was then scored when next batter Sidney de Jong also walked, but three runners stranded as Raily Legito popped out.

The third run was added in the fifth inning. With one out, Hainley Statia singled again, then scored on a double by Yurendell de Caster.
The final two runs were scored in the ninth at bat. After the sixth Spanish pitcher struckout the first two batters he faced, Yurendell de Caster hit his second double of the evening, then scored when Sharnol Adrian followed with a single and moved to second on the throw to home. The veteran player made it 5-0 when he scored on a single by next batter Tjerk Smeets.

Dutch starter Rob Cordemans retired the first ten batters he faced, before walking a batter in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Jos's Luís Riera led off with a double, which was the first Spanish basehit off Cordemans, who saw the bases being loaded with two outs when he hit two batters, but then ended the at bat with a strikeout. Nick Stuifbergen took over in the sixth and gave up a 2-out single t Dewis Navarro, but hereafter the next ten Spanish batters were retired in order, including the last three off closer Duko Jansen. The game ended when Jansen struckout pinch-hitter Félix Cano, who made a comeback in the national team and afterwards confirmed he will be on the EC-roster for Spain in the coming days. ,,But after this year, I will retire'', the 42-year old Cano said.
Tuesday's win was the 27th in a row against Spain in 27 meetings.
(September 4)

Line Score & Box Score

In Barcelona, the Dutch team will meet Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany and Croatia in the preliminary round in Pool A, while Italy is playing in Pool B against France, Great Britain, Ukraine, Russia and Spain. Hereafter, the top-three of each pool will continue to the Final Round to decide the championship.

After completion of the Eneco World Port Tournament, earlier this month in Rotterdam (Netherlands), Eenhoorn already announced that he was to make some changes in his team. During the event, the Dutch team didn't play well. Some of the pitchers were hit hard, defensively errors were made and the offense lacked production. On the final day of the tournament in Rotterdam, Eenhoorn stated that RHP Berry van Driel, LHP Gregory Gustina, C Martijn Meeuwis and 1B Percy Isenia were dropped from the roster for Spain. Last week, RHP Kenny Berkenbosch, IF Roel Koolen and OF Bryan Engelhardt were scrubbed. In announcing the roster, it was also confirmed that IF Ivanon Coffie was also removed from the roster. A week before the WPT, Coffie was added to the roster after being released from the professional league in Taiwan.

Veteran Johnny Balentina returned to the squad after missing the exhibition trip to the USA in July and the World Port Tournament because of a rib-injury. Balentina recently returned to playing status and showed he is back in shape. Eenhoorn opted to choose the remaining seven 'newcomers' from the group of Antillian/Aruban/Dutch players, who are currently active as professionals.

The eight players added to the roster are:

...Johnny Balentina...

OF Johnny Balentina
The experienced Balentina, who plays frequently plays in the outfield the last few seasons, also can be used as a catcher, as that was his prime position for the majority of his career. Balentina, who played in 148 official games for the Dutch national team, plays for DOOR Neptunus.

...Shairon Martis...

P Shairon Martis
Martis made his national team-debut last year during the World Baseball Classic and threw a No-Hitter in his first game against Panama.
This season, Martis is 13-8 as a pitcher for the Potomac Nationals, the single-A team of the Washington Nationals. In 143 innings, Martis struckout 102 batters and has an ERA of 4.47. He threw in 26 games, 25 of which he started. Last Sunday, Martis was the winning pitcher against Myrtle Beach and struckout five. Martis plays professionally since 2004, when he was signed by the San Francisco Giants.

...Tom Stuifbergen...

P Tom Stuifbergen
Stuifbergen is in his first professional season in the organization of the Minnesota Twins. Last season, he played for the Amsterdam Pirates in the Dutch big league.
Playing in the Rookie League-team for the Twins, Stuifbergen so far pitched in seven games and is 0-0. He struckout nine batters in 12 1/3 innings pitched.

...Sharnol Adriana...

1B Sharnol Adriana
The experienced Adriana has a long professional career behind him and played in the minor leagues for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The last few seasons, Adriana plays professionally in Mexico, as he did this season. With the Olmecos de Tabasco (triple-A level), Adriana batted .356 (114-for-320) and had nine homeruns. He scored 64 runs and had 57 RBI's.
Adriana is a member of the Dutch national team since the Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney (Australia).

...Yurendell de Caster...

IF Yurendell de Caster
De Caster signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when he was only 16 years old in 1996 and plays in the organization of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2000.
This season, De Caster plays for the Indianapolis Indians in triple-A and is batting .280 (112-for-400) with five homeruns. He scored 54 runs and has 51 RBI's. Last season, De Caster made his debut in the Major League with the Pirates.
De Caster, who played in the Dutch Team during the Olympic Games in 2004 in Athens (Greece) can play all infield- and outfield positions.

...Gregory Halman...

IF/OF Gregory Halman
Halman is in his third professional season with the Seattle Mariners and currently plays for the Everett AquaSox (single-A). In 60 games, Halman bats .300 (69-for-230) with 16 homeruns. He scored 37 runs and has 37 RBI's. Last Tuesday, Halman hit two homeruns in one game. Halman started the season in another single-A team where he hit .182 in 52 games. Overall, Halman hits .247 and has hit 20 homeruns. Halman can be used as a first baseman and an outfielder.

...Hainley Statia...

IF Hainley Statia
Statia made his debut in the Dutch team during the World Baseball Classic last year. The infielder plays professionally since 2004 and this year is playing for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the single-A team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 131 games, Statia hits .284 (152-for-535) with three homeruns. He scored 83 runs and has 74 RBI's.

...Rogearvin Bernadina...

OF Rogearvin Bernadina
Bernadina is a professional since November 2001 when he signed with the Montreal Expos, which became the Washington Nationals.
This season, Bernadina played 16 games on the triple-A level, but currently is a member of the Harrisburg Senators in double-A. With the Senators, Bernadina hits .263 (93-for-354) with five homeruns. He scored 56 runs and has 31 RBI's.

Rogearvin Bernadina and Gregory Halman will make their debut in the national team. They both were part of the Dutch team during a trainingcamp-trip to Curaçao, respectively in 2004 and 2005, but no games were played then. In the Dutch big league, Bernadina has played for Sparta/Feyenoord and is a non-roster player this season for Neptunus, while Halman played for Kinheim and is a member of ADO.

(August 29)

L&D Support is an Amsterdam-based psychological advisory company, specialized in HRM solutions for the business community and government. Pirates' chairman John Witte, who also is the director of L&D Support, announced the sponsoring during a presentation on Friday in the clubhouse of Pirates, where the main office of his company will be located. ,,Our ambition is that Pirates not only wants to play a major part again in the national competition, but also wants to belong to the European top'', Witte stated.

During the presentation, Fausto Álvarez Rizo, Pirates' DH and this season's Dutch big league Homerun King with 12, showed his power, facing former Pirates-pitcher Rikkert Faneyte, who played in the Major League for the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.
(September 7)

...Danny Rombley... ...Batting Champion... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Bussum, Kinheim had 18 basehits with all ten players used offensively hitting at least one. Dirk van 't Klooster again went 5-for-5 (including two doubles), just as he did last Thursday.
Kinheim scored twice in the fourth inning, then added four in the next at bat, highlighted by a 3-run homerun by Tjerk Smeets, his seventh of the season and fourth in the last six games. After adding runs in the sixth and eighth inning, Kinheim scored two more runs in the ninth on a single by Denny Beljaards and a double by Danny Rombley. By hitting this double, Rombley, who was 1-for-5, became the Batting Champion of the 2007 season with a .392 average (69-for-176). When he would have gone 0-for-5, Rombley would have shared first place with teammate Roel Koolen, who now finished in second place with a .386 average. Vince Rooi, another Kinheim-player, finished third, by hitting .368. The first non-Kinheim players on the list with averages were Fausto Álvarez Rizo of Amsterdam Pirates and Ryan Murphy of MediaMonks RCH, who shared fourth place with a .365 batting average.
HCAW had only three basehits, including one off starter David Bergman, who again threw seven strong innings. Bergman struckout seven and raised his record to 12-2. It is the second season in a row that Bergman won 12 games and he again will be a sure contender for the Best Pitcher Award, as he leads the league in victories.

At The Hague, Neptunus trailed 4-3, then scored four runs in the ninth inning to win 7-4 vs. ADO.
ADO took an 1-0 lead in the first inning when Adrian Anthony (3-for-4) tripled (he also doubled) and scored on a sac-fly, but Neptunus answered with two runs in the second at bat on a single by Johnny Balentina and a basesloaded hit by pitch. ADO re-took the lead in the third inning on a 2-run double by Percy Isenia, then added a run in the fifth on an error.
In the eighth, Neptunus narrowed the deficit to 4-3 on an RBI-double by Jeffrey Arends, then rallied for four runs off reliever Jurrian Koks in the ninth inning on three hits and an error.

At Hoofddorp, Pioniers nipped Pirates 2-1 to claim third place in the final standings, while Pirates finishes in fourth place.
The game came 50 days after the teams last met on July 8 in which a huge bench-clearing brawl led to ten suspensions. On Tuesday, there were no problems. Earlier in the day, the two clubs stated in a joined press release that the things that happened on July 8 were in the past and both clubs, who had and have a good relationship, will continue working together. It was said that a brawl like the one on July 8 doesn't belong on a baseball field and the clubs will take actions when someone will violate club rules in the future.
The first six innings were a pitching duel. Pirates had only two basehits in the first six innings off Nelson Santander Olajo, but took an 1-0 lead in the seventh inning. Bas de Jong led off with a walk and moved on a single by Fausto Álvarez Rizo and sac-bunt/error by Roderick Simon. De Jong was then forced out at home on a grounder by Ferd van Stekelenburg, but Álvarez scored when Bas Nooij walked. A flyout and force play ended the at bat.
Pioniers, which had only one hit in its first six innings off Kenny Berkenbosch, answered with two runs in its seventh at bat. Dè Flanegin led off with a single, then scored on a double by Mark Duursma. With two outs, Edwin de Graaf was hit by a pitch, before Michael Duursma singled, enabling his brother to give Pioniers a 2-1 lead.

At Rotterdam, Almere took an 1-0 lead in the first inning and was leading 4-1 in the fifth, but eventually was empty-handed again and lost its 14th game in a row.
In the fifth, Almere broke an 1-1 tie by scoring three runs on a basesloaded walk, an error and a sac-fly, but Sparta/Feyenoord answered with a run in its fifth, then rallied for five runs in the next at bat. With the bases loaded, a run was scored on an infield-hit by Nick Eppinga, then the bases were cleared by a pinch-hit double by Freddy Rudolph, who later scored himself on a single by Orson Slaats. In the seventh, Patrick Wabbijn tripled and scored on a single by Edison Bito, then two more runs were added in the eighth on a sac-fly and a double by Sil Wagenaar.
Almere scored a run in the seventh and ninth inning, which were both produced by Giovanni Samboe on a sac-fly and an infield-hit, which was the 3103rd and last basehit being hit in the regular season. Moments before, Almere-leftfielder Frank van Leeuwen had registered the 3000th big league-basehit of this year.
(August 28)

Line Scores & Box Scores updated
Standings, Scores & Schedule

At Amsterdam, Jos de Jong went the distance and struckout eleven batters, while giving seven hits, as Pirates shutout RCH.
Pirates scored three runs in the fourth inning on a double by Ferd van Stekelenburg and RBI-singles by Björn Henrichs and Glenn Mascoll. In the fifth inning, Fausto Álvarez Rizo hit his twelfth homerun of the season to make it 4-0.
RCH stranded a runner on third in the third inning, then saw another one being thrown out at the plate in the fourth on a strong throw by centerfielder Remco Draijer.

At The Hague, HCAW trailed 2-0 when it rallied for five runs in the second inning on a 2-run double by Siemen Korff, 2-run triple by Shurty Tremus and an error.
In the fourth, Sebastiaan Olgers tripled in a run, then scored himself on a sac-fly by Ralph Milliard. In the sixth, Olgers again tripled, then scored on a single by Milliard. Two more runs in this inning were scored on a single by pinch-hitter Stefan Hoogewerff and a basesloaded walk.
ADO had scored twice in the first inning op an error and a double by Percy Isenia, then scored another run in the sixth.

At Rotterdam, Neptunus led 2-0, but saw Pioniers come alongside, then scored the winning run in the eighth at bat.
In the third, Benjamin Dille walked and scored on a single by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, then a run was added in the fourth when Jeffrey Arends walked and scored on a sac-fly.
Pioniers came alongside by scoring in the sixth and seventh inning. In the sixth, Dè Flanegin reached on an infield-hit and scored on a single by Edwin de Graaf. In the seventh, Flanegin singled in Michael Duursma.
Neptunus re-took the lead in the eighth inning. With two outs, Jeroen Sluijter walked and scored on a double by Johnny Balentina.

At Haarlem, Kinheim and Sparta/Feyenoord both scored in the third inning, then the home team won the game in the tenth at bat.
In the third, Sparta/Feyenoord took an 1-0 lead when Ramphis Trinidad (infield-hit) scored on an error, but Kinheim came alongside in the home of the third when Robin Longhurst singled and scored on a basesloaded single by René Cremer, but the inning ended when Dirk van 't Klooster grounded into a double play.
In the tenth, Vince Rooi singled with two outs, then Tjerk Smeets followed with his sixth homerun of the season to give Kinheim a 3-1 victory.
(August 26)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Standings, Scores & Schedule

At Heemstede, Pirates was leading 2-0 when RCH suddenly came back to tie the score in the sixth, then took over the lead to keep.
In the first inning, Pirates scored its first run when Glenn Mascoll (single) scored on a single by Bas de Jong, then added a run in the fourth. Kenny Berkenbosch then led off with a triple and scored on a single by Roderick Simon.
Pirates-starter Nick Stuifbergen was pitching a No-Hitter for five innings when RCH scored two unearned runs in the sixth to tie the score. Lex Leijenaar led off by reaching on an error, then Floris Morang reached on a fielder's choice. Next, Leijenaar was eliminated at the plate on a comeback-grounder by Petr Baroch. The bases were loaded when Nick Heij reached on an infield-hit, the first RCH-basehit in the game. After a strikeout, RCH tied the score on a 2-run single by Jan Drabek.
In the seventh, RCH took a 4-2 lead. With one out, Maarten Bos singled and later scored on an error, while Lex Leijenaar (single) scored on a single by Petr Baroch. An insurance run was added in the eighth to make it 5-2. Pirates had gotten the bases loaded in the seventh with one out, but then Sidney de Jong grounded into a double play.
Because of this result, RCH became unreachable for Almere, which therefore relegated after a seven-year stay in the big league.

Some Almere-history.
Almere '90 was founded in 1990 after a merger between New Giants and Polmerians. New Giants was the new name for Almere Giants '24 after this team had withdrawn from the big league. Giants '24 was the name for the new club which came to Almere after it had moved from Diemen, where it was known as Giants Diemen (which previously was known as VVGA). After the 1995 season. Almere '90 merged with Amsterdam-based De Spartaan, which in that year relegated from the big league. Because of the merger, Almere was eligible to remain playing in a national competition. After the 2000 season, Almere '90 merged again with an Amsterdam-club. This time with Xanthos (which was created after a merger by OVVO), which also relegated from the big league. While most of the club returned to its original name OVVO, the big league-team merged with Almere, meaning they earned a spot in the big league for the 2001 season. Can you still follow it?
Almere's highest finish in its seven-year period in the big league was sixth place 2006. In its first three seasons, the team finished in ninth place in the first half of the season, then remained in the big league through the promotion/relegation pool. After finishing in seventh place in 2004, Almere was eighth in 2005 and faced RCH in a promotion/relegation play-off and secured its spot with a 3-0 sweep. After last season's sixth place, this year it was the ninth position, resulting in relegation. Including today, the Almere Magpies has lost 172 games in seven seasons, while winning only 65.

At Bussum, ADO, which turned four double plays, including one with the bases loaded in the second inning, was left scoreless against HCAW, which turned two double plays.
HCAW opened the score with three runs in the sixth at bat on singles by Bart Gabriëls and Juriën Overman and a basesloaded walk for Ronald Jaarsma. The fourth run was scored in the eighth. Siemen Korff walked with one out, then scored on a 2-out single by Jaarsma.
ADO had only four basehits and reached second base only twice.

At Hoofddorp, Leon Boyd gave up only one basehit in eight innings and raised his record to 9-0, while striking out eight, as Neptunus shutout Pioniers.
Neptunus scored its first two runs in the first inning on a single by Evert-Jan 't Hoen and an error, then scored twice in the next at bat on a basesloaded walk for 't Hoen and a single by Lennart Koster. After five scoreless innings, Neptunus increased its lead to 7-0 in the eighth inning on an error and a 2-run single by Benjamin Dille, who was 3-for-4.
In the third inning, Edwin de Graaf led off for Pioniers with a single, which was to be their lone basehit in the game. After De Graaf was caught stealing, Leon Boyd retired 16 of the next 17 batters. Chris Ryan threw the ninth inning.

At Rotterdam, Kinheim broke an 1-1 tie in the ninth inning to hand Sparta/Feyenoord its seventh loss in a row.
Sparta/Feyenoord took an 1-0 lead in the fifth when Sil Wagenaar walked and scored on a single by Shaldimar Daantji, but Kinheim came alongside in the seventh inning when Denny Beljaards scored on a basesloaded error.
In the ninth, Kinheim scored three runs off reliever Ronald de Bont. Danny Rombley led off with a single and moved to third when René Cremer's sac-bunt was misplayed. With runners on second and third, Dirk van 't Klooster was walked intentionally, but a wild pitch gave Kinheim a 2-1 lead. Next batter Vince Rooi then also was walked intentionally to set up another force play. This time, Tjerk Smeets followed with an RBI-single, but Rooi was thrown out between second and third base after he overran second. Smeets moved on the play, then De Bont issued his third intentional walk in the same inning to set a record. This time Jeffrey Verbij received a free pass, but again a run followed, as Quincy Bernardus followed with a sac-fly.
Sparta/Feyenoord added only one more run in its ninth off closer Michiel van Kampen, who earned his league-leading eighth save, while reliever Jean-Paul Gulinck earned his first win of the season.
(August 25)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Standings, Scores & Schedule

At Almere, Kinheim collected 19 basehits, including five by Dirk van 't Klooster (5-for-5) and three by Wouter Heemskerk (3-for-5). Except for lead-off hitter Danny Rombley, all starting players had at least one basehit (seven of them two or more) and scored at least one run, with Dirk van 't Klooster and Wouter Heemskerk scoring three runs. Winning pitcher David Bergman earned his 11th victory.
Kinheim opened the score in the second on a 2-run double by Wouter Heemskerk, added three runs in the third, scored twice in the fourth, then rallied for five runs in the fifth inning on six hits, highlighted by RBI-doubles by Denny Beljaards and René Cremer. Trailing 14-0, Almere scored its only run in the sixth when starter David Bergman gave up four hits, including an RBI-single by Ricky Daal.

At Heemstede, Neptunus got 12 basehits off three pitchers, including three by Johnny Balentina, who appears to be back in shape again after his rib-injury.
Neptunus scored its first run in the fourth when Evert-Jan 't Hoen doubled and scored on a basesloaded walk, then added three runs in the fifth. Johnny Balentina led off with a triple, then Benjamin Dille reached on an error, before Raily Legito hit a 2-run triple and later scored on a sac-fly. After scoring once in the sixth, a 5-run rally followed in the seventh inning on six hits, including an RBI-double by Jeroen Sluijter.
RCH had only four basehits and reached second base only twice.

At Rotterdam, ADO (which left the bases loaded in the second) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fifth inning. First, Maikel Benner walked and advanced on a sac-bunt, then Percy Isenia was walked intentionally, followed by a pitching change. An error on a grounder by Harvey Monte led to a run, then Jason Halman also was walked intentionally. With two outs, Michel Korzeniewski hit a 2-run single to make it 3-0. In the next at bat, three more runs were scored when Jason Halman hit a 2-run triple and scored himself on an error. The seventh run was added in the eighth on a sac-fly by Halman, who had three RBI's.
ADO had only three basehits, including two off starter Rob Cordemans, who struckout eleven in six innings and won his first game of the season since coming back from Taiwan. ADO failed to reach third base in this game.

At Hoofddorp, Pioniers led 2-0, but had to break a tie in the eighth to defeat HCAW.
In the third, Pioniers took a 2-0 lead on a basesloaded walk and a wild pitch, but HCAW scored three runs in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. With two outs, Gino Henson singled, then Maarten Mulder relieved starter Erik Jan Lind, but gave up a double, then walked the next three batters and was replace by Tommy van Limburg, who added a fourth walk, leading to the three runs. In the home of the sixth, Pioniers re-took the lead by scoring twice on back-to-back doubles by Joey Treurniet and Norbert Lokhorst.
In the seventh, HCAW came alongside on a basesloaded single by Stefan Hoogewerfff, but stranded three runners. In the eight, Pioniers broke the 4-4 tie by scoring three runs. First, Edwin de Graaf scored on a wild pitch, then Michael Duursma (single), Norbert Lokhorst (catcher's interference) and Glenn Romney (walk) loaded the bases. After an infield-fly, Marcel Venema reached on an infield-hit, enabling Duursma to score. While the HCAW-defense was busy disputing the safe-call at first base, Lokhorst also scored.
(August 23)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Standings, Scores & Schedule

Pioniers scored once in the third inning, then added four runs in the fifth on singles by Michael Duursma (who was 3-for-3) and Glenn Romney and a 2-out, 2-run double by Marcel Venema.
Almere reached base only twice off Venezuelan pitcher Nelson Santander Olajo whose No-Hitter was broken with two outs in the fifth when Dayron Puriël singled. The other player to reach base was Ricky Daal in the second, who walked but then was caught stealing. With two outs in the sixth, rain interrupted the game, which was then definitively stopped, making it a valid game.
(August 21)

Line Score & Box Score
Standings, Scores & Schedule

At Heemstede, RCH took an 1-0 lead in the third inning when Floris Morang doubled and scored on a single by Michel Croes, but ADO came alongside in the next at bat. Percy Isenia then walked and went on to score on a double by Jason Halman.
RCH got runners on first and third with one out in the seventh inning, but then a double play followed. ADO decided the game in the tenth when Quensley Bazoer doubled and scored on a single by Marvin Bleij.

At Amsterdam, Pirates was leading 2-1 when Tjerk Smeets hit a 2-run homerun (his second homer in the weekend) in the sixth inning to give Kinheim a 3-2 lead. Kinheim added two more runs in the at bat and was leading 6-2 when Pirates came back with three runs in the seventh and tied the score in the ninth. Glenn Mascoll then singled, moved on a bunt by Remco Draijer and scored on a single by Sidney de Jong.
In the tenth inning, Kinheim answered with another run. Danny Rombley singled, moved on a sac-bunt by René Cremer, then scored on a single by Vince Rooi.

At Rotterdam, Neptunus was leading 3-0 when Dayron Puriël hit a 3-run homerun in the fourth inning to bring Almere alongside. Neptunus immediately rallied for three runs in the fifth to re-take the lead and added two runs in the seventh.
Trailing 8-3, Almere suddenly came back with four runs off closer Jan Naterop in the ninth inning, but eventually ended up empty handed again.

At Bussum, HCAW led 3-0 when Sparta/Feyenoord scored its first run in the fourth inning. Shurendell Borgschot led off with a triple and scored on an error. Borgschot added another triple in the eighth and went on to score, but at that moment HCAW already was leading 6-2.
HCAW rallied for three runs in the fourth inning and scored twice on a single by Ralph Milliard. HCAW added an insurance run in the eighth when Ronald Jaarsma scored on an error.
(August 19)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Standings, Scores & Schedule

At The Hague, RCH took a 2-0 lead when Ryan Murphy homered in the third inning off starter Rob Cordemans. ADO came back within one run when Percy Isenia homered in the fourth, but when the home of the ninth inning started, RCH was still leading 2-1. With a victory, RCH would share seventh place with ADO. But ADO scored twice and moved a spot, passing Sparta/Feyenoord, which also lost and now is only three points ahead of RCH.
In the ninth, Jermaine Esprit and Maikel Benner opened with singles, whereafter starter Martin Kuipers was replaced by Marek Deska. The two runners moved on a sac-bunt by Marvin Bleij, then the bases were loaded by walking Percy Isenia intentionally. Deska then walked next batter Jason Halman, which tied the score, but struckout Adrian Anthony. Next, a grounder by Michel Korzeniewski was misplayed by short stop Petr Baroch, giving ADO the victory.

At Rotterdam, HCAW scored both runs vs. Sparta/Feyenoord in the eighth inning. Siemen Korff led off with an infield-hit and moved on a sac-bunt by Sidney Ensermo and a grounder by Ronald Jaarsma. Ralph Milliard was then walked intentionally by starter Eddie Oropesa, but then Shurty Tremus followed with a triple to bring in the two runs.
HCAW-starter André Simpson gave up only two hits in the eight innings he pitched and allowed only one player to reach third base. After giving up a 2-out double to Nick Eppinga in the third, Simpson retired 13 of the next 14 batters. Stephen Spragg pitched the ninth inning, struckout three and earned a save.
At the moment, HCAW is the lone team which can still qualify for the Play-Offs (and thus can become the champion), but on the other hand also can finish on a spot which means relegation to the First Division.

At Haarlem, Kinheim collected 18 basehits off three pitchers, including four by Danny Rombley and three by Jeffrey Verbij and Denny Beljaards. In the fifth inning, Tjerk Smeets hit a solo-homerun.
Trailing 1-0, Pirates came alongside in the fourth, but then Kinheim answered with four runs off starter Jos de Jong, who was replaced by Seppo Slaman. He pitched only 2/3 innings, as he injured himself and was replaced by Raban Schalm, who gave up 12 hits in the next four innings.

At Almere, Neptunus handed Almere its tenth consecutive loss by winning 13-2 in seven innings.
Neptunus collected 19 basehits, including four by Jeroen Sluijter and Johnny Balentina, who is on his way back after his rib-injury and will join the prelimary roster of the Dutch National Team on Monday, becoming a candidate to make the final cut for next months European Championships and Olympic Qualifier in Spain. Neptunus scoired nine of its 13 runs in the three middle innings. Benjamin Dille scored four runs, while Martijn Meeuwis contributed with three RBI's.
Winning pitcher Diegomar Markwell went the distance and gave up eight hits, while striking out six.
(August 18)

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Standings, Scores & Schedule

At Amsterdam, Pirates clinched a spot in the Play-Offs for the first time since the 1992 season, which was the last being coached by Ted Arnold. Back then, current Head Coach Louis Hofer was Arnold's Assistant Coach. This marks the first time that Hofer leads a team to the Play-Offs himself in nine seasons as Head Coach. In his first two seasons as a Head Coach, in 1984 and 1985, Hofer also led Pirates and then finished in fourth and third place respectively, but then there was no Play-Off system, which was adopted for the first time in the 1989 season. Current 3B Coach Ronald Stoovelaar was one of the players in 1992 when Pirates reached the Play-Offs for the last time and also was a member of the team, which captured the Dutch title in 1987 and 1990.
Winning pitcher Nick Stuifbergen threw a strong game and was pitching a No-Hitter for 6 2/3 innings. With two outs in the seventh, Sape Wagenaar singled through the middle to break the No-Hitter. In the eighth, Stuifbergen gave up two more hits, then (with two outs) Pim Walsma took over and loaded the bases with a walk, but then struckout pinch-hitter Calvin Martinus to end the inning. In the ninth, Walsma struckout three to earn his first save of the season.
Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on four consecutive lead-off singles off Rudy Seebus. Singles by Bas de Jong, Fausto Álvarez Rizo (who was 3-for-4) and Kenny Berkenbosch loaded the bases, then the first two scored on a single by Roderick Simon. A strikeout and a double play then ended the at bat. Pirates added a run in the fifth when Remco Draijer (2-for-4) singled, reached second on an error and scored on a single by Álvarez. In the eighth and in sometimes heavy rain (it rained since the sixth), off new pitcher Ronald de Bont, Álvarez and Simon (2-for-4) singled, then Ferd van Stekelenburg's single was followed by an error, which enabled Álvarez to score, followed by a sac-fly by Björn Henrichs, which made it 5-0.
After the game, which again attracted a lot of spectators, ended, players of Pirates celebrated the clinching of the Play-Offs and also thanked their enthousiastic and loyal fans. A recap of this game can be seen on AT5, the local TV-channel of Amsterdam, on Friday-evening.

At Rotterdam, Leon Boyd struckout 12 batters and gave up five hits in eight innings, as Neptunus collected 13 basehits against HCAW. Benjamin Dille had three hits, while Johnny Balentina made his comeback after being sidelined for some weeks with bruised ribs after a collission on June 24 in the outfield.
Neptunus opened the score with two runs in the second at bat on a single by Jeroen Sluijter and a 2-out double by Benjamin Dille. The third run was added in the sixth on a double by pinch-hitter Johnny Balentina, who batted for Melfried Comenencia, the player whom he collided with almost two months ago. In the seventh, Benjamin Dille led off with a double and scored on a triple by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, who then scored the fifth run on a single by Martijn Meeuwis.
HCAW scored its lone run in the eighth when Juriën Overman singled and scored on a single by Shurty Tremus, but hereafter left the bases loaded.

At The Hague, Vaughan Harris lifted his record to 9-0, as Kinheim shutout ADO, 3-0.
Kinheim took a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning when Dirk van 't Klooster singled and scored on a double by Vince Rooi, who then scored himself on a single by Roel Koolen. Kinheim scored its third run in the ninth when pinch-hitter Quincy Bernardus singled and scored on a 2-out double by Danny Rombley.
Vaughan Harris threw five hitless innings, before he gave up a lead-off single to Quensley Bazoer in the sixth, but then picked him off first base. In the seventh, Duko Jansen took over, saw ADO reach base three times, but was supported with a double play. Kinheim also turned a double play in the ninth inning.

At Almere, RCH scored five runs in the last two innings to defeat Almere, 6-2.
Almere had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a grounder and a sac-fly, but they were to be their only runs. RCH answered with a run in the second at bat on an error, then rallied for three runs in the eighth inning.
In the eighth, Petr Baroch led off with a double and scored the tying run on a triple by his countryman Jan Drabek (Czech), who then scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice-grounder by Nick Heij. Moments later, Heij also scored on an error. RCH increased its lead with two more (unearned) runs in the ninth.
(August 16)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Standings, Scores & Schedule

In the final, Cuba shutout surprise finalist Taiwan.
Cuba scored its first run in the fourth inning when Hector Olivera led off with a double and moved on a grounder. After a pitching change, Olivera scored on a single by Yosvani Peraza, who collected his 18th RBI and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. In the sixth, Olivera also scored the second run. With one out, he reached on an infield-hit, then scored on a double by Alfredo Despaígne. It were the only two innings in which Cuba was productive off the good Taiwanese pitching.

Taiwan got its scoring opportunity in the seventh inning. Chien-Yu Kuo led off with a single, then Chih-Yao Chan walked. With one out, the bases were loaded when Ying-Chieh Liao reached on an infield-hit. Starter Yadel Martí was then replaced by Yulieski González, who faced pinch-hitter Jui-Mu Chen. He grounded to second base which started the third Cuban double play. In a very close play at first (was the ball indeed earlier on first than the runner?), Chen was called out and the inning and only scoring chance ended.
(August 12)

Final Standings
1. Cuba, 2. Taiwan, 3. USA, 4. Netherlands, 5. Japan.

Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player (Bill Arce Award): Yosvani Peraza (Cuba).
Best Hitter: Alfredo Despaígne (Cuba).
Best Pitcher: Leon Boyd (Netherlands).
Homerun King: José Julio Ruíz (Cuba).
Most Popular Player: Ryoji Nakata (Japan).
Rookie Award: Jordan Danks (USA).
Donald Bax Press Award: Leon Boyd (Netherlands).

All Star Team (chosen by the press corps)
RHP: Leon Boyd (Netherlands).
LHP: Wei-Hua Lee (Taiwan).
C: Yosvani Peraza (Cuba).
1B: José Julio Ruíz (Cuba).
2B: Ming-Chue Tsai (Taiwan).
3B: Donald Duarte (Cuba).
SS: Han Lin (Taiwan).
LF: Alfredo Despaígne (Cuba).
CF: Jordan Danks (USA).
RF: Alexei Bell (Cuba).
DH: Pedro Alvarez (USA).
Manager: Victor Mesa (Cuba).
Outstanding Player: Yosvani Peraza (Cuba).

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

The Dutch team didn't play well during the eleventh Eneco World Port Tournament, which concluded on Sunday-afternoon. During the week, Eenhoorn already had stated that there would be some roster-changes for the upcoming Championships in Spain.
On Sunday-morning, during a press brunch, Eenhoorn announced that 1B Percy Isenia, C/OF Martijn Meeuwis, LHP Gregory Gustina and RHP Berry van Driel were dropped. Meeuwis and Van Driel were selected for the first time to the national squad for the 3-game series in the USA and the World Port Tournament, while Isenia is one of the veterans on the team. A few more changes are expected.
Who the replacements are has not yet been announced, but they probably will come from the Dutch players, who currently are playing professionally in the USA. Also avalaible again will be OF Johnny Balentina, who missed the tournaments in the USA and Rotterdam because of a rib-injury. OF Harvey Monte, who was hospitalized late last week because of an inflammation of his abdomen, is responding well to medication and probably will be released from the hospital on Monday or Tuesday. It is not known yet how long he needs to recover and is he will be available for the EC in Spain.
Eenhoorn has no explanation for the results in Rotterdam. ,,It might be concentration or lack of quality. Anyhow, we weren't productive and there will be some changes. But don't forget that the tournament in Rotterdam was very strong and we faced some tough pitching.'' Next week, the team comes together again to start practice sessions for the EC and it expected that the roster also will be announced then.
(August 12)

The Dutch didn't play a good tournament, as it didn't produce offensively and committed too much errors defensively, but ended the event with a good feeling, beating Japan 3-2 in eleven innings.
Japan took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off starter Nick Stuifbergen. With two outs, Koji Sakakibara singled and scored when next batter Takahiro Iwamoto doubled. An error by short stop Raily Legito enabled Iwamoto to advance to third base and he then scored on a double by Ryoji Nakata. Kiyota also was waved home, but was thrown out at the plate.

In the home of the first inning, the Dutch came alongside immediately. Raily Legito (fielder's choice) was on base with one out when Sidney de Jong homered, which was his second homerun in two days. There were some discussions wether the ball passed the foulpole in leftfield on the left or right side, but it was ruled fair, so the homerun counted.

Hereafter, both starting pitchers recovered and silenced the offense of the opposing teams.
Japan got the bases loaded with two outs in the third inning, but a grounder ended the at bat. In the next eight innings, only one Japanese player would reach base. Duko Jansen took over in the seventh inning and retired all 15 batters he faced in the five innings he pitched.

The Dutch team got two more runners off starter Ken Togame, then only one off his reliever Yusuke Iwamoto, the submarine-pitcher. The team was more productive off Kyohei Tsuchimoto, who took over in the eighth. In the ninth inning, Sidney de Jong singled with one out, then Bryan Engelhardt was walked intentionally with two outs after De Jong had advanced on a wild pitch. A walk for Vince Rooi loaded the bases, but then Dirk van 't Klooster struckout.
After leaving a runner on second base in the tenth inning, the Dutch struck in the eleventh. With two outs, Bryan Engelhardt walked, then his pinch-runner Danny Rombley stole second base and scored the winning run on a single by next batter Vince Rooi.

In the afternoon, Yosvani Peraza hit a 2-run homerun in the first inning to give Cuba an early 2-0 lead against the USA and increase his RBI-lead to 17. In the fourth, José Julio Ruíz made it 3-0 when he also homered and in the seventh, Hector Olivera also added a homerun.
The USA got some scoring opportunities, but failed to score. They scored their lone run in the seventh when Jordy Mercer singled, advanced on two errors on a grounder by Roger Kieschnick, then scored on a grounder by Josh Romanski. Cuba got the run back in the ninth on an RBI-single by Carlos Tabares.
(August 11)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

Cuba scored four runs off starter Rob Cordemans in the first three innings. Cordemans again couldn't convince and still works on his shape after returning from Taiwan and saw nine batters reach base in the three innings he pitched, including four with a hit and two on a walk.
In the first inning, Cuba scored on Yosvani Peraza's 15th tournament RBI, then two runs were added in the second on a throwing error by Cordemans and a squeeze-bunt by Carlos Tabares. A single by Alexei Bell made it 4-0 in the third.
David Bergman took over the pitching in the fourth and again threw very well, striking out two and giving up only two hits in three innings. The seventh and eighth inning were thrown by Dave Draijer, who gave up the fifth run on a single by José Julio Ruíz.
The lone Dutch run was scored in the eighth inning when Sidney de Jong homered. The homerun was one of five hits allowed by veteran Ciro Licea, who struckout eight batters and went the distance. Licea earlier participated in the WPT in 1997 and 2001.
Besides performing not well offensively, the Dutch defense tonight also didn't play well, as it committed five errors, resulting in three unearned runs.

In the afternoon, Taiwan scored the lone run in the first inning. Chien-Yu Kuo tripled with one out, then scored on a grounder to first by next batter Chih-Yao Chan. USA got the bases loaded twice, but failed to score.
Winning pitcher Wei-Hua Lee went the distance and gave up only three basehits. One of them was hit Ryan Flaherty in the fifth inning and that was a historic one, as it was the 3500th in the history of the World Port Tournament, which was first organised in 1985.
(August 10)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

The USA opened the score off Diegomar Markwell in the first inning. Jordan Danks led off with a homerun, then two runs were added on an error and a sac-fly.
The Dutch came back with a run in the second when Ivanon Coffie walked and scored on a double-play grounder, but the Americans got the run back in its second. Three runs were then added in the fourth inning in which Markwell was replaced by Kenny Berkenbosch, who also gave up two runs in the sixth. Later in this at bat, he was replaced by Berry van Driel, who hit two batters in the seventh, but didn't gave up additional runs. In the eighth, the tenth American run was scored off Gregory Gustina.
The Dutch team scored its second run in the ninth. Tjerk Smeets led off with a double, then scored on a single by Vince Rooi.

The highlight of the game was a great double play turned by the American defense in the fifth inning. Danny Rombley led off with his first basehit of the event in 16 at bats, then Roel Koolen grounded to short stop Danny Espinosa, who flipped the ball to second baseman Jordy Mercer, who caught it barehanded and threw it first baseman Justin Smoak in time to complete the double play.
(August 9)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

23-year old Leon Boyd threw an outstanding complete game shutout, needing only 91 pitches, 23 of which were balls, and giving up only three basehits. Boyd, who has a Canadian father and a Dutch mother, faced only one batter over the minimum for nine innings, 28, and was supported by a solid playing defense. Only one Taiwanese player reached second base. In the third inning, Boyd gave up a lead-off single to Chao-Ting Tang, then he himself accounted for the only error in the game. A failed pick-off enabled Tang to advance, but when he also tried to reach third base, he was thrown out. In the fourth, Chih-Yao Chan singled with two outs, but stranded at first. In the sixth, Chien-Ming Su led off with a single, but moments later was picked off by catcher Sidney de Jong. Boyd then retired the last eleven batters he faced. Boyd struckout five batters, all called. Boyd's complete game 9-inning shutout was the first by a Dutch team pitcher since Patrick de Lange went the distance on July 27, 2003 against France (4-0) during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Haarlem (Netherlands). The last complete game shutout by a Dutch pitcher was thrown on March 20 last year when Shairon Martis threw seven innings against Panama (10-0) and threw a No-Hitter on the World Baseball Classic in San Juan (Puerto Rico).

The Dutch opened the score in the first inning. Michael Duursma led off with a walk, then was on his way to second on a grounder by Percy Isenia when he hit second baseman Ming-Chue Tsai and appeared to be tagged out. But what happened was that Tsai was ready to field the ball, when it hopped. Duursma moved sidewards and hit Tsai in his back en route to second base. No interference was called, as Tsai was able to retire Isenia at first base. Duursma then advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Raily Legito. Six innings long, this was to be the lone run.

In the seventh, the Dutch scored three runs off three pitchers. Raily Legito led off with a single, then Sidney de Jong doubled. Pitcher Ching-Ming Wang, who also threw great and allowed only two basehits in the first six at bats, then pitched around powerhitter Ivanon Coffie and walked him. Wang was relieved by Yu-Chi Hsiao, who started with a wild pitch, enabling Legito to score. He then re-loaded the bases by walking pinch-hitter Roel Koolen and was replaced by Ming-Chih Hsu. He gave up a sac-fly to Percy Isenia and an RBI-single to Dirk van 't Klooster to make it 4-0.

In the afternoon, Cuba trailed 1-0, but took a 2-1 lead in the second, then added a run in the third. A homerun by José Julio Ruíz made it 4-0 in the fourth, then the game was decided by a 4-run rally in the seventh, highlighted by a 2-run single by Yosvani Peraza, who now leads the tournament with 14 RBI's.
(August 8)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

In one of the most memorable games in tournament-history, Cuba trailed 3-0, took a lead, then the score was tied, Cuba trailed again and tied the score for the second time with two outs and two strikes on the batter, then came back to win in the thirteenth inning.
Taiwan, which is playing a strong tournament, took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a 2-run homerun by Chun-Tai Wang, then added a run in the fourth on a sac-fly. Cuba, which stranded five runners behind in the first four innings, appeared to decide the game in the fifth when Yosvani Peraza hit a grand slam homerun, but Taiwan came alongside in the fifth on a single by Chih-Yao Chan, the first batter to face new pitcher Vicyohandri Odelín.

Taiwan came close to a run in the seventh when Chih-Yao Chan doubled and advanced on an error, but he was then thrown out at the plate on a comeback-grounder to the pitcher. In the eighth, Taiwan did re-take the lead. First, another runner was thrown out a the plate, then a single by pinch-hitter Ying-Chieh Liao made it 5-4.
In the ninth, Hector Olivera led off for Cuba with a single, but moments later was thrown out at third base on a strong throw from rightfielder Chih-Yao Chan when he tried to advance on a single by Alfredo Despaígne. After Peraza struckout, next batter Donald Duarte got two strikes, meaning pitcher Chu-Kuan Lee was one pitch away from victory. However, Duarte singled and made it 5-5, forcing the game into extra innings.
In the 13th, Cuba, which had 20 basehits, scored the winning run. Carlos Tabares led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt and a single, then scored on a sac-fly by Yosvani Peraza, who had five RBI's. In the home of the 13th, Taiwan got the bases loaded with two outs. Ming-Chue Tsai and pinch-hitter Te-Lung Yu singled. Hereafter, Yolexis Ulacia was brought in as reliever for Arley Sánchez. Ulacia threw only one pitch, hitting pinch-hitter Ming-Tsung Hsieh to load the bases and was replaced by Vladimir Pérez, who ended the game, which lasted four hours and eleven minutes, when Chih-Yao Chan flied out.

In the evening, Team USA got 13 basehits and took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on a grounder by Pedro Alvarez and a single by Brett Wallace, who went 3-for-4. After adding a run in the fourth, the USA decided the 1:55 hour game with a 7-run rally in the sixth, which was highlighted by a grand slam homerun by Roger Kieschnick, the second of the day. After a pitching change, Jordan Danks tripled and scored on a single by Wallace, then the tenth run was scored on a failed pick-off by the third pitcher in the inning.
(August 7)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

...Rien Vernooij... ...pro contract... (Photo: www.eott.nl)

18 year old Rien Vernooij, who is the third baseman for Rotterdam-based Sparta/Feyenoord, is playing in his first full season in the Dutch big league, after making his debut last season with DOOR Neptunus. After last season, Vernooij went to Sparta/Feyenoord, with whom Neptunus has a working agreement.
Last week, Vernooij was a member of the Dutch National Junior Team, which won the bronze medal on the European Championships in Rosmalen (Netherlands).

Vernooij developed in the Unicorns, the baseball academy founded by Dutch National Team Manager Robert Eenhoorn and made his debut in the First Division last season, while playing for DOOR Tridents, the second team of Neptunus.
This season, Vernooij hits .252 with 29 basehits and 11 runs batted in. The infielder will complete this season with Sparta/Feyenoord, before starting his professional career in the Mets-organisation, one of the three clubs where Eenhoorn himself also played.

Earlier this year, pitcher Ramon Romeijn (Konica Minolta Pioniers) signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners, while pitcher Tom Stuifbergen (Amsterdam Pirates) is playing in his first pro-season in the organisation of the Minnesota Twins.
With the addition of Vernooij almost 30 players who were born and/or raised in the Netherlands have played, are playing of wil play professional baseball in the USA.
(August 6)

A major part in the game was played by pitcher David Bergman. Last weekend, Bergman was the winning pitcher in the USA in the only won game against the Americans, now he did a fine job against the Japanese. In 7 2/3 innings, he struckout two, but gave up only five basehits to Japan, which now has lost four in a row. In the eighth, Michiel van Kampen took over and finished the game good, just as he did against Taiwan, to earn his second save of the tournament.

The Dutch opened the score in the first inning off lefthander submarine pitcher Yusuke Iwamoto. He held the Americans in the opening game to only one hit, but also was the loser then, as the lone hit also accounted for the lone run. Now, he gave up four hits and three runs and was facing a quick 3-0 deficit. Michael Duursma led off with a bunt-single and, with one out, advanced on a single by Raily Legito. Basehits by Sidney de Jong and Ivanon Coffie and a sac-fly by Percy Isenia then resulted in a 3-0 lead.

But Japan was able to come back and came alongside in the fifth inning. In the second, Japan scored its first run. With one out, Takahiro Iwamoto singled and reached third base on a double by Ryo Hijirisawa. Hereafter, Tsuyoshi Takashima grounded back to Bergman and Iwamoto took off for home. Bergman fielded the ball correctly, but then threw wildly to catcher Sidney de Jong, resulting in Iwamoto not getting caught in a rundown, but being able to return to third base and loading the bases. A sac-fly by Tsuyoshi Umaba then resulted in the first run. A homerun by Masumi Okayama in the fourth inning accounted for the second run. In the fifth at bat, a double Koji Sakakibara tied the game. The Dutch recovered fine and re-took the lead immediately in the sixth inning of righthanded submariner Ken Togame. After taking over in the second inning, he initially silenced the Dutch offense, but now saw Percy Isenia hit a double, then moments later score when pinch-hitter Bryan Engelhardt also doubled. David Bergman then closed the door for Japan. Since the fifth, he retired ten batters in a row, before walking a batter in the eighth and was relieved by Michiel van Kampen. He retired four batters and saved the lead.

In the afternoon, Team USA lost 8-2 to Cuba. In the first, Cuba took the lead. With one out, Hector Olivera advanced from first to third on a failed pick-off by pitcher Scott Gorgen, then scored on a sac-fly by Alfredo Despaígne. The Cuban leftfielder had five RBI's and homered in the fourth to make it 2-0. The USA came back off Yulieski González. In the fifth, Pedro Alvarez hit a 2-run homerun. Cuba re-took the lead in the sixth on an infield-hit by Yosvani Peraza. In the seventh, when Josh Romanski took over for Gorgen, Cuba decided the game and scored five runs, highlighted by a 3-run homerun by Despaígne, his second of the game and third in the tournament.
(August 6)

Website Eneco World Port Tournament

Kevin Miner played an important role in the bronze medal game. The pitcher of Amsterdam Pirates struckout ten batters and gave up only five basehits. It took until the eighth inning, before he gave up the lone Czech run.

The Dutch opened the score in the fourth inning. Jason Halman started with a basehit, advanced on a wild pitch and scored when an error followed after a grounder towards second base by Zaïr Koeiman. In the sixth, a run was added. With one out, Zaïr Koeiman walked, reached third base on a throwing error and a wild pitch, then scored on a squeeze by Mitchell Koot. The third run was scored in the seventh at bat. Michael Pluijmers singled with one out, then scored on a triple by Jason Halman. Trailing 3-0, the Czechs scored their run in the eighth inning, but that was to be all.
(August 5)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

...My ball! Dutch youth hopes to catch a foul ball... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Cuba started the game with ace Yadel Martí, who last year in San Diego started the semi-final of the World Baseball Classic. The choice of this, and the American starter the day before, can be seen as a compliment towards the (quality of) Dutch baseball-team. The Cuban pitcher dominated and gave his first Dutch basehit in the sixth inning when Roel Koolen singled.

Rob Cordemans started for the Dutch team. The experienced righthander, the first player to participate in his sixth WPT, had no strikeouts and gave up eleven hits, but threw better than these stats might say. But he couldn't prevend Cuba from taking a 5-0 lead. Cordemans, who started the season as a professional pitcher in Taiwan, but throws again in the Dutch league since last month, is still looking for his good shape. ,,We didn't see the real Cordemans yet. We're working on getting him back, like we know him and with his mentality and experience that will surely happen'', Eenhoorn said. Trailing 5-0, Duko Jansen took over the pitching for Cordemans in the sixth and did a fine job. Jansen allowed only three hits and no additional runs, allowing the Dutch team to get back in the game. The Dutch scored two runs and even had a chance the come alongside in the ninth inning.

Cuba took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Carlos Tabares led off with a single and scored moments later on a single by Yosvani Peraza. In the third, Alfredo Despaígne, who replaced the slightly injured Alexei Bell in the first inning as a pinch-runner, homered. A single by Rudy Reyes increased the lead in the fourth to 3-0, but that happened after a curious moment. With runners on first and third, Reutilio Hurtado hit the ball into rightfield. Dirk van 't Klooster caught the ball, but it dropped. First base-umpire Edwin van den Berk called correctly that it was a catch, as the ball dropped when Van 't Klooster transferred the ball to throw. In the meantime, Donald Duarte, the runner from third, had scored. There was an appeal-play, as Duarte had left the base too soon at the moment of the catch. That call also was given, meaning a double play was made. But then two following single enabled José Julio Ruíz to score the third run.

In the sixth inning, Cuba added two runs, but there was another curious moment. José Julio Ruíz led off with a single, then Reutilio Hurtado was replaced by pinch-hitter Robelquis Videaux. But with a 2 ball, 1 strike count, Videaux was called back to the dug-out by a visible angry Manager Victor Mesa, who replaced him with Osvaldo Arías. He completed the at bat and walked. According to Mesa, Videaux had reacted too easy on a called strike. After a flyout, a single by Rudy Reyes accounted for a run and a 4-0 lead. Hereafter, Duko Jansen took over, but was greeted with a single from Carlos Tabares and as leftfielder Bryan Engelhardt made an error, another run was scored. But hereafter Jansen did fine, as Cuba didn't add more runs.

The Dutch frequently got some baserunners, but in the first six innings the Cuban defense turned three double plays and centerfielder Carlos Tabares made a nice catch in the seventh inning. In the last two innings, Cuba played somewhat nonchalant and committed two errors. In the eighth, Dirk van 't Klooster (fielder's choice and error) scored the first Dutch run on a single by Tjerk Smeets. In the next inning Ivanon Coffie doubled with two outs, then Bryan Engelhardt walked, whereafter Cuban Manager Victor Mesa made his next move. Closer Arley Sánchez, who had relieved Yadel Martí (8 strikeouts, 4 hits in 8 innings) this inning, was replaced. Mesa brought Vicyohandri Odelín, another veteran, to the mound, but he made a throwing error after an infield-hit by Percy Isenia, enabling Coffie to score, but was to be all.
(August 5)

Official Website World Port Tournament

The Dutch team never was able to get into the game, despite hitting eight basehits. On the other hand, the Americans collected 16 hits off two pitchers.
Starter Diegomar Markwell, who pitched 4-plus shutout innings last week in the opener of the 3-game series against the USA in North Carolina, now gave up ten hits and six runs. The Americans took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, added a run in the second, then took a deciding 6-0 lead in the fifth when Pedro Alvarez homered and Justin Smoak added a 2-run double.
The Americans then added six more hits and five runs off reliever Nick Stuifbergen, who took over in the sixth.

The Dutch team did get scoring opportunities, but didn't got the breaks. The Dutch had eight hits off Tyson Ross, who gave up only two hits last week in the series-opener in Durham, the first after five hitless innings.
Tonight, in the second inning, Sidney de Jong and Dirk van 't Klooster both singled with one out, but then Bryan Engelhardt grounded into a double play. In the fourth, Harvey Monte and Raily Legito led off with singles, then Ivanon Coffie lined into a double play to first base. In the fifth, Roel Koolen and Michael Duursma singled with two outs, but also stranded, as did Bryan Engelhardt (double) on third base in the seventh at bat.
It was just one of those days.
(August 4)

Official Website World Port Tournament

...Former national team players Wim Crouwel, Joop Geurts,... ...Flip le Cuivre, Leo Kops and Han Urbanus... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

...Former national team players Boudewijn Maat, Herman Beidschat,... ...Robert Maat and Ruud Zijlstra... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

After an unbeaten preliminary, winning four games, the Dutch lost the semi-final to Italy. The Italians scored their first run in the third inning and added two more in the next at bat. In this fourth inning, starting pitcher Ramon Romeijn tripled in a run, then his reliever Joran Klarenbeek also gave up an RBi-triple. Romeijn struckout seven batters in 3 1/3 inning, but also walked four and gave up three hits. After Klarenbeek, Robin van Eis< took over the pitching.

The Italians continued the scoring in the last three innings. Once in the seventh and then three more in the ninth inning. Trailing 3-0, the Dutch team scored its run in the fourth inning. Rien Vernooy led off with a double and scored with two outs on a single by Zaïr Koeiman, who was 3-for-3. The Dutch team had seven hits. Besides the three by Koeiman, Vernooy and Michael Pluijmers each had two.
(August 4)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

In the recordsetting game, Van 't Klooster went 1-for-4 and scored a run against Taiwan on Day 2 of the Eneco World Port Tournament. The Dutch shutout Taiwan 3-0 and now has held the Asian squad scoreless for 37 consecutive innings in the last five games between the two countries during the World Port Tournament.

The Dutch team opened the score in the slow game in the second inning. Ivanon Coffie, who made his comeback in the national squad, was hit by a pitch, moved when Sidney de Jong walked, then scored on an one-out single by Harvey Monte.
The second run was added in the third at bat. Dirk van 't Klooster then led off with a single and moved to third when Raily Legito doubled into deep leftfield. After the second hit by pitch for Coffie and a pitching change, Van 't Klooster scored on a grounder by Percy Isenia.
In the sixth inning, Harvey Monte homered to make it 3-0. In his second at bat, Monte had lined the ball into rightfield, but was then eliminated when rightfielder Chih-Yao Chan made a great diving catch.

Dutch starter Leon Boyd gave up only two hits in the six innings he threw, then Dave Draijer took over in the seventh, but he ran into problems. In the seventh, Draijer gave up two hits, but got out of the inning unharmed. In the eighth, he walked the first two batters, then gave up a single to load the bases. Michiel van Kampen was brought and he struckout the first batter he faced, then a fine inning-ending double play followed. In the ninth, Van Kampen gave up an one-out single, but then two quick outs followed.

In the afternoon, Cuba got 13 hits to defeat Japan, 11-3.
Of the 13 hits, three were homeruns, including two by powerhitter José Julio Ruíz. Yosvani Peraza also homered. Defensively, centerfielder Carlos Tabares made a great catch on a line drive by Syoto Yamada in the seventh inning.
(August 3)

Official Website World Port Tournament

Jeremy Ishak went the distance for the Dutch squad and gave up only two basehits in nine innings, while striking out four. Ishak took a No-Hitter into the seventh inning, but then Tomasz Henke hit a single with one out. In the eighth, Cezary Hryniowski connected for Poland's second basehit in the game.

The Dutch team rallied for five runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded, Tjerk Hogervorst singled in two runs, then the other runs were scored on a single by Aschwin Rokx and sacrifice flies by Rien Vernooy and Sytse Visbeen.
After five scoreless innings, another run was scored in the seventh when Mike Bazuin tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
A double by Michael Pluijmers and a single by Mike Bazuin increased the lead to 8-0 in the eighth at bat, then three more runs were scored in the ninth inning.
The Dutch had ten hits, including two by Mike Bazuin, Tjerk Hogervorst and Sytse Visbeen.
(August 3)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

In the opener, Taiwan-starter Kai-Wen Cheng retired the first 16 batters of Cuba, before he gave up a bloop single into short leftfield to veteran Yasser Gómez in the sixth inning. In the meantine, Taiwan had taken an 1-0 lead in the third inning when Te-Lung Yu singled and scored on a 2-out single by Ying-Chieh Liao.
In the sixth, Yasser Gómez, after he had broken Cheng's No-Hitter, was waved home trying to score the tying run on a single by Carlos Tabares, but was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by leftfielder Ying-Chieh Liao.
In the seventh, the Cubans turned the game around. With two outs, Yosvani Peraza singled, then Donald Duarte hit a 2-run homerun to give Cuba the lead. Winning pitcher Vladimir Baños struckout ten batters and gave up only four hits, before being relieved in the ninth.

In the evening, Japan-pitcher Yusuke Iwamoto was thowing a No-Hitter against Team USA with two outs in the ninth inning, but then he not only lost the No-Hitter, but also the game. Iwamoto had retired the first 16 batters he faced, before walking Petey Paramore in the sixth, but the No-Hitter kept alive until the ninth. Iwamoto then walked lead-off hitter Jordan Danks, who advanced on a sac-bunt and a flyout. With two outs, Logan Forsythe singled through the middle, enabling Danks to score and give the USA an 1-0 lead and eventually the win.
USA-starter Ryan Berry gave up only three basehits in the 7 2/3 innings he threw, before Brett Hunter took over and retired the four batters he faced.
(August 2)

Official Website World Port Tournament

After two scoreless at bats, the Dutch scored three runs in the third inning on three consecutive doubles by Anthony Vrolijk, Mitchell Koot and Jason Halman.
Three runs were then also scored in the fifth inning. With two outs, Tjerk Hogervorst singled in a run, then Zaïr Koeiman followed with a 2-run single.
In the sixth and seventh inning, the Dutch team added two runs. In the sixth on a double play and a passed ball, in the seventh on an RBI-double by Aschwin Rokx and a single by Anthony Vrolijk.
The Dutch team then scored again three runs in the eighth on a 2-run triple by Michael Pluijmers and a sac-fly.
France scored its lone run in the sixth inning on a single by Brice Lorienne off starter Rick Weijland, who gave up six hits. Robin van Eis took over in the seventh and gave up two more French hits.
The Dutch team collected 16 basehits, including three by Anthony Vrolijk, Mitchell Koot and Aschwin Rokx.
(August 2)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

The Czechs opened the score in the fourth inning off starter Rik Geestman, but it would be the only run the team scored. Geestman was relieved with two outs in the sixth by Joran Klarenbeek, who became the winning pitcher, as the Dutch rallied for three runs in their sixth. Kevin Miner threw the ninth inning and earned a save.

The Dutch team had only one basehit off Czech starter Jiri Marek, who struckout seven batters in five innings and only gave up a single to Rien Vernooy in the first at bat.
In the sixth, Andrej Kostrhun took over and gave up three runs. Anthony Vrolijk led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt by Michael Pluijmers and a wild pitch, then Jason Halman walked, followed by a 2-run triple by Rien Vernooy, who then scored himself on a single by Tjerk Hogervorst.
(August 1)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

Ivanon Coffie, who played in 60 games for the Dutch national squad since the 2003 World Championships, played professionaly in Taiwan this season for the Macoto Cobras, but was released last week. In 2005 and 2006, Coffie, who is an infielder, played in the Dutcch big league for Instant Holland Almere '90, where he now probably also will play again in the remainder of the season after completion of the World Port Tournament. Almere has six games left, already is eliminated for the Play-Offs, but currently is in eighth place, which is a possible relegation-spot.

...Ivanon Coffie... ...Back in orange... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the beginning of this year, pitchers Diegomar Markwell and Rob Cordemans joined Coffie in the profleague in Taiwan, but both returned earlier. Markwell came back in April and went on to pitch again for DOOR Neptunus. Cordemans was released in May and joined ADO again the next month.

