The lone run in the game was scored in the second inning.
Lead-off hitter Bas de Jong reached on a fielding error by short stop Raily Legito and Jurjan Koenen followed with a single.
Next, a sac-bunt by Ronald Jaarsma was fielded by pitcher Rob Cordemans, who didn't make a play, resulting in a bases loaded-situation.
Nick Fridsma then didn't hit the ball fully, but the ball rolled towards the third base-line and remained on fair territory, enabling De Jong to score. A fly out and a double play ended the at bat, but HCAW had taken a 1-0 lead, which was to be the only run in the game.

HCAW got another chance in the sixth inning when Bas de Jong and Jurjan Koenen singled with one out. However, De Jong was thrown out at third base when he tried to advance on a failed pick-off by the catcher. Second baseman Evert-Jan 't Hoen got hold of the ball and threw De Jong out at third. A grounder then ended the inning.
In the eighth, HCAW had runners on first and second with one out, but again no extra run was scored.

HCAW-starter Cliff Foster dominated. The righthanded American struckout ten batters and gave up only six hits. He allowed the first Neptunian runner to reach third base in the ninth inning! Foster was supported by solid defense.
Neptunus got its lead-off hitter on base in the fourth and fifth inning, but three quick outs followed both times.
In the seventh inning, Roel Koolen (who was 3-for-4) doubled with one out, but then Maikel Benner lined into a double play.

In the ninth inning, Neptunus appeared to take charge of the game after all.
Pinch-hitter Brian Larmonie walked and his pinch-runner Adrian Anthony advanced when Harvey Monte hit a push-bunt-single over the third baseman.
Next batter Percy Isenia failed to bunt the runners to the next base and struckout, but then the bases were loaded when Roel Koolen singled.
It marked the end for Foster, who was relieved by Nick Stuifbergen.
Maikel Benner hit the ball towards the first base-line and everyone appeared to be safe, but pitcher Stuifbergen managed to force Anthony out at home. With the bases still loaded, the game ended when Jeroen Sluijter grounded back to Stuifbergen, who made the final putout himself.

This was the 14th shutout in Holland Series-history, but only the third that ended in a 1-0 score. The last was registered on September 30, 1995 when Neptunus won 1-0 vs. Kinheim.
It was only the fifth time Neptunus was shutout in a Holland Series-game. The last time was on September 27, 2003 when HCAW won 2-0.
This was the first opening win in a Holland Series for HCAW since it won 10-0 vs. Neptunus in 1998, when the team from Bussum also won its last Dutch title.

Game Two will be played on Sunday, September 25 at Bussum.
Of course, a Live Play-by-Play will be available again on this site.
Line Score & Box Score
Complete Play-by-Play Game One Neptunus vs. HCAW
(September 24)

Game Two. (September 25)
Game Three. (September 29)
Game Four. (October 1)

Thank you for visiting this site. See you soon!

Mail suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl