European Cup 2014: Dutch win first game in second round
In the second round of the European Cup,the numbers 1, 2 and 3 of group A will play the numbers 1, 2 and 3 of group B. The two teams that finish on top after these games, will play in the championship game on Sunday.
The Dutch took on the Germans in their first game of round two. In the first four innings both pitchers kept the opponent in check. André Hughes allowed just two hits in four innings. Dutch pitcher Kevin Heijstek pitched four perfect innings.
But in the top of the fifth when the Dutch were halfway their batting order for the second time, they caught fire. Shawn Zarraga led off with a single followed by a double down the right field line by Yurendell de Caster on which Zarraga advanced to third base. A triple by Sharlon Schoop to center field cleared the bases for the Dutch. Schoop was driven in on a single by Nick Urbanus towards center field and when Hainley Statia doubled down the left field line, Nick Urbanus scored the fourth run all the way from first base.
Two innings later the Dutch had another four run inning. Randolph Oduber was hit by a pitch to load the bases after Sharlon Schoop and Nick Urbanus both had hit a single. Hanley Statia drove in Sharlon Schoop for the fifth run when he hit the ball towards second baseman Lukas Jahn. Jahn then couldn’t handle the ball correctly so all runners advanced and Statia reached first base safely. When Curt Smith followed with another single, Nick Urbanus scored and all runners advanced again to keep the bases loaded. After Boekhoudt and Sams struck out, Shawn Zarraga hit another single that drove in Hainley Statia and Randolph Oduber for runs nr. seven and eight.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Germany got on the board. Maik Ehmke reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Sharlon Schoop. Ludwig Glaser followed with a double down the left field line to drive in Ehmke for Germany’s first run of the game. Glaser advanced to third base on a ground out hit by Max Boldt (6-3). Kevin Kotowski singled through the center of the infield so Ludwig Glaser could score the second run for the Germans.
The Dutch scored two runs on their turn in the top of the eighth on a homer by Randolph Oduber, followed by two German runs in the bottom of the ninth on a homer by Maurice Wilhelm, to reach the final score of 10-4.
Maurice Wilhelm (here in a Bonn Captials uniform) hit a two run homerun in the ninth
Winning pitcher was Dutch starter Kevin Heijstek, who pitched seven frames in which he allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked none.
Kevin Heijstek earned the win
Relief pitcher Kevin Kelly pitched one perfect inning in which he fanned all three batters he faced.
Arshwin Asjes pitched the ninth inning and allowed two earned runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out one.
Germany also used three pitchers.
André Hughes took the loss. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits. He gave up no walks and struck out five in 4.1 innings of work.
Max Schmitz pitched 2.2 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and walked one and struck out three batters.
Daniel Thieben pitched the final two innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. He walked just one and struck out three.
Based on average, Shawn Zarraga was the best hitter for the Dutch, going 3 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. Most effective hitter was Randolph Oduber who got only one hit out of four at bats, but who drove in two runs and scored one himself.
Tomorrow the Dutch will take on the French, who they met twice recently in the France Internaitional Baseball Tournament.