,,Now he is let go in Taiwan, we wanted him to come here as soon as possible, because it is important that he can continue playing'', Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn said on Thursday, when he confirmed that Coffie was put on the roster for the World Port Tournament. Coffie takes the place of René Cremer, who therefore was dropped from the roster. Last weekend, Cremer participated with the national squad in a 3-game exhibition series against the national team of the United States in North Carolina (USA). Cremer played in parts of two games, which were his first for the national team since 2000.

Coffie has participated in two World Championships with the Dutch team in 2003 (Cuba) and 2005 (Netherlands), but also was a member during the 2004 Haarlem Baseball Week (Netherlands), 2004 Olympic Games (Greece), 2005 European Championships (Czech Republic), 2006 World Baseball Classic (Puerto Rico), 2006 European Baseball Series (Netherlands/Italy) and 2006 Intercontinental Cup (Taiwan). During the 2005 EC in the Czech Republic, he was the tournament's Most Valuable Player and Homerun King with eight.
Coffie will arrive on Thursday and joins the team later in the day for a practice. The Dutch team plays its first game on Friday-evening against Taiwan.
(August 1)

Official Website World Port Tournament

The Dutch set the tone by scoring four runs in the opening at bat. Lead-off hitter Anthony Vrolijk reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. Michael Pluijmers (single) and Jason Halman (fielder's choice) then scored on a triple by Rien Vernooy, who then scored himself on a single by Zaïr Koeiman.
In the second inning, three runs were added on a runscoring grounder by Michael Pluijmers, a single by Jason Halman and an error.

After starting pitcher Ramon Romeijn struckout five of the six batters he faced in the first two innings, Berry van Donselaar took over the pitching in the third and gave up the first Slovakian run.
In the fourth, the Dutch scored two more runs on a single by Jason Halman and a grounder by Friso Arkenbout. A run was scored the easy way in the fifth at bat when the Slovakian pitcher couldn't find the strikezone. Sytse Visbeen, Berry van Donselaar and (with two outs) Mike Bazuin were all hit by a pitch, then a run was scored when Mitchell Koot walked.

Slovakia scored three runs in their eighth at bat off new pitcher Robin van Eis, but the Dutch got the three runs back immediately in their eighth turn with assistance from the pitching. Aschwin Rokx scored on a wild pitch, then runs were scored when Mitchell Koot again walked with the bases loaded, followed by a hit by pitch for Rien Vernooy.
(July 30)

Official Website European Junior Championships Baseball

...Dirk van 't Klooster... ...Record-tying game... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The Dutch starting line-up was as follows:
1 - Danny Rombley, CF; 2 - Raily Legito, DH; 3 - Sidney de Jong, C; 4 - Vince Rooi, 3B; 5 - Percy Isenia, 1B; 6 - Harvey Monte, LF; 7 - Roel Koolen, 2B; 8 - Dirk van 't Klooster, RF; 9 - Michael Duursma, SS; Starting Pitcher: RHP David Bergman.

...Dirk van 't Klooster follows through in record-tying game... (Photo: Duco Abspoel)

On a sunny afternoon and evening in Durham, more than 3000 spectators saw David Bergman throw six strong innings in which he gave up only three basehits (including a bunt-single) and struckout seven batters.

Off starter Mike Minor (who was 5-0 before the game), the Dutch team, which showed its true face in this game, opened the score with three runs in the third inning, including two on a single by Sidney de Jong. The lead was doubled in the fifth at bat. Lead-off hitter Michael Duursma reached on an error, then move to third on a single by Danny Rombley. Hereafter, the USA brought in a new pitcher, who gave up an RBI-single to Raily Legito. After the two runners had advanced on a grounder by Sidney de Jong and Vince Rooi popped out, Percy Isenia followed with a single, which brought in two more runs and made it 6-0. Harvey Monte then also singled, but a grounder ended the at bat.

Nick Stuifbergen took over the pitching in the seventh inning. Roger Kieschnick led off with a line drive into centerfield, which was caught by Danny Rombley, but Stuifbergen then gave up a single to Tommy Medica and appeared to strikeout next batter Josh Romanski. However, the Home Plate Umpire saw it differently and moments later Romanski doubled. Medica then scored the USA's first run on a grounder back to Stuifbergen. In the eighth, Stuifbergen gave up two more hits, but the Americans were unable to add a run.

In the ninth inning, the Dutch rallied again. With two outs (after a double play), pinch-hitter Bryan Engelhardt walked and moved around to score on consecutive singles by Sidney de Jong and Vince Rooi. Next batter Percy Isenia then also singled to bring in another run, followed by an RBI-double by Harvey Monte, which made 9-1. The Dutch scored seven of their nine runs with two outs.

Berry van Driel threw the last inning for the Dutch to make his national team-debut. With one out, he gave up a hard double to Josh Romanski. The bases were then loaded when Van Driel walked the next batter and gave up another single. Jordan Danks followed with a 2-run single to make it 9-3, but then Logan Forsythe lined into a double play to end the game.

Quotes:
Manager Robert Eenhoorn: ,,The batters had to accustom somewhat in the first two games to the higher velocity of pitches by the American pitchers. In the third game, I saw some good at bat. I think that the more we face these kind of pitchers, the more runs we will produce. Three of the four starters (Markwell, Bergman and Boyd) did very well. We have to get Rob Cordemans back into shape again, but as he is an experienced pitcher, I'm convinced that will happen''.

Pitcher David Bergman: ,,This game is in my Top-3. Almost everything I threw succeeded. Besides that, it's fun that when you turn around after a pitch you see 91 mph on the screen. The adrenaline poured through my body. It's wonderful to throw again in a Triple-A stadium. That will maybe never happen again.''
(July 29)

Line Score & Box Score

The Dutch starting line-up was as follows:
1 - Michael Duursma, SS; 2 - Danny Rombley, CF; 3 - Raily Legito, SS; 4 - Vince Rooi, 1B; 5 - Dirk van 't Klooster, RF; 6 - Percy Isenia, DH; 7 - Bryan Engelhardt, LF; 8 - Tjerk Smeets, C; 9 - Roel Koolen, 2B; Starting Pitcher: RHP Leon Boyd.

The first six innings were a pitching duel between Leon Boyd (Netherlands) and Eric Surkamp (USA). Boyd gave up only two hits in his six innings, while Surkamp allowed only one.

The Dutch team took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, vince Rooi was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sac-bunt by Dirk van 't Klooster, then scored on a single by Bryan Engelhardt, which was to be the only Dutch basehit in this game. The Dutch team playd some good defense in this game, turning two inning-ending double plays in the first two at bats.

Th strong throwing Boyd was relieved after six innings by Michiel van Kampen, who also gave up two hits, but threw two scoreless innings. In the eighth, the Americans got runners on base, but one of them was thrown out at the plate and the inning ended with a great catch by rightfielder Dirk van 't Klooster, who now is only one game away of tying the record of most games played in the national team.

Dave Draijer took over in the ninth and gave up three hits and (with two outs) two runs. With one out, Josh Romanski doubled and advanced to third on an error in rightfield, then the next batter struckout. Romanski scored the tying run when Pedro Alvarez also doubled. Moments later, Alvarez scored the go-ahead run as next batter Roger Kieschnick singled. A walk followed and Duko Jansen came in to end the inning, but the USA had taken a 2-1 lead.

The Dutch got no chance of re-taking the lead, as Brett Hunter, who relieved Surkamp in the sixth, retired the last ten batters in order.
(July 29)

Line Score & Box Score

Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn started the game with this starting line-up:
1 - Michael Duursma, SS; 2 - Dirk van 't Klooster, RF; 3 - Sidney de Jong, C; 4 - Bryan Engelhardt, DH; 5 - Raily Legito, 3B; 6 - Harvey Monte, LF; 7 - Percy Isenia, 1B; 8 - Roel Koolen, 2B; 9 - Danny Rombley, CF; Starting Pitcher: RHP Rob Cordemans.

Dutch rightfielder Dirk van 't Klooster played in his 161st career international game, which is only two shy of the Dutch record, held by Marcel Joost. When he plays in both games on Sunday, Van 't Klooster will tie the record, then has the chance of breaking it during the Eneco World Port Tournament, which begins next Thurday.

The Dutch team, which had no chance tonight, produced only three basehits on Saturday-evening, two by Danny Rombley and one by Raily Legito. In the first three innings, the Americans already scored six runs off starter Rob Cordemans and the Dutch has no answers. Diegomar Markwell then held Team USA four innings scoreless, but in the eighth the Americans struck again and scored eight runs off Gregory Gustina, who gave up three homeruns. In this inning, Martijn Meeuwis made his Dutch team-debut. While is was agreed before the game to play with the mercy-rule (10 runs different), the game continued in and after the eighth inning.

With a temperature of about 23 degrees Celius, more than 4000 spectators, including some orange-clad Dutch, who live in the area, watched the game in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and they will be there again on Sunday-evening. Earlier on the day, the teams will meet in Cary. However, rain, with thunder, is expected.
(July 28)

Line Score, Box Score & Play-by-Play

...Introduction of the teams...

...Rob Cordemans in action...

...Danny Rombley: two basehits...	...Durham Bulls Stadium...
(all photos: Duco Abspoel)

...Rick van den Hurk... (Photo: Marlins)

Van den Hurk was named the starting pitcher for the opening game of a 3-game series by the Florida Marlins against the San Francisco Giants. In the first inning, the Marlins took a 1-0 lead when Dan Uggla doubled and scored on a single by Miguel Cabrera. In the home of the first, Van den Hurk gave up a lead-off single to Dave Roberts, who then stole second, moved on a sac-bunt by Omar Vizquel and scored on a sac-fly by Ray Durham. With two outs, Van den Hurk faced Barry Bonds, who just turned 43, for the first time in his brief big league-career. Moments later, Bonds was rounding the bases, as he had just hit his 20th homerun of the season and the 754th in his long career, only shy of tying Hank Aaron's Major League-record of 755.

After the Marlins scored four runs in the third inning on a 2-run double and a 2-run homerun, Van den Hurk faced Bonds for the second time in the home of the third and then walked him.
In the fourth inning, Florida added another run off starter Barry Zito to make it 6-2. In the home of the fourth, Van den Hurk picked off Dave Roberts from first base to end the inning.
In the fifth, Ray Durham was picked off from second base by the catcher to support Van den Hurk, who faced Bonds for the third time in this at bat and again walked him. Moments later, Van den Hurk gave up back-to-back homeruns. First, a 3-run homerun to Pedro Feliz, which allowed the Giants to move within one run, 6-5. Then next batter Benji Molina also homered to tie the score.
The Marlins came back immediately, as Hanley Ramirez led off the sixth with a homerun to make it 7-6 in their favor again. But the Giants also reacted again off Van den Hurk's reliever Renyel Pinto, tying the game on a single by Omar Vizquel in their sixth, followed by a 2-run homerun by Ray Durham. It meant that Van den Hurk, who was the pitcher-of-record when the sixth started (leading 7-6), got a no-decision, as Pinto got a Blown Save. The Giants won, 12-10.

For Van den Hurk, this was his tenth game in the Majors and his ninth start. He last started on July 22 when he threw six innings against the Cincinnati Reds, but got a no-decision. On July 17, Van den Hurk threw five innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, struckout six and was the winning pitcher to raise his record to 3-2. That was his first game after being recalled to the Majors for the third time this season. His last start before that came on June 16 when he was the winner against the Kansas City Royals, striking out seven batters in six innings. Friday's start against the Giants might be Van den Hurk's last again for the moment, as Josh Johnson, the injured pitcher whom he replaced on the roster, is expected to return again this week.
(July 27)

On Saturday, RHP Rob Cordemans takes the mound for the opener in Durham. On Sunday, RHP Leon Boyd will be the starter in Game Two to be played in Cary, then later in the day RHP David Bergman will start the second game of the double-header, to be played again in Durham.

Two of the three games can be followed live on the Internet through the site of USA Basebal.
(July 27)

During its first practice on the site in Cary, the team got a surprise visit from former Manager Tom Petroff. The American guided the Dutch team in 1988 during the World Championships in Italy and later in the year during the Olympic Games in Seoul (Korea).
(July 26)

At Amsterdam, MediaMonks RCH won 6-5 vs. Amsterdam Pirates, leading 5-0 in the fifth inning.
RCH collected 13 basehits, which is the second highest total this season. On May 6, they got 15 against Sparta/Feyenoord, after already having hit 13 on April 30 against HCAW. Nine of these basehits were registered off Pirates-starter Nick Stuifbergen, who gave up five in a 3-run second inning. The bases were loaded when Nick Heij, Jim Leijenaar and Lex Leijenaar (bunt) all singled. The first run was then scored when Bobby Heij walked. After Floris Morang lined into a double play to short stop Glenn Mascoll, Petr Baroch and Jeroen Bakker followed with RBI-singles to make it 3-0. The fourth run was added in the fourth when Bobby Heij reached on an error and scored on a grounder. RCH made it 5-0 in the fifth. Stuifbergen then hit lead-off hitter Ryan Murphy, who later scored on a 2-out infield-hit by Lex Leijenaar.
Pirates got all of its suspended players available again, but only Glenn Mascoll (SS) and Zaïr Koeiman (3B) played, while Ferd van Stekelenburg didn't start, but was used as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. The fourth player, pitcher Seppo Slaman, was in the bull-pen, but didn't throw. Pirates came back with two runs in the home of the fifth. Starter Ryan Murphy, who didn't throw his best game, walked Fausto Álvarez Rizo and Zaïr Koeiman, who later scored on a grounder by Roy Harteveld and a single by Björn Henrichs. Pirates got another run back in the sixth when Remco Draijer singled and scored on a bad hop-single by Fausto Álvarez Rizo. In the eighth, Pirates moved within one run when Sidney de Jong led off with a homerun, which marked the end of Ryan Murphy, who was relieved by Martin Kuipers. Moments later, Fausto Álvarez Rizo drove the ball into deep rightfield for what appeared to be a homerun, but the ball suddenly dropped and was caught by rightfielder Lex Leijenaar.
RCH added an insurance run in the ninth inning off Pim Walsma, who was brought in as reliever for Kenny Berkenbosch, who had succeeded Stuifbergen in the sixth. Walsma walked Jeroen Bakker and Ryan Murphy (who had moved to first base). In between, Jan Drabek struckout. Next batter Robbert Vogel then singled. Vogel had entered the game in the third after Nick Heij was ejected after he had argued a strikeout-call. Giovanni Josefa, who had replaced Bakker on second base as pinch-runner, was waved home to score, which he appeared to do, but Home Plate Umpire Henk Meerleveld called him out in a close play at home after a good throw from centerfielder Remco Draijer. Everyone RCH saw if differently, but after the game, some spectators who looked into the play from the first base-side said that Josefa didn't reached home plate in time. Next, RCH-reliever Martin Kuipers, who had come into the batting order, entered the batter's box for his first big league at bat and reached on an infield-hit to load the bases. RCH then did got their insurance run when Lex Leijenaar followed with a single. In the home of the ninth, Pirates was able to score a run when pinch-hitter Roderick Simon scored on an error, but RCH ended up as the winner. With the win, RCH is now only one point behind Instant Holland Almere '90, which is in eighth place and whom they will meet in the first game after the break.

At Rotterdam, DOOR Neptunus won 4-1 vs. Konica Minolta Pioniers.
Initially, Pioniers had taken an 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. With two outs, Edwin de Graaf scored on a single by Michael Duursma, but it was to be their lone run, as the Neptunian defense turned two double plays in the next two innings and Pioniers would reach second base only one more time.
Pionier-starter Nelson Santander Olajo held Neptunus hitless for four innings, then gave up an infield-hit to Jurriaan Korff in the fifth, before Neptunus rallied for three runs on five hits in the sixth at bat. Andy Leer led off with a single and stole second, then Benjamin Dille followed with a bunt-single. Leer scored the tying run when Lennart Koster also singled. The bases were loaded when Evert-Jan 't Hoen also laid down a bunt-single, followed by a sac-fly by Martijn Meeuwis, which gave Neptunus the lead. A sac-fly by Jurriaan Korff off new pitcher Erik Jan Lind made it 3-1. The fourth run was scored in then eighth when Lennart Koster walked and scored on a 2-out single by Jurriaan Korff.
Neptunus played this weekend without its regular short stop Raily Legito, who was sidelined precautiously after he injured his hamstring last Thursday. Pioniers, which can use its suspended players again in its second game after the break, had added some extra players to its roster for this weekend, including infielder Joey Treurniet, outfielder Sergino Martis and pitcher Thierry Walraven, who made his big league-debut on Saturday.

At Haarlem, Corendon Kinheim trailed 1-0 vs. Sparta/Feyenoord, but went on to win 5-1.
Sparta/Feyenoord took the lead in the fifth when Rien Vernooy singled and scored on following singles by Sape Wagenaar and Sil Wagenaar, but the two brothers were left behind in scoring position. Hereafter, Sparta/Feyenoord didn't got into scoring position again in the remainder of the game.
Kinheim, which left the bases loaded in the first inning and two more runners at second and third in the next at bat, scored four runs in the seventh inning on only one basehit, as three pitchers couldn't find the strikezone. Starter Rudy Seebus started the inning by issueing his eighth walk to Roel Koolen and was relieved by Ronald de Bont, who started with a throwing error in a pick-off attempt to first base. De Bont then walked Wouter Heemskerk, followed with a strikeout, but then gave up a single to Danny Rombley and a sac-fly to René Cremer, which tied the score. After the two runners advanced on a passed ball, Dirk van 't Klooster was walked intentionally, but a normal walk followed for Vince Rooi to give Kinheim the lead. De Bont was relieved by Elton Koeiman, who gave Kinheim two more runs by hitting next batters Tjerk Smeets and Jeffrey Verbij. A single by Dirk van 't Klooster accounted for the fifth run in the eighth inning.

At The Hague, ADO turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 win vs. Mr. Cocker HCAW to take some more distance from the lower two positions.
HCAW this weekend played without its veterans Gino Henson and Ralph Milliard, who both are on Curaçao due to family circumstances. Today, the team also had to do without injured third baseman Sidney Ensermo, resulting in Jurjan Koenen, who is the 3B Coach this season, making a comeback for the second time two years after he retired. In his first at bat, Koenen, who also played some games last season, singled and later batted in a run. HCAW also used pitcher Stephen Spragg as a pinch-hitter, who singled in the eighth in his first big league at bat. Moments before, Kevin Roovers, also a pitcher, had entered the game as a pinch-runner. Pieter Verhoeven, one of two players added from the second team, made his big league-debut when he caught the eighth inning.
After ADO had opened the score on a single by Dave Steward in the second inning, HCAW took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Ronald Jaarsma (error) and Sergio Koelemij (single) were on base when Bart Gabriëls walked with one out, then a force play-grounder by Jurjan Koenen and a single by Siemen Korff made it 2-1. For Koenen, this was his 686th game on the big league-level in his 20th season with the team. After the third inning, HCAW only got another scoring chance in the eighth, but then left the bases loaded.
ADO re-took the lead in the fifth inning with two outs when HCAW committed two errors. A 2-run single by Harvey Monte then made it 3-2. A run was added in the sixth when Adrian Anthony singled and scored on a sac-fly. Harvey Monte doubled in the fifth run in the seventh.
(July 22)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Schedule, Scores & Standings

In the final, the Czech team took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Dutch came alongside in the second at bat on an RBI-single by Tino van Erk. In the bottom half of that inning, the Czech scored twice to take a 3-1 lead. The Dutch again tied the score, this time in the fifth inning when Nick Urbanus hit a 2-run homerun.
The Czech team reacted immediately by scoring a run in the home of the fifth, then added three more in the sixth to make it 7-3.

The Dutch team had only four basehits. Besides Tino van Erk and Nick Urbanus, the other hits came from the bats of Scott Ronnenbergh and Roy Seltenrijch.
Dutch starter Niels Harteveld struckout eight batters in 5 1/3 innings, but also gave up ten basehits. Gijs van Els completed the game in the sixth.

