Dutch play offs 2014

Since last year the Dutch Hoofdklasse (major league) has a different format. The season is split in two halfs. The winner and runner up of the first half clinch a spot in the play offs later that season. The winner and runner up of the second half (or the nr. 3 and 4 if the winner and the runner up are the same as in the first half) advance to the play offs as well. You would expect that two best of five or seven series are played. Nope…. The four teams will face each other one more time in a three game series. This year the following teams had clinched a play off spot: DOOR Neptunus from Rotterdam (the reigning champion), L&D Amsterdam Pirates, Corendon Kinheim from Haarlem and Vaessen Pioniers from Hoofddorp (pronounce Hoafd dorp).

The teams take their points from the regular competition with them. Eventually the numbers 1 and 2 of the play off competition will face each other in the championship series, called the Holland Series.

With one round to be played, DOOR Neptunus and L&D Amsterdam Pirates had clinched a spot in the Holland Series already. But this weekend both teams had to face each other for the final round of the play off competition. On Thursday, L&D Amsterdam won by 7-4 in Rotterdam, even without their regular starter and pitching coach Rob Cordemans. Cordemans has burned his hand and it is very unlikely that he will return in time. This is also a blow for the Dutch national team that will try to dethrone Italy as reigning European Champion in September.

Today, the second matchup between the teams from Rotterdam and Amsterdam was played.

Until the third inning both teams didn’t score. But then in the bottom of the third, Chris Mowday of L&D Amsterdam Pirates was hit hard. It all started with a single up through the middle by Shaldimar Daantji. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mourik Huijser. A single to left field by Adrian Anthony put runners on the corners. Then Benjamin Dille doubled down the left field line to drive in Daantji for the opening run and to advance Anthony to third base. Singles by Reilly Legito, Gianison Boekhoudt and Dwayne Kemp drove in three more runs in the third.

In the fourth inning, Shaldimar Daantji got on base thanks to a fielding error by second baseman Jesse Aussems. Mourik Huijser then hit towards third baseman Rashid Gerard who made the force out on second base. Adrian Anthony singled through the left side of the infield. With runners on first and second, Benjamin Dille advanced them on a 4-3 ground out. Reilly Legito then singled to center field to drive in two more runs for DOOR Neptunus.

DOOR Neptunus scored another run in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to end the game with a 10-0 mercy rule score.

L&D Amsterdam did have some runners in scoring position but failed miserably to take advantage.

The following stats say a lot about the game:

Neptunus’ starting pitcher, Orlando Yntema lasted seven innings in which he fanned six, walked two and allowed four hits.

Orlando Yntema

Chris Mowday, lasted six innnings despite allowing seven runs. He was replaced in the top of the seventh by Kevin Bosch of L&D Amsterdam Pirates’ farm team. He allowed three more runs on four hits and gave up a walk and threw a wild pitch that allowed Mourik Huijser to score the game ending run.

Thanks to this victory, DOOR Neptunus is in the lead of the standings again with eight games played and 45 points. L&D Amsterdam is the runner up with eight games played and 44 points. Tomorrow’s game will decide which team will end on top of the play off standings and thus have homefield advantage in the Holland Series.