European Cup 2014: Dutch play their short game vs Croatia
In today’s second game in Ostrava (Czech Republic), the Dutch took on Croatia. Ostrava was lucky since Regensburg in Germany was bothered by the rain and the first game there was rained out.
The Dutch were the road team and started the game at bat. Hainley Statia led off but grounded out to first base for the first (unassisted) out of the game. Nick Urbanus drew a walk off Croatian starting pitcher Dejan Marin. After a failed pick off attempt Marin threw a wild pitch so Urbanus could advance to second base. Nick eventually scored on a double to left field by Curt Smith. DH Gianison Boekhoudt homered to center field on the very first pitch that he saw, to make it 3-0. With still one out, Kalian Sams was hit by a pitch and stole second base. After Shawn Zarraga flied out to center field, with runners on first and second (after Yurendell de Caster had drawn a walk) Sharlon Schoop singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Kalian Sams for the fourth run and to advance De Caster to second. Dejan Marin loaded the bases when he walked Danny Rombley. Then the Dutch started all over again when Hainley Statia came at bat for the second time in the first inning. Hainley imitated Gianison Boekhoudt by hitting the first pitch in his at bat for a (grandslam) homerun to make it 8-0. After Nick Urbanus got on base with a single, Curt Smith grounded out 4-3 for the final out of the inning.
The bottom of the first inning, Kevin Heijstek retired the first two batters but then gave up two singles to Slobodan Gales and Dario Colovic. These two singles didn’t hurt because Heijstek retired the next batter for the final out of the inning.
In the second inning, the Dutch flexed their muscles again. In the meantime Croatia had replaced Dejan Marin by Matija Sertic. After Gianison Boekhoudt flied out to left field, Kalian Sams hit a solo dinger to right field.
Kalian Sams (photo: courtesy of Rob Jelsma)
Singles by Shawn Zarraga and Yurendell de Caster were followed by a three run homer by Sharlon Schoop, who cleared the left field fence with his long ball. After Danny Rombley doubled to left center field, he advanced to third base on a ground out (1-3) by Hainley Statia. A wild pitch by Matija Sertic allowed Rombley to score the thirteenth run for the Dutch. Gianison Boekhoudt homered after Nick Urbanus was hit by a pitch and Curt Smit drew a walk: 16-0 Netherlands.
In the third inning the Dutch didn’t score. In the bottom of the third, Kevin Heijstek was replaced by Arshwin Asjes, who retired the side.
In the fourth inning the Dutch scored three more runs on a homerun by Shawn Zarraga with Gilmer Lampe and Curt Smith on board.
Shawn Zarraga homered in the fourth inning
In the bottom of the fourth inning the Croatians saved their honour a bit by scoring two runs with Arshwin Asjes on the mound.
In the fifth inning neither team did score a run and it was called a game.
Dutch manager Steve Janssen used three pitchers in five innings.
Kevin Heijstek pitched two frames in which he allowed two hits and fanned three.
Arshwin Asjes pitched two innings for the win and allowed two unearned runs. Asjes gave up one walk and struck out one hitter
Kevin Kelly pitched the fifth and last ining. He gave up a walk and struck out two.
Croatia sent four pitchers to the mound.
Marin Dejan lasted 0.2 innings in which he gave up eight runs on four hits and three walks. Dejan didn’t strike out a batter.
Matija Sertic came in in relief in the first ining and pitched 2.1 innings. Sertic gave up eight runs as well on nine hits, three walks and two wild pitches.
Darko Kvaternik pitched the fourth inning and allowed three more runs. He faced seven batters and retired two on strikeouts and he walked one.
Zvonimir Ivancan pitched the fifth inning and gave up one walk.
This game could hardly be called a game. The difference between the two teams was simply too big. Tomorrow will be the first serious test for the Dutch when they face host country Czech Republic.