In this tournament, Fred Groenewegen represented the Netherlands as Umpire, while Jan Kuipers was one of the Technical Commissioners.
(July 21)

Final Standings
1. Czech Republic, 2. Netherlands, 3. Russia, 4. Austria, 5. Germany, 6. Slovakia, 7. Belarus, 8. Poland.

At Bussum, HCAW took a 1-0 lead when it scored in the sixth inning, With one out, Stefan Hoogewerff walked and went on to score on a single by Sergio Koelemij, but it was to be HCAW's lone run off ADO-starter Rob Cordemans, who struckout eleven in nine innings, but ended up with a no-decision.
Leading 1-0, American Stephen Spragg took over the pitching for HCAW< but failed to hold onto the lead. In the ninth, ADO came alongside when Harvey Monte homered with one out. Monte also homered last Thursday. In the home of the ninth, HCAW got a chance to re-take the lead. With two outs, Ronald Jaarsma was on base and stole second, but then tried to score on a single by Bart Gabriëls and was thrown out at home. In the eleventh inning, ADO failed to take the lead. Maikel Benner led off with a single, then moved on a sac-bunt. After Harvey Monte was walked intentionally, Harvey Gumbs followed with a force play-grounder, which eliminated Monte, but Benner overran third base and was caught in a rundown to end the inning. In the twelfth at bat, ADO scored the winning run. Dimitri Leon led off with a walk and moved on a sac-bunt, then scored when an error was made on a grounder by Dave Steward.

...Evert-Jan 't Hoen... ...Grand Slam; 5 RBI's... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Hoofddorp, Pioniers had only three basehits off two pitchers. Neptunus-starter Diegomar Markwell struckout six and gave up two hits in seven innings, then Gregory Gustina completed the game.
Neptunus, which had only ten basehits in its last two games, today had 14. Except for Melfried Comenencia, all starters had at least one hit. In the fourth inning, Neptunus scored three runs. Martijn Meeuwis led off with a double, then scored on a single by Jeffrey Arends. With two outs, Arends scored on a double by Jeroen Sluijter, who went on to score on a throwing error.
In the sixth inning, four runs were added. With one out, Jeroen Sluijter and Andy Leer singled and with two outs, Lennart Koster walked. With the bases loaded, next batter Evert-Jan 't Hoen hit a grand slam homerun to make it 7-0. The eighth run was scored in the eighth at bat on a single by 't Hoen.

At Rotterdam, Kinheim scored two runs in the first inning and that was enough for the win.
Danny Rombley led off with a single and was awarded second base on a balk by Eddie Oropesa, who enabled Rombley to move another base on a wild pitch. Oropesa recovered and struckout the next two batters. Vince Rooi then walked, followed by a 2-run single by Tjerk Smeets, who advanced to second on the throw to home. Roel Koolen had to follow at bat, but instead Jeffrey Verbij turned up in the batter's box, batting out of turn. Verbij popped out, therefore ending the inning, meaning Sparta/Feyenoord didn't appeal. In the third inning, Vince Rooi, who was on first, also was awarded second base because of a balk, resulting in a discussion from Sparta/Feyenoord's Pitching Coach Orlando Stewart with Home Plate Umpire Marlo Remilia, who then ejected Stewart.
Sparta/Feyenoord scored its lone run in the second inning. Jeffrey Sprott led off with a walk, moved on a single by Edison Bito, then stole third and scored on a throwing error. Winning pitcher David Bergman raised his record to 9-2.

At Heemstede, Pirates decided the game against RCH with two runs in the ninth inning.
RCH took an 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. With one out, hot-hitting Ryan Murphy doubled, moved on an infield-hit by Lex Leijenaar, then scored on an error with two outs. Pirates took over the lead in the sixth inning. Sidney de Jong led off with a walk and scored all the way from first on a double by Bas de Jong, who later scored on an one-out single by Roderick Simon.
In the eighth inning, RCH came alongside when Czech Petr Baroch led off with his first homerun of the season. In the ninth, Pirates re-took the leading by again scoring twice. Pinch-hitter Kenny Berkenbosch led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt and an error, then scored on a perfect squeeze just in front of the plate by Remco Draijer, who then went on to score himself on a single by Bas de Jong.
Pirates got another strong outing from pitcher Jos de Jong, who threw his second complete game in his last three appearances. De Jong struckout twelve batters and gave up seven hits.
(July 21)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Schedule, Scores & Standings

Players Zaïr Koeiman, Glenn Mascoll, Seppo Slaman, Ferd van Stekelenburg (all Pirates), Jourick Blanco, Tommy van Limburg, Richard Orman and Glennsig Polonius (all Pioniers) were all suspended for five games for their involvement in the bench-clearing brawl on July 8 in the game played at Hoofddorp. Orman got an additional game, as he got a conditional suspension left from an earlier case. Coaches Randell Hannah (Pirates) and Frank Koene (Pioniers) were suspended for eight games, for hitting and being responsible for and participating in the bench clearing. The ruling means that Pirates, which has played five games (including Saturday) since the first suspensions were given, can use their players again for Sunday's game. Pioniers, which will play its fifth game on Sunday, can use their players again when the season resumes on August 16 after the international break. The suspensions were lower than expected, because it wasn't clear for the full hundred percent that the players involved really threw punches during the brawl.

In the incident, the lucky symbol of Pirates, a turtle, which was drawn in the gravel in front of their dug-out, was wiped away. Frank Koene stated in the days after the game that he only wiped away parts in the beginning of the game, but not in the second inning when the brawl erupted. Koene said that he went over to the Pirates dug-out to ask Randell Hannah why he reacted moments before after a collision with Pioniers' short stop Michael Duursma. That happened after a call at first base. Hannah went over to first base to ask the umpire for an explanation. During that bench clearing no one was ejected and moments later a big brawl erupted. The ten persons involved initially were suspended indefinitively a few days later, but on Saturday were handed their final suspensions.
(July 21)

Defending champion The Netherlands plays its first game on September 8 at Viladecans where it will meet Austria. Earlier this month, Austria was designated as the replacement for Greece, which was removed from the tournament by the Executive Board of the European Baseball Confederation (CEB). The game will mark the first game ever between the two countries.
Hereafter, the Dutch team meets the Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany and Croatia in the preliminary round. The Final Round then will follow on September 14. Games will also be played in Sant Boi de Llobregat.
(July 20)

...1B Tino van Erk fields a ball vs. Belarus... (Photo: Org. EC Cadets)

In the preliminary round, the Dutch team won all of its three games.

...Nick Urbanus rounds second... ...base vs. Austria... (Photo: Org. EC Cadets)

In the opener, the Dutch team won 14-3 vs. Belarus. Leading 2-1 after one inning, the Dutch rallied for ten runs in the second at bat to decide the game. The Dutch had ten basehits, including three by Rashid Gerrard, who also scored twice and had four RBI's. Justin Martinus and Tino van Erk also scored twice, while Nick Urbanus scored three runs. Scott Ronnenbergh started for the Dutch team and struckout six batters in the three innings he threw. Oscar Meuris and Hugo van der Kaaij completed the game.
Next, the Dutch won 19-5 vs. Poland. Trailing 2-1, the Dutch scored four runs in the third, then added three more in the next at bat. Leading 10-5, the Dutch scored nine runs in the seventh inning. This time, the team had 13 basehits, including two by Jillian Cijntje, Sven Jongejans, Nick Urbanus and Guido Verweij.
The Dutch team closed the preliminary round with a 11-1 victory vs. Austria and had another big inning, this time scoring eight runs in the fourth inning. The Dutch had eleven basehits, including two by Tino van Erk, who also had two RBI's. Nick Urbanus also had two RBI's.

In the semi-final, the Dutch nipped Russia, 8-7, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and last inning.
In this game, the Dutch had eleven basehits, including three by Jillian Cijntje and Rashid Gerrard.
(July 20)

...Alexander Smit... (Photo: Dayton Dragons)

Smit went through waivers, which is one of the most complicated rules to switch clubs. A waiver is defined as ''a permission granted for certain assignments of player contracts or for unconditional release of a Major League player''. When placed on waivers, clubs have three days to be claimed by another club, which was done in this case by the Reds, who assigned Smit to the Dayton Dragons in the Midwest League (Single-A).

Smit started the season for the Fort Myers Miracle, which plays in the Florida State League (Single-A Advanced). In 18 games, of which he started eight, Smit was 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA. In 50 2/3 innings, Smit struckout 38 batters, but also walked 26 and gave up 62 basehits. Last season, Smit was 7-2 while pitching for the Beloit Snappers and struckout 141 batters in 108 1/3 innings.
Last Sunday, Smit made his first start for his new team. In the game against the Clinton LumberKings (affiliated with the Texas Rangers), Smit threw the first three innings and struckout four batters, while walking one and gave up no hits or runs. The Dragons won the game 3-2 on a 3-run walk-off homerun in the ninth inning by Denis Phipps.

Yesterday-evening (Friday), Smit made his second start for the Dragons, facing the Cedar Rapids Kernels, which is the Single-A team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Smit threw the first four innings in which he struckout five batters, walked one, and gave up four hits and two runs. In the first inning, Smit struckout two batters, but in between gave up a triple, which resulted in a run after a groundout. In the third, the Kernels got runners on first and third base with one out, but Smit then struckout the next two batters to end the inning. In the fourth, he gave up a lead-off homerun to Mark Trumbo, which made it 2-0. Dayton came back to 2-1, but Smit ended up as the losing pitcher, as this also was the final score.

Last November, Smit was added to to 40-man Major League-roster of the Twins to protect him for the Rule 5 Draft in December during the Winter Meetings. Minor League-players with four years of professional experience or five when they were 18 or younger at the moment of signing are eligible for that draft, unless they are put on the 40-man roster. A player selected in the Rule 5 Draft have to be on the Major League-roster of their new club the entire next season. The Rule 5 Draft was made to prevend teams to stock too much talented players in the minor league-system, without giving them a fair chance of promoting to the Major League, while they could get that chance with another club. By adding eligible players to the 40-man rosters, teams not only protect their talents, but also give them a chance to make their own big league-team during Spring Training. Players who are eligible and not on the roster, are free agent and can be signed by other teams.
(July 20)

At Rotterdam, Mario Mujica threw 8 2/3 innings in his first big league-start and dominated against Neptunus. The righthander, who normally throws for the First Division-team of Sparta/Feyenoord, struckout ten batters and gave up only five basehits. He retired ten of the first eleven batters he faced, including six with a strikeout. While he already had thrown some good games for the second team, it took until now for him to make his first start on the highest level. In the ninth, Elton Koeiman completed the game and earned a save. Before today, Mujica had pitched 1/3 inning on the big league-level on May 6 vs. RCH.
Sparta/Feyenoord opened the score in the sixth inning when Shaldimar Daantji led off with a bunt-single and advanced on a following throwing error. After moving on a sac-bunt, he scored on an error. Four runs were added in the seventh at bat. Jeffrey Sprott led off with a single and moved on a passed ball. After Rien Vernooy walked, the bases were loaded when Edison Bito reached on a bunt-single. Next batter Sape Wagenaar then struckout and starter Kevin Heijstek was relieved by Chris Ryan. But he saw a run being scored on a perfect squeeze by Patrick Wabbijn. Another run was then added on an infield-hit by speedy Shaldimar Daantji on which Bito reached third base. Bito overran the base and was caught in a run-down, but returned to third when an error was made. A costly error, as this would have been the third out. Hereafter, Ramphis Trinidad singled to bring in two more runs and make it 5-0.
Neptunus, which had only two basehits in the first seven innings, got a scoring opportunity in the fourth inning. With two outs, Raily Legito was hit by a pitch and stole second base, during which he injured his hamstring. He would have scored on the single by next batter Evert-Jan 't Hoen, but now only reached third and was replaced there by pinch-runner Mike Bazuin. Another hit by pitch followed, but the three runners stranded, as a flyout ended the at bat. Neptunus scored twice in the eighth. With two outs, Evert-Jan 't Hoen was hit by a pitch and Lennart Koster and Martijn Meeuwis walked to load the bases. Two runs were then scored on a single by Jeffrey Arends, but the rally was broken and the inning ended when Meeuwis was thrown out on third base, thrying to advance. In the ninth, pinch-hitter Jurriaan Korff singled with one out and advanced to third on an error, then scored on a grounder by Andy Leer. When next batter Benjamin Dille also singled, Mujica was relieved by Koeiman who ended the game with a strikeout.

At Amsterdam, Almere held a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning vs. Pirates, but ended up empty-handed.
Almere took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Niels van Weert led off with a single, moved on a grounder and an error, then scored on a sac-fly by Randy Daal. In the eighth, Dayron Puriël singled with one out, advanced on a wild pitch and a flyout, then scored on a single by Randy Daal.
Despite hitting seven basehits off starter Forstin Coenraad, Pirates couldn't score, leaving six runners in seven innings. But in the eighth, the game turned around. With two outs, Sidney de Jong homered to make it 2-1, then Bas de Jong walked. Coenraad was relieved by Patrick de Lange, who was greeted with a triple by Fausto Álvarez Rizo, which tied the score.
In the ninth, Roderick Simon led off with a walk and was replaced by rookie Mitchell Koot, who advanced on a sac-bunt by Bas Kuijer. Next batter Pavèl van Zaane was then walked intentionally, but Björn Henrichs followed with a single to load the bases. Next, Kenny Berkenbosch was brought in as a pinch-hitter and he hit a sacrifice fly which enabled Koot to score the winning run.

At Haarlem, Kinheim got 12 basehits, including six doubles to hand RCH a big 6 1/2-inning loss.
Kinheim rallied for seven runs in the first inning. RCH-starter Alexander Plakke walked three batters and gave up three hits, before being relieved. In the inning, Vince Rooi had a 2-run single and Jeffrey Verbij a 2-run double.
Three runs were added in the second inning, highlighted by a 2-run double by Roel Koolen. In the fifth at bat, Kinheim scored five runs, this time on a 2-run double by Dirk van 't Klooster and an RBI-double by Tjerk Smeets, who doubled twice.
RCH scored its lone run in the fifth at bat when Petr Baroch walked and scored on a double by Ryan Murphy. Winning pitcher Vaughan Harris raised his record to 8-0.

At The Hague, Pioniers won 9-4 at ADO on 14 basehits, including three by Norbert Lokhorst and Glenn Romney.
Pioniers scored once in the first and twice in the second inning (back-to-back singles by Lokhorst and Romney) to take a 3-0 lead, before ADO answered with a run in the home of the second when Harvey Monte homered. Pioniers got the run back in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Edwin de Graaf and Michael Duursma, but ADO came back within one run by scoring a run in the sixth and seventh inning.
Trailing only 4-3, Elvis Polanco took over the pitching for ADO in the eighth inning, but he would walk three batters, give up five hits and also five runs in the next two innings, enabling Pioniers to extend its lead to 9-4. In the sixth, Pioniers scored on a single by Lars Koehorst and a sac-fly by pinch-hitter Mark Duursma. In the ninth, singles by Glenn Romney and Marcel Venema and a force play-grounder produced three runs. ADO scored its last run in the eighth on a single by Dave Steward.
Mark Duursma played in his first game tonight since June 6 when Pioniers also played against ADO. Duursma then was hit hard at home plate by a sliding Jermaine Esprit, who scored the winning run in the ninth inning. Duursma sustained a concussion. Also playing again was ADO's third baseman Michel Korzeniewski, who on June 28, also against Pioniers, was ejected for running hard into third baseman Marcel Venema during a force play. This triggered a bench clearing brawl in which Pioniers' outfielder Jefferson Muzo also was ejected. Korzeniewski sat down a 6-game suspension, while Muzo still is sitting out a 10-game suspension. His suspension was shortened by two games after an appeal. With the comeback of Korzeniewski, ADO now has all players available again, as Maikel Benner and Boudewijn van Elswijk returned a few games ago, after sitting out a long suspension of their own, after being ejected on June 3 in a game vs. Sparta/Feyenoord.
(July 19)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Schedule, Scores & Standings

The national team will travel to the USA next Wednesday, then practice on Thursday and Friday, before playing on Saturday, followed by a double-header on Sunday. The Dutch and American teams then come back to the Netherlands to participate in the 11th Eneco World Port Tournament, which will be held August 2-12 in Rotterdam. Also participating in that event are Cuba, Chinese Taipei and Japan.
the most important event for the Dutch will come in September when it will defend its European title in the European Championships in Barcelona (Spain). That event also will be the Olympic Qualifier for next years Olympics in Beijing (China).

The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) officially presented Sudtours Vliegvakanties as its new main sponsor, while Easy Life Investments became a sub-sponsors. National team players Diegomar Markwell and Raily Legito showed the new uniforms for the upcoming events.

The Roster

Pitchers (11):
David Bergman, Duko Jansen, Michiel van Kampen (all Corendon Kinheim), Kenny Berkenbosch, Nick Stuifbergen (both Amsterdam Pirates), Leon Boyd, Gregory Gustina, Diegomar Markwell (all DOOR Neptunus), Rob Cordemans, Berry van Driel (both ADO) and Dave Draijer (Konica Minolta Pioniers).

Catchers (3):
Sidney de Jong (Amsterdam Pirates), Martijn Meeuwis (DOOR Neptunus) and Tjerk Smeets (Corendon Kinheim).

Infielders (6):
René Cremer, Roel Koolen, Vince Rooi (all Corendon Kinheim), Michael Duursma (Konica Minolta Pioniers), Percy Isenia (ADO) and Raily Legito (DOOR Neptunus).

Outfielders (4):
Bryan Engelhardt (Instant Holland Almere '90), Dirk van 't Klooster, Danny Rombley (both Corendon Kinheim) and Harvey Monte (ADO).

(July 19)

Complete Schedule & Starting Pitchers

...Kenny Berkenbosch... ...12 StrikeOuts... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the game, history was almost written, as Almere-starter Nick Veltkamp was throwing a No-Hitter after six innings, but trailed 3-1. The lefthander was on his way to become the first pitcher since 1948 to throw a No-Hitter, but end up as the losing pitcher. In 1948, Louis Nottrot was the only pitcher to have done this while pitching for VVGA against Schoten, which won 2-0. Veltkamp's No-Hitter ended after 6 1/3 inning when Roderick Simon singled to rightfield and Pavèl van Zaane followed with a bunt-single. In the ninth, Simon singled again off reliever Derrick Isenia.
In the first six innings, Veltkamp didn't got any support from his defense, including himself, as eight errors were made in that period. A ninth error followed in the seventh inning. As a result, all five runs he gave up were unearned.
On the other hand, Pirates got a strong outing from its pitcher Kenny Berkenbosch, who struckout 12 batters, including five in a row from the fourth through the fifth inning. From the third through the sixth, Berkenbosch struckout eight out of eleven batters.

Pirates opened the score in the first inning. With two outs, Sidney de Jong's fly was missed in centerfield and he then scored when the same happened in rightfield on a fly by next batter Bas de Jong. In the second inning, three errors resulted in the second run from Pirates. Bas Kuijer and Rogier van de Poel, two new additions to the squad, both reached base on an error, then Kuijer scored on a sac-fly by Pavèl van Zaane, another added player. Kuijer, Van de Poel and Van Zaane all play in the third team Pirates, but were added to the main squad, because of four suspended players and an injury. All three have big league-experience. Before tonight, Kuijer played in 319 games in nine seasons with Kinheim (1998) and Pirates (1994; 1999-2005), Van de Poel appeared in 248 games in eight seasons with Hoofddorp Pioniers (1994; 1998), HCAW (2000-2001) and Pirates (1999; 2002-2004) and before making his comeback last Saturday, Van Zaane played in 143 games in six seasons for Kinheim (1999) and Pirates (2000-2004).
Almere came back with a run in the third when Giovanni Samboe singled and scored on an infield-hit by Derrick Francisca, but Pirates got the run back in the fifth. Roderick Simon then walked and went on to score on a 2-out error. Pirates made it 5-1 in the seventh inning. With one out, Roderick Simon broke the No-Hitter, then Pavèl van Zaane reached on a bunt-single. A throwing error and a sac-fly gave Pirates two more runs. Almere scored its second run in the home of the seventh when Randy Daal singled and later scored on a groundout.
Raban Schalm threw the last two innings for Pirates and earned his first save of the season.

For Almere, this was its seventh loss in a row. The team is only one point ahead of eighth placed ADO. The team which ends in eighth place has to play a Play-Off against the First Division-champion to avoid relegation. Coming weekend, Almere is off, while ADO meets Mr. Cocker HCAW twice.
So far, Almere hasn't won a game yet in July, as its last victory was on June 30 vs. MediaMonks RCH. Since then, Almere lost seven consecutive games in which it scored only 12 runs, hit 38 basehits, but also committed 27 errors.
(July 17)

Line Score & Box Score
Schedule, Scores & Standings

At Haarlem, Corendon Kinheim defeated ADO, 13-1 in 6 1/2 inning to become the first team to qualify for the Play-Offs. Kinheim collected 20 basehits and now has hit 56 in its last three games. Denny Beljaards was the lone player without a run and a basehit in today's game, which started 35 minutes later due to rain.
After scoring twice in the first inning on a 2-out single by Jeffrey Verbij, then rallied for eight runs in the second inning. In the inning, Kinheim hit eight basehits, including another 2-run single by Verbij, who added an RBI-double in the third at bat.
Vince Rooi went 4-for-4 and was 6-for-6 this weekend. In the last three games, Dirk van 't Klooster had ten basehits, while René Cremer and Roel Koolen had seven. Kinheim-starter Patrick Beljaards gave up only five hits in the six innings he threw.

At Rotterdam, DOOR Neptunus became the second Play-Off team, as it won 2-1 vs. Instant Holland Almere '90, but needed 12 innings to accomplish the win.
Almere took a 1-0 lead when Randy Daal homered in the fifth inning. Daal's homerun was the lone basehit Neptunus-starter Diegomar Markwell gave up in the 7 1/3 innings he pitched. Neptunus came alongside in its fifth when Melfried Comenencia walked and scored on a sac-fly by Benjamin Dille.
Neptunus stranded 15 runners in this game, including three in the second inning and runners on second and third base in the tenth at bat. In the twelfth, Raily Legito walked and moved on a sac-bunt by Lennart Koster. Pinch-hitter Evert-Jan 't Hoen was then walked intentionally, but next batter Jeffrey Arends followed with a single to win the game.

At Amsterdam, the game between Amsterdam Pirates and Mr. Cocker HCAW ended in a 4-4 tie after 12 innings.
Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a double by Bas de Jong, but then HCAW scored twice in the third inning when Ralph Milliard hit a 2-run homerun.
Pirates came alongside in the fifth, then took a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. In that at bat, Sidney de Jong led off with a double, then Stephen Spragg took over for starter Kevin Roovers. De Jong advanced after a flyout, then Fausto Álvarez Rizo was walked intentionally. A throwing error by Spragg gave Pirates the third run, then the fourth run was scored on a force play-grounder.
HCAW tied the score in the eighth off Nick Stuifbergen, who had taken over for starter Jos de Jong in the sixth. Siemen Korff and Stefan Hoogewerff singled, moved on a sac-bunt by Ralph Milliard, then both scored on a pinch-hit single by Nick Makkinje.
In the twelfth inning, Ronald Jaarsma (walk) tried to score on a double by Sidney Ensermo, but was thrown out at the plate. In the home of the twelfth, Pirates got a big chance of winning the game, as it got the bases loaded with no outs. Kenny Berkenbosch reached when his pop-fly was missed, then Spragg hit the next two batters with a pitch. While this was an ideal squeeze-situation, no bunt followed. Instead, a force play at the plate, an infield-fly and an grounder ended the game.

At Heemstede, MediaMonks RCH and Sparta/Feyenoord played an very attractive scoreless, 12-inning game, which was a pitching duel between Ryan Murphy (RCH) and Eddie Oropesa (Sparta/Feyenoord).
Murphy threw all 12 innings and gave up seven hits, while Oropesa dominated and struckout 12 batters. In the nine innings he threw, the lefthander gave up only two hits to RCH, which was coached again by Ramses Meering.
Dwayne Kemp got three of Sparta/Feyenoord's seven hits and reached base four times, but stranded twice on third base, being the only player to reach third base in this game. RCH only reached second base. Ryan Murphy was the lone RCH-player to hit a basehit off Eddie Oropesa, who was relieved by Elton Koeiman in the tenth inning.
(July 15)

Line Scores & Box Scores
Schedule, Scores & Standings

There have been several coaching changes since last season when Ramses Meering guided RCH to the First Division-title and promotion to the big league.
After Meering announced his retirement, Guus van Dee was named as his successor, but he resigned during the exhibition season. Meering returned as Interim Head Coach and led RCH in the first eight games of the season, winning two of them.
On April 19, Marlon Fluonia was named as new Head Coach, joined the coaching staff on April 28 and made his debut as Head Coach on May 19. Until his last game on July 12, RCH went 5-13 under guidance of Fluonia, who was ejected twice in this period.
3B Coach Jeroen Roozen filled in as Interim Head Coach on three occassions and won twice, including last Saturday, while players Nick Heij and Ryan Murphy coached the team in one game.
RCH currently is in ninth and last place with a 9-21-1 record, five points behind ADO.
(July 15)

At Haarlem, Fausto Álvarez Rizo became the first player since 1971 to hit ten or more homeruns with a wooden bat, as he homered twice today to increase his season-total to eleven. The last player to hit ten or more was Hudson John, who set a record with 17 in 1971 while playing for Storks. Bas de Jong also homered for Pirates, but it was Kinheim that turned around the game in the fifth and sixth inning and went on to win 14-6. All nine starting players in the Kinheim line-up had at least one basehit and scored at least one run. Starting pitcher David Bergman became the first pitcher of the season to earn his eighth victory.
Pirates opened the score in the second when Bas de Jong led off with a homerun, then added two runs in the third inning. Bas Nooij led off with a single and, with two outs, Remco Draijer and Sidney de Jong hit back-to-back RBI-doubles to make it 3-0. Kinheim got the bases loaded in the first inning with one out, as Pirates-starter Pim Walsma walked three batters, but the righthander then struckout Tjerk Smeets and Jeffrey Verbij to end the inning. In the third, Kinheim scored its first run on a sac-fly, but Pirates got the run back immediately when Fausto Álvarez led off the fourth with a towering homerun.
Kinheim came within one run in the home of the fourth when two runs were scored on a double play and a double by Danny Rombley, then took over the lead by scoring four runs in the fifth. Dirk van 't Klooster, Vince Rooi (double) and Tjerk Smeets (RBI) all hit a basehit, which marked the end for Pim Walsma. His successor Kevin Miner got two quick outs, but then gave up an RBI-single to Quincy Bernardus. The next two runs were then scored on a wild pitch and passed ball. This time, it was Pirates that narrowed the lead to one run. Sidney de Jong led off with a double and scored on the second homerun in the game by Fausto Álvarez.
Kinheim decided the game in its sixth. With one out, Dirk van 't Klooster singled and Vince Rooi walked, then Tjerk Smeets hit a long 3-run homerun to make it 10-6. In the seventh, Kinheim got the bases loaded off Miner, who was then relieved by Rick Geestman, who made his big league-debut. The son of former big league-pitcher Tom Geestman and grandson of legendary pitcher and coach Wim Geestman Sr., was greeted in the big league with a 2-run double by Vince Rooi. In the eighth, René Cremer added a 2-run triple to make it 14-6. In this inning, Geestman threw to another player who made his debut, catcher Mitchell Koot, the son of former big league-infielder Frank Koot.
Geestman, Koot and pitcher/infielder Frank van Heijst (who didn't play) were added to the Pirates-roster from its second team. Also added was infielder Pavèl van Zaane, who plays in the third team and made his comeback on the highest level, as he played at second base. The additions were made as Pirates is missing four players, who were suspended last Friday for their part in last Sunday's bench clearing at Pioniers, while a fifth player was unable to play due to an injury sustained during the brawl. In the coming weeks, more players (all with big league experience) from its third team are expected to be added. The added players will fill in or rotate game by game when needed.

At The Hague, Marek Deska threw a complete game shutout, as RCH won 7-0 at ADO.
The Canadian/Polish righthander gave up nine basehits, but ADO reached third base only twice. In the first inning, Maikel Benner singled with one out and moved to third on a 2-out single by Harvey Monte, but both were left behind. In the fourth, Monte led off with a double, moved to third on a sac-bunt by Marvin Bleij, but was then thrown out at the plate on a grounder to short by Jason Halman.
RCH stranded six runners in the first four innings, but then rallied for three runs in the fifth at bat. Lead-off hitter Nick Heij reached on an error, then stole second. With one out, Petr Baroch walked and Ryan Murphy reached on an infield-hit. Heij was then forced out at home on a grounder by Jan Drabek back to pitcher Jurrian Koks, but a run was scored when next batter Jim Leijenaar walked. Berry van Driel was brought in as reliever, but was greeted with a 2-run single by Maarten Bos, which made it 3-0.
In the sixth inning, RCH scored four runs. With one out, Nick Heij walked and moved to third on a single by Lex Leijenaar. Bobbie van Duuren took over as pinch-runner for Heij at third and scored on a single by Petr Baroch. A walk for Ryan Murphy, who was 3-for-4, loaded the bases. Hereafter, another force out at the plate followed, as was a basesloaded walk, then two runs were added when an error was made on a grounder by Maarten Bos.

At Bussum, Sparta/Feyenoord struck early to defeat HCAW, 4-2. All nine starting players for Sparta/Feyenoord had at least one basehit.
The Rotterdam-squad scored twice in the first inning off starter André Simpson. With one out, Nick Eppinga singled and moved to third on a single by Dwayne Kemp, then scored on a wild pitch. Kemp later scored on a single by Sape Wagenaar.
In the second inning, the lead was increased to 3-0 when Earmy Isabella led off with a double, advanced on a wild pitch, then scored on a 2-out single by Ramphis Trinidad. It became 4-0 in the fourth inning. Sape Wagenaar then led off with a walk, stole second, moved on an infield-hit and scored on an error.
HCAW, which had only six hits, scored its two runs in the sixth inning, after having stranded six runners in the previous five at bats. In the sixth, Bart Gabriëls and Sergio Koelemij led off with singles which marked the end for starter Rudy Seebus, who was relieved by Ronald de Bont. Gabriëls was able to score on a grounder by Ronald Jaarsma, then Koelemij scored when an error was made on a grounder by pinch-hitter Sidney Ensermo.

At Almere, Pioniers collected 14 basehits, including three by Norbert Lokhorst and Marcel Venema, but scored all four runs in the first two innings to defeat Almere, 4-1. Dave Draijer threw the ninth inning and earned his league-leading seventh save.
Pioniers hit seven of their 14 basehits in these first two at bats. In the first, Michael Duursma (bunt) and Norbert Lokhorst reached on a basehit, then Glenn Romney walked. Duursma and Lokhorst then scored on a single by Dè Flanegin, who last Thursday-evening was handed a 3-game suspension for making remarks towards the umpire-crew in last Sunday's game after the bench clearing against Pirates. However, Pioniers appealed the suspension, meaning Flanegin can play until the Jury of Appeal makes a decision. After Marcel Venema also singled, Romney scored the third run in the inning when Lars Koehorst grounded into a double play.
In the second inning, the fourth run was scored. Nick Fridsma led off with his first of two doubles in this game, moved on a grounder, then scored on a single by Michael Duursma. After Norbert Lokhorst also singled, Almere-starter Erik Remmerswaal was replaced by Forstin Coenraad, who did a fine job hereafter. In the remaining seven-plus innings, Coenraad gave up seven hits, but also struckout six and allowed only two runners to reach third base.
Pionier-starter Nelson Santander Olajo pitched four hitless innings, before giving up a lead-off double to Ricky Daal, who went on to score Almere's lone run. Daal first stole third base, then scored on a sac-fly by Emeron Lourens. In the sixth, Niels van Weert led off with a single and Dayron Puriël was hit by a pitch, but then Bryan Engelhardt struckout. Next batter Randy Daal almost tied up the score, as he hit a homerun, but that went just foul. Moments later, he popped out, then a flyout ended the at bat and Almere's last scoring opportunity.
Lars Koehorst played at third base tonight and will now play regularly again, as long as Pioniers will miss its four players, who were suspended for their part in last week's bench clearing. According to the line-up sheet, Pioniers didn't add any extra players from lower teams for today's game. Bullpen Coach Theo Geerman filled in as Head Coach for the suspended Frank Koene.
(July 14)

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At Rotterdam, league-leader DOOR Neptunus came from behind twice and broke a tie in the ninth inning to defeat Sparta/Feyenoord 10-7.
Trailing 1-0, Sparta/Feyenoord scored three runs in the second inning when Neptunus-starter Martijn Nijhoff first walked Jeffrey Sprott and Rien Vernooy. After the two advanced on a sac-bunt, they both scored on a single by Sape Wagenaar. Moments later, Wagenaar scored on a single by Shaldimar Daantji. Neptunus came back with three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. Andy Leer led off with a double, then scored on an one-out single by Raily Legito, who was then caught stealing. But Sparta/Feyenoord-starter Tim Roodenburg then walked Lennart Koster and gave up a 2-run homerun to Martijn Meeuwis, his sixth of the season. In the next at bat, it was Sparta/Feyenoord's turn to take the lead again by again scoring three runs. Again Jeffrey Sprott (walk) and Rien Vernooy (error/sac-bunt) both scored, this time on a 2-out single by Patrick Wabbijn, who himself advanced to third on an outfield-error, then scored on an infield-by Shaldimar Daantji.
Sparta/Feyenoord held the 6-4 lead until the eighth inning in which Neptunus again scored three runs to take a 7-6 lead. Lennart Koster led off with an infield-hit and Martijn Meeuwis doubled, which led to a pitching change. Still leading 6-4, Eddie Oropesa took over for Roodenburg, but was greeted with an RBI-single by Jeffrey Arends. After a strikeout, Oropesa hit Melfried Comenencia with a pitch, who was forced out on an grounder by Jeroen Sluijter, which enabled Meeuwis to score the tying run. However, trying to complete a double and also eliminate Sluijter, a throwing error followed and Arends scored the go-ahead run.
The game wasn't over yet, as Sparta/Feyenoord came alongside in its eighth at bat. First, Jeffrey Sprott singled, but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a double by Edison Bito, who then did score on a single by Sape Wagenaar. Hereafter, Jan Naterop became Neptunus' fourth pitcher and got out of the inning, as Patrick Wabbijn flied out. Despite facing only one batter, Naterop became the winning pitcher, as Neptunus again had a 3-run inning in the ninth. Benjamin Dille led off with a triple and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Raily Legito, who was 3-for-4. A double by Jeffrey Arends and a single by Evert-Jan 't Hoen then increased the lead to 10-7. Chris Ryan pitched the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

At Heemstede, second placed Corendon Kinheim defeated MediaMonks RCH 15-2 in seven innings on 19 basehits, including four by Dirk van 't Klooster, who went 4-for-5, scored three runs and had two RBI's. René Cremer and Roel Koolen had three hits. For Koolen, this was his first game since June 7, as he was recovering from an injury in between.
After three scoreless innings, Kinheim scored once in the fourth, then rallied for five runs in the next at bat. Danny Rombley then led off with a double and scored on an one-out single by Dirk van 't Klooster. A sac-fly by Jeffrey Verbij, a 2-run triple by Roel Koolen and an RBI-single by Robin Longhurst increased the lead to 6-0. RCH came back with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Lex Leijenaar reached on an error and Petr Baroch doubled, then both scored on an one-out single by Jan Drabek. With two outs, Maarten Bos also singled, which led to a pitching change. Jean-Paul Gulinck was replaced by Vaughan Harris, who became the winning pitcher, as Gulinck threw one-third inning too short to earn the win.
In the sixth, Kinheim added four runs, including three on a homerun by Tjerk Smeets. The first run in the inning was scored on a single by Wouter Heemskerk, who had replaced third baseman Vince Rooi in the second inning.
Five more runs were scored in the seventh inning on an error, RBI-singles by René Cremer, Dirk van 't Klooster and Wouter Heemskerk and a sac-fly. RCH stranded 13 runners in this game.

At Hoofddorp, third placed Konica Minolta Pioniers won 12-4 vs. ADO.
Pioniers got a strong outing from pitcher Daan de Jong, who threw seven innings in which he gave up only five innings and struckout six batters. De Jong, who appeared in three games last season and therefore still is a rookie in the big league, won his first game on the highest level. Pioniers opened the score in the first at bat when lead-off hitter Michael Duursma was hit by a pitch from starter Rob Cordemans, then scored on an 1-out sac-fly by Dè Flanegin. Pioniers broke open the game in the second with a 5-run rally. With the bases loaded, Marcel Venema, Lars Koehorst and Nick Fridsma (bunt) all singled, and one out, Duursma hit a sac-fly and Norbert Lokhorst followed with a 2-run double. An error and a single by Glennsig Polonius made it 6-0.
ADO scored its first run in the fourth when Percy Isenia homered, but Pioniers got the run back in its fourth when Lokhorst tripled and scored on a single by Glenn Romney. ADO added a run in the seventh on back-to-back doubles by Marvin Bleij and Adrian Anthony, but Pioniers had another big inning in the seventh when it scored four runs off new pitcher Dennis Burgersdijk, who was responsible himself for all runs, as Pioniers didn't have a basehit in this at bat. Burgersdijk walked five batters and had five wild pitches, accounting for the four runs. ADO scored two more runs in the eighth and ninth, while Pioniers scored another one in the eighth.

At Almere, the game between Instant Holland Almere '90 and number four Amsterdam Pirates was canceled because of rain.
The game was initially delayed for half an hour, but was then canceled definitively. The game was re-scheduled for next Tuesday.
(July 12)

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Two pitchers will make their first start of the season on Thursday-evening.
At Rotterdam, RHP Martijn Nijhoff makes his first start for DOOR Neptunus against Sparta/Feyenoord, while LHP Jean-Paul Gulinck makes his first start for Corendon Kinheim at Heemstede, facing MediaMonks RCH.
(July 13)

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(July 13)

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At Rotterdam, Neptunus had 15 basehits, including four by rookie Andy Leer, who was 4-for-4, including a 2-run homerun in the sixth inning. In his first at bat, Leer walked, as he reached base in all of his five at bats. He had three RBI's and scored twice. Jurriaan Korff went 3-for-4.
Leading 1-0, Neptunus scored seven runs in the third on six hits, including 2-run singles by Jurriaan Korff and Raily Legito, who had two singles in this at bat. In the fifth, Martijn Meeuwis also had a 2-run single.
Winning pitcher Kevin Heijstek went the distance for the first time in his big league-career and threw a 7-inning 3-hitter.

At The Hague, Pioniers won 5-0 vs. ADO on ten basehits. Richard Orman started for Pioniers and gave up three hits in the six-plus innings he pitched. Roger Kops completed the game, threw three innings in which he gave up one hit and earned a save.
Pioniers scored its first run in the third inning when Michael Duursma walked and scored on a single by Glenn Romney, but it took until the fifth to break open the game. In this at bat, Pioniers scored twice on a double play-grounder and a single by Dè Flanegin. Two runs were also scored in the seventh. Norbert Lokhorst and Glenn Romney led off with singles, then scored on a single by Glennsig POlonius and an error.
(July 10)

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At The Hague, ADO will host Konica Minolta Pioniers. ADO plans to go with RHP Jeoffrey de Groot. Initially, RHP Elvis Polanco was a candidate to start, but he pitched five innings in relief on Sunday. Pioniers probably will go with LHP Richard Orman, who was the starter in last Sunday's game, which was interrupted by a bench-clearing brawl in the second inning after which Orman was ejected. Orman is one of the players who might face a suspension.

At Rotterdam, DOOR Neptunus sends RHP Kevin Heijstek to the mound for his third start of the season. He will face RHP Elton Koeiman, who will start for Sparta/Feyenoord.
(July 9)

Complete Schedule and Starting Pitchers

...The bench-clearing brawl in front of the Pirates dug-out... (Photo: Rien)

At Hoofddorp, a nasty bench-clearing brawl led to a delay of more than an hour and a total of eleven ejections. It was a moment baseball unworthy.
The top of the second inning ended with Pirates-batter Roy Harteveld being called out at first on a close play, but 1B Dè Flanegin appeared not to be in touch with the base. Pirates' 3B Coach Randell Hannah went over towards 1B Umpire Henny Jansen to ask for an explanation, but on his way to the umpire, he founds Pioniers' short stop Michael Duursma, who was leaving the field, on his way. Whatever happened, fact was that Hannah suddenly was on the ground after the two had made contact, which triggered a brief bench-clearing. No one was ejected and the game appeared to continue when suddenly there erupted another bench-clearing in front of the Pirates dug-out. This happened after Pioniers' Head Coach Frank Koene walked towards the 3B coaching box, but also wiped away a drawing in the gravel before the Pirates dug-out. The drawing, a so-called 'rally-turtle', is a lucky symbol for Pirates. A nasty and shamefull bench-clearing erupted hereafter. While some players and coaches tried to stop the brawl, some punches were thrown. In the brawl, Pirates' 1B Roy Harteveld was stepped on his hand by a spike and had to go to the hospital where he received stitches for a 3 cm deep wound. The only thing the umpire crew could do was watching. After things settled down, the umpires left the field and announced a cooling-down period of 15 minutes, which eventually lasted a lot longer, as they also used the delay for a meeting to discuss the situation. After their meeting, the umpires informed the two Head Coaches that four players and one coach of each team were ejected, but that the game would resume. Starting Pitcher Richard Orman, 3B Jourick Blanco, DH Glennsig Polonius, non-playing pitcher Tommy van Limburg and Head Coach Frank Koene of Pioniers were ejected, as were 3B Zaïr Koeiman, SS Glenn Mascoll, LF Ferd van Stekelenburg, non-playing pitcher Seppo Slaman and 3B Coach Randell Hannah of Pirates. Shortly before the game was to resume after an one hour, 14 minute-delay, Pioniers' 1B Dè Flanegin also was ejected after making remarks towards the umpire-crew. Both teams continued the game, but played under protest against the actions the umpires had taken, stating that players who didn't do anything were ejected, while others who were to blame weren't. The game was completed without any further incident, but also with nine new players in the game (both teams used 16). Pioniers' starting pitcher Richard Orman was ejected, but Pirates' starter Kenny Berkenbosch also didn't return after the long delay, but while he also is a good hitter, he wasn't put in the batting order to play a defensive position. Instead, Pirates used a pitcher to play second base (Raband Schalm) and in leftfield (Mark Kan). Pioniers brought in veteran Lars Koehorst to play at third base. Koehorst started the season as 3B Coach, but resigned from that position some weeks ago and since then has played again in some games.
After Pioniers turned a double play in the third and fourth inning, Pirates took the lead in the fifth inning when Fausto Álvarez Rizo led off with his ninth homerun of the season. Álvarez can become the first player to hit ten (or more) homeruns with a wooden bat since Hudson John set a record with 17 in 1971. Pioniers came alongside in their fifth off Kevin Miner, who had taken over the pitching. Miner walked Michael Duursma, who appeared to be caught in a rundown, but remained on first after an error, then scored on a single by Norbert Lokhorst.
In the sixth, Sidney de Jong led off with a double. With one out, Fausto Álvarez Rizo singled and De Jong tried to score, but was thrown out at home on a strong throw by rightfielder Edwin de Graaf, then Pioniers completed a double play, as Álvarez was thrown out at first. In the home of the sixth, Pioniers scored twice. With one out, Bart Sabel reached on an error and went on to score on a single by Edwin de Graaf. In between, Nick Fridsma also had singled and he scored on a basesloaded walk by Pim Walsma, who took over after De Graaf's single. Pioniers scored three more runs in the seventh on a 2-run double by Nick Fridsma and another RBI-single by Edwin de Graaf.

At Bussum, Kinheim trailed 1-0 vs. HCAW, but came alongside in the sixth. HCAW re-took the lead in the next at bat, but this time Kinheim answered with four runs in the eighth to win 5-2.
In the first, Ralph Milliard scored for HCAW on a grounder, then pitcher André Simpson silenced the Kinheim-offense, but gave up the tying run in the sixth when Denny Beljaards singled and scored on a single by René Cremer, who was added to the national team two weeks ago. HCAW re-took the lead in the seventh when pinch-runner Kevin Roovers scored on a basesloaded single by Ralph Milliard. In the eighth, Kinheim scored four runs. Wouter Heemskerk led off with a walk and Denny Beljaards followed with a double. After Stephen Spragg took over for Simpson, Danny Rombley also doubled, enabling Heemskerk to score. Rombley's double was disputed by HCAW's Head Coach Roy Berrevoets, who was then ejected. With one out, Dirk van 't Klooster was walked intentionally, but then Vince Rooi followed with a 2-run single and Tjerk Smeets added an RBI-single.

At Rotterdam, Neptunus trailed twice vs. ADO, but their game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Neptunus opened the score in the third inning on a 2-out RBI-single by Benjamin Dille, but ADO answered with two runs in the fifth when Neptunus committed two errors after Percy Isenia and Harvey Monte had started with singles. Neptunus came alongside in the sixth when Raily Legito walked and scored on a single by Lennart Koster, but ADO re-took the lead in the seventh when Monte scored on another Neptunian error. Leading 3-2, ADO's Venezuelan pitcher Elvis Polanco took over for starter Jurrian Koks in the seventh, but failed to hold onto the lead. Jeroen Sluijter reached on a fielder's choice, was safe on second on an error and scored on a 2-out single by Legito.

At Almere, Sparta/Feyenoord registered its second shutout-win in two days against Almere.
After having only two basehits on Saturday, Almere today had only three off Rudy Seebus, who went the distance in this 8-inning game. Two of the hits were infield-hits, the only 'real' basehit came off the bat of pinch-hitter Frank van Leeuwen in the eighth inning. Sparta/Feyenoord scored its first run in the third inning when Almere made two of its seven errors in this game. In the fifth inning, the Rotterdam-squad rallied for five runs on five basehits off starter Patrick de Lange. Three runs were added in the sixth at bat when Ramphis Trinidad led off with a double and Nick Eppinga followed with a single. After an RBI-grounder by Dwayne Kemp (who had three RBI's), a single by Jeffrey Sprott led to another run and a pitching change. An error then gave Sparta/Feyenoord one more run, as it also did in the eighth.
(July 8)

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At Amsterdam, Pirates played another strong game to extend their winning streak.
The Amsterdam-squad opened the score in the third when Remco Draijer walked, moved on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by Sidney de Jong. But Pirates also stranded three runners in this at bat. That didn't happen two innings later, when Pionier-starter Nelson Santander Olajo was hit hard and gave up four runs. It all started with a bunt-single by Remco Draijer, who then scored on a deep double by Sidney de Jong. Bas de Jong, the league-leader in RBI's, followed with a runscoring single, then scored himself on a deep triple by Fausto Álvarez Rizo. Moments later, Álvarez scored the fourth run in the at bat on a force play-grounder by Ferd van Stekelenburg.
Jos de Jong went the distance for the second time in his career and first time since throwing nine innings (and winning) against Kinheim on July 30, 2005. De Jong struckout six, but missed a shutout, as Pioniers scored an unearned run in the ninth when Dè Flanegin singled, reached second base on an error and scored on a single by Lars Koehorst, who filled in as second baseman today. Infielders Jourick Blanco (who pinch-hit today), Glennsig Polonius and Mark-Jan Moorman all are injured, while the team was informed on Friday that outfielder Jefferson Muzo was suspended for 12 games for his part in a brawl on June 28 vs. ADO. Pioniers appealed the suspension, which is effective immediately.

At Haarlem, HCAW turned a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead in the third inning and went on to win against Kinheim.
In the first inning, Kinheim's Danny Rombley scored the first run on a grounder by Vince Rooi, who scored the second run in the second at bat on a double by Tjerk Smeets. But in the third, HCAW connected well off starter David Bergman, who lost his second game of the season after winning his first seven decisions. With one out, Ronald Jaarsma and Sergio Koelemij singled, then both scored on a single by Bart Gabriëls. An RBI-double by Nick Makkinje followed, then Juriën Overman also singled to mark the end for Bergman, who had his shortest outing this season. Duko Jansen took over and saw HCAW add a run on a grounder by Sidney Ensermo.
HCAW scored another run in the sixth when Ralph Milliard doubled and scored on a single by Ronald Jaarsma. In the home of the seventh, Kinheim came back with a run when Denny Beljaards doubled and scored on a single by Danny Rombley, but HCAW got the run back in the ninth when Sergio Koelemij singled and scored on a double by Bart Gabriëls.

...Eddie Oropesa... ...Complete Game 2-hitter... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At The Hague, ADO outhit Neptunus 8-5, but lost 3-1.
Neptunus took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Martijn Meeuwis, who was added to the preliminary roster of the Dutch national team earlier this, hit his fifth homerun of the season. But ADO came alongside immediately in its second at bat. Harvey Monte, the league's leading hitter, led off with a single and went on to score on a sac-fly by Dimitri Leon.
Neptunus re-took the lead in the fourth when Raily Legito singled off former teammate Rob Cordemans, stole second and scored on a single by Lennart Koster. Neptunus added an extra run in the fifth when Jeffrey Arends led off with a double and went on to score on a wild pitch. In the eighth, the Rotterdam-team got the bases loaded off closer Robin van Doornspeek, but failed to add an extra run.

At Rotterdam, Sparta/Feyenoord shutout Almere '90, as Eddie Oropesa threw a complete game 2-hitter and allowed only three batters to reach, while striking out fourteen. The lefthander gave up doubles to Ricky Daal (second inning) and Dayron Puriël (fourth inning) and walked pinch-hitter Emile Haswell (ninth inning). After Puriël's double, Oropesa retired 16 batters in a row, before walking Haswell.
Sparta/Feyenoord opened the score with three runs in the third inning. With one out, Ramphis Trinidad was hit by a pitch, then scored on a double by Nick Eppinga, who scored himself on a single by Dwayne Kemp. A grounder by Jeffrey Sprott enabled Kemp to score the third run. In the fifth, the Rotterdam-team added a run when Ramphis Trinidad walked and scored on a single by Dwayne Kemp. In the seventh, Trinidad scored his third run of the game, this time on a 2-out double by Jeffrey Sprott.
(July 7)

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(July 6)

At Haarlem, Kinheim trailed 5-0 against MediaMonks RCH, but then scored six runs in the last three innings to win 6-5. Because of the win, Kinheim now shares first place with Neptunus.
Australian pitcher Vaughan Harris held RCH to only two hits in six innings, but then gave up five runs in the seventh, three of which were unearned. In the seventh, Petr Baroch led off with a single, then Ryan Murhy was hit by a pitch. Both scored when Jan Drabek followed with a triple. With this, Baroch and Drabek underscored their value for RCH, who had to play without the two the last few games, as they were playing for the Czech National Team in the Prague Baseball Week. Next, Bobbie van Duuren walked, but was forced out on a grounder by Maarten Bos, who advanced on an error, which enabled Drabek to score. Another error on a grounder by Jeroen Bakker gave RCH an additional run. After Jean-Paul Gulinck took over for Harris, Bakker scored on a single by Lex Leijenaar.
Kinheim came back with a run in the seventh on a 2-out single by Denny Beljaards, then came alongside in the eighth. René Cremer led off with a double and scored on a single by Dirk van 't Klooster, who advanced on a single by Vince Rooi. Hereafter, Ewout Bos took over for Ryan Murphy, who struckout 11 batters in the previous seven innings. After a groundout, Bos gave up a 3-run homerun to Jeffrey Verbij, which tied the score. In the ninth, Kinheim scored the winning run on three consecutive hits with two outs. First, Van 't Klooster and Rooi singled, then Tjerk Smeets delivered the game-winner.

...Official Scorer Feiko Drost... ...300 big league-games... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Amsterdam, Amsterdam Pirates led three times vs. Instant Holland Almere '90 Magpies, but eventually won 5-4 in the ninth inning to extend their winning streak to 10 games. This equals the longest winning streak of this season, which was set by DOOR Neptunus, who won the first ten games of the season. With the win, Pirates moved into third place.
Pirates opened the score in the second inning when Zaïr Koeiman scored on a 2-out fielding error. Almere came alongside in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Niels van Weert and Ricky Daal, but Pirates re-took the lead in the fifth when the Almerian defense committed three errors. Leading 3-1, Kevin Miner took over for starter Nick Stuifbergen, but gave up a 2-run homerun to Randy Daal in the eighth at bat. In the home of the eighth, Pirates took the lead for the third time when Glenn Mascoll walked and went on to score on a passed ball. Again Almere tied the score, this time in the ninth. Lead-off hitter Wesley Bernardus reached second base on a throwing error and went on to score on a wild pitch by new pitcher Mark Kan. Due to tactical decisions, two batters were walked intentionally, Almere got the bases loaded, but all stranded as Kan struckout Randy Daal to end the inning.
In the home of the ninth, Fausto Álvarez Rizo led off with a deep double and was replaced by pinch-runner Pim Walsma. Also, Jerry Breek took over the pitching for Derrick Isenia, but walked Zaïr Koeiman. Everyone was safe on a push-bunt by Roy Harteveld, which went by the first baseman and pitcher. It could have resulted in the winning run right there, but instead the bases were now loaded. The winning run then did score when pinch-hitter Kenny Berkenbosch walked.
This game marked a milestone for Official Scorer Feiko Drost, who worked his 300th career game in the big league baseball. He became the first scorer to reach this mark. Drost already shares the record for most seasons as an Official Scorer with Marco Stoovelaar and Ben Goorts, as this trio is now in their 31st season.
(July 5)

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...Fausto Álvarez Rizo... ...8 homeruns... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Rotterdam, Amsterdam Pirates collected 15 basehits, including two homeruns, to defeat Sparta/Feyenoord, 12-9, and win its ninth game in a row.
Pirates set the tone with three runs in the first at bat, then Sparta/Feyenoord answered in its first when Dwayne Kemp homered. However, Pirates took more distance and increased its lead to 8-1. Sparta/Feyenoord was able to come back within two runs (9-7), but Pirates kept on adding runs. In the seventh, Fausto Álvarez Rizo, the oldest player on the Pirates-roster and in the big league, hit his eighth homerun of the season, while Zaïr Koeiman, the youngest player on the Pirates-roster, hit his first homerun in the ninth at bat. All nine players in the Pirates batting order hit at least one basehit, while four players scored at least twice with Álvarez scoring three runs. Ferd van Stekelenburg had three RBI's. For Sparta/Feyenoord, Dwayne Kemp and Jeffrey Sprott each had three RBI's.

...Olav Steijger... ...300 games... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Hoofddorp, Corendon Kinheim shutout Konica Minolta Pioniers 1-0, after Pioniers had done the same the day before. It was the third 1-0 shutout in the weekend, as Pirates also did it on Saturday against Sparta/Feyenoord.
The lone run in today's game was scored in the fifth inning when Denny Beljaards walked, moved to third on an one-out single by René Cremer and scored on a sac-fly by Dirk van 't Klooster. Kinheim stranded 12 runners, including seven in scoring position. Pioniers left five runners behind, three of them at third base. In the third, they had runners on first and third with one out, but then Michael Duursma grounded into a double play. In this game, umpire Olav Steijger worked his 300th big league game.

At Almere, MediaMonks RCH won 5-4 vs. Instant Holland Almere '90 Magpies.
Trailing 2-1, RCH took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on singles by Bobbie van Duuren and Maarten Bos, who also played an important role later in the game. Almere came alongside in the sixth, then re-took the lead in the seventh on a 2-out double by Derrick Francisca. But in the eighth, RCH again scored two runs to make it 5-4. Ryan Murphy led off with a walk and moved on a sac-bunt by pinch-hitter Nick Heij. After Floris Morang walked, Bobbie van Duuren doubled to bring in the tying run, but then Morang was thrown out at the plate. After a pitching change, Van Duuren scored the go-ahead run on a single by Maarten Bos.

At Bussum, DOOR Neptunus won 3-1 vs. Mr. Cocker HCAW to remain the league-leader.
Leading 1-0, Neptunus scored twice in the sixth inning to take some more distance. Evert-Jan 't Hoen then led off with a walk and moved on a double by Lennart Koster, who was 3-for-4. Former HCAW-player Martijn Meeuwis then delivered a sac-fly and Koster scored on a single by Jeffrey Arends. HCAW scored its lone run in the home sixth when Neptunus committed two errors. HCAW-infielder Ralph Milliard, who didn't the play the last few weeks because of a foot injury returned to the line-up as the DH, but Neptunus still has to do without its veteran centerfielder Johnny Balentina, who last week bruised his ribs during a collission in the outfield.
(July 1)

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Schedule, Scores & Standings

...Nelson Santander Olajo... ...Complete Game 3-hitter... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Amsterdam, Pirates scored the lone run of the game against Sparta/Feyenoord in the first at bat. Sparta/Feyenoord-starter Eddie Oropesa walked lead-off hitter Glenn Mascoll, who then moved on a sac-bunt by Remco Draijer and scored when next batter Kenny Berkenbosch hit a line drive single through the middle.
Pirates, which was outhit 5-3, played solid defense, also on moment that Sparta/Feyenoord got the chance to come alongside. In the seventh, they left runners on second and third base. In the eighth, Seppo Slaman took over the pitching for Pirate-starter Nick Stuifbergen and walked Patrick Wabbijn, then hit Shaldimar Daantji. Mark Kan came in to relief Slaman and saw the runners move on a sac-bunt by Ramphis Trinidad. With runners on second and third and one out, Sparta/Feyenoord didn't opt for the squeeze bunt. A strikeout and a grounder ended the at bat and the last of two scoring opportunities for the Rotterdam-squad.

At Haarlem, Pioniers scored its only run against Corendon Kinheim in the ninth inning.
Jefferson Muzo led off with an infield-hit, moved on a sac-bunt by Michael Duursma and scored on a single by next batter Norbert Lokhorst. Kinheim, which left a runner at third in the fourth inning, got a scoring chance in the sixth inning. But in that at bat, Wouter Heemskerk was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on a 2-out single by Dirk van 't Klooster. In the eighth, Kinheim had the bases loaded with only one out and also didn't go to the bunt. Moments later, Pioniers turned its third double play of the game.
For Kinheim-starter David Bergman, who went the distance, this was his first loss of the season after winning seven in a row. Pionier-starter Nelson Santander Olajo threw a complete game 3-hitter. Playing at third base for Pioniers was Lars Koehorst, who retired after last season and this year is the team's third base coach. However, infielders Jourick Blanco and Glennsig Polonius are both injured, while catcher Mark Duursma is still recovering from the hard collission at ADO a few weeks ago.

At Heemstede, Instant Holland Almere '90 Magpies won 6-3 vs. MediaMonks RCH.
Almere broke an 1-1 tie in the sixth inning by scoring four runs. With one out, Emeron Lourens, Dayron Puriël and Bryan Engelhardt all singled to load the bases. Randy Daal then followed with a 2-run double to give Almere a 3-1 lead. After a flyout, Frank van Leeuwen also singled to bring in two more runs.
RCH came back with two runs in the eighth. Lex Leijenaar led off with a single and scored on a double by Michel Croes, who last Thursday played in his first big league-game since 2003 when he played in five games for today's opponent Almere. With two outs, RCH got the bases loaded. Almere then brought in veteran René Rijst, who this season is the team's pitching coach and already had made a relief appearance on April 29 vs. ADO. Back then, he was the winning pitcher, today he earned a save. RCH did add an extra run, as Rijst hit the first batter he faced with a pitch. Almere scored its sixth run in the ninth.

At Rotterdam, Mr. Cocker HCAW won 4-3 in eleven innings against league-leader DOOR Neptunus in the evening.
Neptunus took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a 2-run single by Lennart Koster, but HCAW came back with a run in the second on an error, then scored twice in the third. Lead-off batter Sidney Ensermo was then hit by a pitch from Diegomar Markwell, followed by a double by Sebastiaan Olgers. With two outs, the two scored on a single by Gino Henson. HCAW's first run also was scored by a batter who reached on a hit by pitch. Neptunus came alongside in the fifth on a sac-fly.
In the eighth, Chris Ryan took over for starter Diegomar Markwell and struckout seven of the first eight batters he faced. But in the eleventh, he walked Gino Henson, who was then forced out on a grounder by Bart Gabriëls, who advanced on a sac-bunt by Sergio Koelemij. To set-up a force play, Ronald Jaarsma was walked intentionally, but Siemen Korff followed with a single to give HCAW a 4-3 lead.
HCAW's 3B coach Jurjan Koenen made his debut as a head coach in the big league, as he filled in for Roy Berrevoets, who sat out an one-game suspension.
(June 30)

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There are some interesting match-ups in the 2-game series, which can have some great influence on the current ranking.
(June 29)

Complete Schedule & Starting Pitchers

At Hoofddorp, Konica Minolta Pioniers led 3-0 in the third inning against ADO, which came back to take a 5-3 lead in the fifth. Pioniers came alongside, but in the tenth inning ADO re-took the lead and went on to win 6-5. Also in the tenth, a bench clearing brawl erupted after ADO-runner Michel Korzeniewski ran into Pionier-third baseman Marcel Venema after being forced out. Korzeniewski and Pionier-outfielder Jefferson Muzo were ejected.

At Rotterdam, DOOR Neptunus defeated Sparta/Feyenoord 13-2 in seven innings. Neptunus had 13 basehits, including four homeruns. Andy Leer led off the game with homerun, then Raily Legito added another one with one out. Jeffrey Arends and Martijn Meeuwis also homered for Neptunus. Leer and Legito both went 3-for-5, while Leer also scored three runs.

At Heemstede, Corendon Kinheim won 14-2 vs. MediaMonks RCH in eight innings. Leading 4-0, Kinheim decided the game with a 5-run rally in the fourth inning, which was highlighted by a baseclearing, 3-run triple by Dirk van 't Klooster. In the eighth, Denny Beljaards added a 2-run triple.
(June 28)

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At The Hague, Amsterdam Pirates won 8-5 vs. ADO to remain in fourth place.
Pirates took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a sac-fly and a 2-run double by Ferd van Stekelenburg, then added four runs in the seventh. With two outs, two runners reached base on an error by short stop Dimitri Leon, then a run was scored on a single by Bas de Jong. Next, Fausto Álvarez Rizo hit his fourth homerun of the weekend, a 3-run shot, to make it 7-0. In the second inning, Álvarez, who homered three times yesterday, was hit by a pitch in his first at bat. In his next two at bats, the Cuban walked, then homered in the seventh. He now leads the league with seven. Winning pitcher Jos de Jong allowed only one batter to reach base in the first six innings. The righthander struckout nine batters and gave up five hits, before being relieved in the eighth. In that at bat, ADO scored four runs, but ended up short in the end.
The 3-homerun performance by Álvarez was the first since Ralph Milliard (HCAW) hit three on May 25, 2002 and the sixth by a Pirates-player. Other Pirates who accomplished the feat were Ronald Stoovelaar, Dave Daniels, Hans van Renselaar, Scott Khoury and Elston Hansen. Marcel Kruyt of Neptunus holds the record, as he has hit three homeruns in thee games.

At Hoofddorp, Konica Minolta Pioniers defeated MediaMonks RCH, 3-1.
Pioniers scored twice in the third inning on a triple by Norbert Lokhorst (who tripled twice) and a single by Glenn Romney. After RCH came back with a run in the fourth, Pioniers got the run back in the fifth on a sac-fly. In the ninth inning, Marc Steenhof became the third pitcher for Pioniers and walked the first batter he faced, but Pioniers then turned a double play. Hereafter, the game was stopped because of rain. After a waiting period, it was stopped definitively, so Steenhof earned a save. It was not only his first save of the season, but also his first since September 1, 2002, as he came out of retirement this season after a 4-year absence.

At Bussum, Mr. Cocker HCAW won 4-2 vs. Instant Holland Almere '90.
HCAW scored all runs in the third inning off starter Nick Veltkamp. With one out, HCAW opened the score on a 2-run single by Juriën Overman, then added two more runs on a single by Gino Henson and a sac-fly by Sergio Koelemij. Almere scored its runs in the fourth and seventh inning off American starter André Simpson, who allowed only two hits in the seven innings he pitched, but also walked four batters and had two wild pitches.
(June 24)

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At Amsterdam, Amsterdam Pirates took possession of fourth place again after winning 10-3 vs. ADO with Fausto Álvarez Rizo writing history. The Cuban-born Álvarez tied a big league-record by hitting three homeruns in one game, but also became the oldest player in history to accomplish this feat, as Álvarez is 46 years old. With his three homeruns, Álvarez had six RBI's.

At Heemstede, Konica Minolta Pioniers won 7-4 against MediaMonks RCH and decided the game with three runs in the fifth at bat. With two outs, a run was scored on an error, then two more on a single by Jourick Blanco.

At Almere, Instant Holland Almere '90 shutout Mr. Cocker HCAW, 7-0. HCAw had only three hits in the game, including two off starter Erik Remmerswaal, who won his first game of the season.
(June 23)

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RHP Rob Cordemans will make his first start of the season for ADO since returning from his professional season in Taiwan. Last week, he made his first appearance as a reliever and earned a save. It has been announced that Cordemans, who will start on Saturday against Amsterdam Pirates, will throw on a pitch-count, as he hasn't thrown regularly the last three weeks.

MediaMonks RCH has only announced its start for Saturday for their games against Konica Minolta Pioniers. RHP Marek Deska has been suspended for four games for his part in a bench-clearing brawl last week against Mr. Cocker HCAW, while RCH's Head Coach Marlon Fluonia has been suspended for one game. However, it was reported that both had appealed the suspension. HCAW's Head Coach Roy Berrevoets, who also was suspended for one game because of the brawl, also has appealed. HCAW's Ronald Jaarsma has been suspended for two games for his part in the brawl. He has not appealed, so he will sit down two games this weekend.
(June 22)

Complete Schedule & Probable Starters

Line Scores & Box Scores Thursday, June 7
Line Scores & Box Scores Saturday, June 9
Line Scores & Box Scores Sunday, June 10
Line Scores & Box Scores Saturday, June 16
Line Scores & Box Scores Sunday, June 17

Rimini opened the score with three unearned runs in the fourth inning off starter Jean-Paul Gulinck. Elvis Pena led off with a single and advanced on a single by Luis Ricardo Serafin. A force play-grounder by Amaury Garcia then ended in a throwing error and a run. Mario Chiarini followed with a sac-fly and Daniel Agli added a 2-out single to make it 3-0. In the fourth inning, Rimini lifted the lead to 4-0 when Elvis Pena homered. Jimmy van der Veldt took over the pitching in the sixth inning.

Kinheim got two runs back in the eighth inning. Jeffrey Verbij led off with a single and Robin Longhurst walked, which marked the end for veteran starter Roberto Cabalisti, who was relieved by Ilo Bartolucci. Verbij was then caught stealing, but Wouter Heemskerk reached on a single and Denny Beljaards on a fielder's choice. The two runs were then scored when Danny Rombley and René Cremer both singled.
(June 14)

In the afternoon, Neptunus shutout Regensburg Legionäre (Germany), 8-0, on 12 hits including three by Benjamin Dille and two by Johnnny Balentina.
Jurjen van Zijl started for the Rotterdam-squad and gave up three hits in the five innings he threw. Leon Boyd and Diegomar Markwell, who normally are starters, completed the game in relief.

In the evening, host Pioniers won 14-2 against Arrows Ostrava from the Czech Republic, but led only 2-1 after four innings. But thereafter, the Czech pitchers couldn't find the strikezone anymore, resulting in Pioniers taking more distance and winning comfortably.
Venezuelan pitcher Nelson Santander Olajo started for Pioniers and was relieved in the seventh inning by Maarten Mulder, who completed the game.
(June 13)

Kinheim, which had only six hits in this game, scored twice in the fifth inning. Robin Longhurst then walked and Wouter Heemskerk doubled, before scoring on a sac-fly by Denny Beljaards and a single by Danny Rombley.
Two runs were added in the next at bat. Tjerk Smeets singled and Roel Koolen doubled, before scoring on a sac-fly by Jeffrey Verbij and a grounder by Robin Longhurst.
Australian pitcher Vaughan Harris had a strong outing, as he struckout nine batters in seven innings and gave up only four basehits.
(June 13)

Kinheim opened the score in the first inning when René Cremer reached on a fielder's choice, moved on a single by Dirk van 't Klooster and scored on a force play-grounder by Roel Koolen. Two runs were added in the third when the Czech-defense committed two errors, then Kinheim took more distance by scoring three runs in the fourth inning. Wouter Heemskerk then reached on a fielder's choice and Denny Beljaards singled, followed by a 3-run homerun by Danny Rombley. The final run was added in the sixth at bat when Wouter Heemskerk walked and scored on a single by Dirk van 't Klooster.

With temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, Patrick Beljaards started for Kinheim and threw seven innings. In the seventh, he gave up the lone Czech run when Pavel Budský (former Mr. Cocker HCAW) homered. David Bergman and Michiel van Kampen completed the game.
(June 12)

Sparta/Feyenoord and MediaMonks RCH split their series. On Saturday, Sparta/Feyenoord won at home, 7-4. On Sunday, RCH also won at home, 4-3, and scored four runs in the fourth inning.

At Almere, Konica Minolta Pioniers on Saturday shutout Instant Holland Almere '90, 7-0, and scored all seven runs in the ninth inning.
(June 9-10)

Line Scores & Box Scores Saturday
Line Scores & Box Scores Sunday
Schedule, Scores & Standings

Pioniers probably has to do at least a month without its catcher Mark Duursma, who sustained a major consussion on Thursday-evening after a huge collission at home plate in the ninth inning vs. ADO, which gave the latter the winning run. Filling in for Duursma behind the plate will be veteran Nick Fridsma and rookie Bart Sabel.
(June 8)

In the first inning of the game against Amsterdam Pirates, Kingsale injured himself while running towards first base. It was diagnosed that he completely tore a tendon in his knee and will be sidelined at least six months. Kingsale already underwent surgery.
Besides not playing for Almere, Kingsale also cannot play for the Dutch National Team and will miss the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam (August), European Championships in Barcelona (September) and World Championships in Taiwan (November). The European Championships in Spain also have the status of Olympic Qualifying Tournament for next years Olympics in Beijing.
Gene, all the best!
(June 8)

At The Hague, Konica Minolta Pioniers was leading 2-0 when ADO came alongside in the seventh inning. ADO then scored the winning run in the ninth inning when Jermaine Esprit walked, moved on a sac-bunt by Dimitri Leon and scored on a single by Maikel Benner. But while scoring, Esprit found catcher Mark Duursma in his way and a very hard collission followed. Duursma fell to the ground, was unconcious for a brief moment and got blood running from his ear. A broken jaw was feared and the catcher was transported to the hospital for further check-ups. While it also was said Duursma might have suffered a major concussion, the exact diagnose wasn't clear yet late Thursday-evening.
Duursma-update: On Friday-morning, it was reported that Mark Duursma had sustained a major concussion as a result of the collission at home plate. No fractures were diagnosed, but he had a cut in his ear, which had to be stitched. Mark has to stay two days in the hospital for observation and will be unable to participate with Pioniers in next weeks CupWinners Cup Tournament at Hoofddorp. Mark, all the best and a quick recovery!

At Rotterdam, Sparta/Feyenoord shutout DOOR Neptunus 2-0. Johnny Balentina led off for Neptunus with a triple in the first inning, but then two strikeouts and a flyout followed. Hereafter, Neptunus didn't reach base much and a runner also was picked off in the seventh. Sparta/Feyenoord-starter Rudy Seebus gave up only four hits, then Tim Roodenburg added three hitless innings.

At Haarlem, Corendon Kinheim trailed 3-1 vs. Media Monks RCH when it rallied for five runs in the fourth inning and went on to win 8-4.
(June 7-8)

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Line Scores & Box Scores Sunday, May 27
Line Scores & Box Scores Tuesday, May 29
Line Score & Box Score Thursday, May 31
Line Scores & Box Scores Saturday, June 2
Line Scores & Box Scores Sunday, June 3
Schedule, Scores & Standings

Complete Schedule & Probable Starters

...RCH's Marlon Fluonia... ...First win as Head Coach... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At Hoofddorp, last placed MediaMonks RCH suprised with a 4-3 victory at Konica Minolta Pioniers, as its Canadian/British pitcher Ryan Murphy had another fine outing. Pioniers took a 1-0 lead in the first at bat, but RCH came back with two runs in the fourth on doubles by Nick Heij and Jan Drabek (RBI) and an RBI-single by Ryan Murphy himself. Pioniers came alongside in the fifth when Marcel Venema was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Pionier-starter Roger Kops also pitched a good game and only allowed baserunners in the fourth when RCH scored twice. He then saw two batters reach base in the eighth and was relieved by Erik Jan Lind. RCH then re-took the lead when Jeroen Bakker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and scored an additional run when third baseman Marcel Venema opted to throw a grounder hit towards him to first base instead of at home, enabling Kevin Gerard to score. In the home of the eighth, Jourick Blanco led off with a line drive homerun, but that was all for Pioniers. The team stranded ten runners, as some batters went after wrong pitches. Canadian/Polish pitcher Marek Deska pitched the ninth for RCH and earned a save. Pioniers' newest addition, Venezuelan RHP Nelson Santander Olajo made his debut and went 0-for-1 as the Designated Hitter to make him eligible to play, as foreigners has to play in an official game before June 1. For RCH, this was their first victory under new Head Coach Marlon Fluonia, who took over last weekend.

At The Hague, Amsterdam Pirates came from behind to hand ADO a 5-4 loss. ADO broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth inning on a single by Marvin Bleij (who was 3-for-5) and a sac-fly by Harvey Monte (who was 3-for-4). Pirates came back with a run in the sixth, but moments later, ADO also scored again to make it 4-2. In the eighth inning, with two outs, Pirates scored three runs to take a 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Pirates got the bases loaded off starter Elvis Polanco, who was then relieved by Berry van Driel. A strikeout and a flyout followed, but then Zaïr Koeiman singled in two runs to tie the score, followed by an RBI-single by Fausto Álvarez Rizo, who had entered the game earlier as a replacement for Pirates' newest addition Australian/Italian RHP Adam Bonaddio, who went 0-for-1 as the DH and therefore played in an official game before June 1. Kenny Berkenbosch was credited with the win, while Kevin Miner threw the last two innings to earn a save.

At Rotterdam, DOOR Neptunus and Corendon Kinheim played a very attractive game with some nice defensive plays, which was won by Neptunus, 2-1. After leaving the bases loaded in the inning before, Kinheim took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on a single by Dirk van 't Klooster. But in the home of the sixth, Neptunus came alongside off David Bergman, who threw in his 100th career big league-game. In the inning, Raily Legito doubled and scored on a sac-fly by Jeffrey Arends. Neptunus then got the bases loaded, but Bergman ended the inning by striking out Jeroen Sluijter. In the next at bat, Neptunus took the lead off reliever Duko Jansen. With two outs, Raily Legito walked and then appeared to score easily on a double to deep left-centerfield by Evert-Jan 't Hoen (who went 3-for-4). However, centerfielder Danny Rombley retrieved the ball quickly and threw it to short stop Roel Koolen, who made an outstanding and strong throw to catcher Tjerk Smeets, making the scoring of Legito a close play. But Legito's hand just beat Smeets' tag to give Neptunus a decisive 2-1 lead. Neptunus-starter Leon Boyd struckout eleven batters and gave up only three hits and raised his record to 6-0. With the loss, Kinheim's 6-game winning streak ended.

At Bussum, Instant Holland Almere '90 held an 8-0 lead in the third inning against Mr. Cocker HCAW, but finally won 10-6. In the first inning, Bryan Engelhardt hit a 3-run homerun to give Almere an early lead, then the team rallied for five runs in the third at bat, highlighted by a 2-run single by Emile Haswell, who made his comeback in the team, and a 2-run double by Emeron Lourens. HCAW scored three runs in the home of the third, but then Almere added two more in the sixth inning to make it 10-3. In the last three innings, HCAW scored three more runs, but was unable to turn the game around. HCAW now has lost six games in a row. Nick Veltkamp, Monday's scheduled starting pitcher, started tonight for Almere, while announced starter Patrick de Lange threw two innings in relief. It is not known yet who now will start on Monday, but that might be either RHP Forstin Coenraad or RHP Cliff Foster, depending if they are needed in Sunday's game.
(May 26)

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Schedule, Scores & Standings

...Rob Cordemans... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

This season, RHP Rob Cordemans was one of three national team-players to play professionally in Taiwan. Half April, LHP Diegomar Markwell was released after only three appearances with the Macoto Cobras and returned home. A week later, Markwell, who was named Best Pitcher of last season in the Dutch big league, made his comeback with DOOR Neptunus.
Infielder Ivanon Coffie also played for the Cobras and now is the only Dutch player to play in Taiwan.

Cordemans threw for the Uni-President Lions and started the season fine. However, a few weeks ago, the righthander was send to a minor league-team. Today (Friday, May 25), Cordemans was informed that his contract wasn't extended, meaning he was released. ADO expects that Cordemans will return to the Netherlands in about two weeks.
(May 25)

The 23-year old Bonaddio has several years of experience in Baseball Victoria's Division One in Australia. In that State, he played for the Waverley Wildcats, which won the title in the 2006-2007 season and finished in second place the year before. Bonaddio, who is listed as a top pitcher for Waverley, also played for the Victoria Aces in the 2005 Claxton Shield Tournament for the Australian national title.
(May 25)

Pioniers last year also was in contact with Santander. It was then planned to use the righthander as both starter and reliever, but in March 2006, Santander signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates-organisation and didn't come to Hoofddorp.
Last year, Santander also played professionally for the Toros del Táchira in San Cristóbal in the Liga Tropical Independiente de Béisbol Profesional Venezolano. In 2005, Santander played in Spain.
Pioniers' Head Coach Frank Koene plans to use Santander in Saturday's, but probably will use him only as the Designated Hitter. The make them eligible to play, foreign players must have played in an official game before June 1.
Santander replaces Japanese pitcher Akira Okamoto on the roster. Initially, Pioniers hoped to add the Japanese righthander, who pitched for ADO last season, but in the off-season it became clear that Okamoto was unavailable to play this season, prompting Pioniers to start a search for a new foreign pitcher.
(May 25)

Amsterdam Pirates again announced its starters on Friday, while the rotation for Corendon Kinheim also was confirmed. RHP David Bergman will throw the opener of their series against DOOR Neptunus on Saturday-evening. That will be a match-up of the two 5-game winners of this season, as Neptunus will start with RHP Leon Boyd.

While not confirmed yet, Konica Minolta Pioniers, Amsterdam Pirates and ADO might add a new pitcher to their roster coming weekend, which is the last to add foreign players, as they have to play their first game before June 1.
(May 24)

Complete Schedule & Probable Starting Pitchers
Australian/Italian pitcher for Pirates
Venezuelan pitcher for Pioniers

Sparta/Feyenoord rallied for three runs in the second, five in the fourth and four in the sixth inning to reach a 10-run difference and end the game after seven games.
Almere-starter Cliff Foster walked seven batters and gave up only three hits, but the combination gave Sparta/Feyenoord enough runners to take an early lead.
Rookie Ronald de Bont went the distance, gave up only six basehits and threw his first complete game in the big league.
(May 22)

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Trailing 3-2, Alcmaria scored two runs in the ninth inning off reliever Jeffrey Cranston, who had taken over the pitching for PSV in the seventh inning. In the ninth, Cranston, who played a long time in the Dutch big league for UVV and Mr. Cocker HCAW, struckout two batters, but three errors accounted for the two Alcmaria-runs. First Linoy Croes reached on an error and scored the tying run on another one. Michael Pluijmers, who also reached base on an error, scored the winning run on a 2-out single by Mark Giroldi, who therefore become the winning pitcher, as he had taken over in the eighth. On Sunday, Jeffrey Cranston gave PSV an early 3-1 lead in the first inning with a 3-run homerun. PSV then added four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh inning.