Holland Series 2014: Game 1

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Yesterday, L&D Amsterdam Pirates headed to Rotterdam to take on still reigning champion DOOR Neptunus. In the first game of the best of seven series, things went rather different than I expected. Even though I am rooting for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, I think that DOOR Neptunus is the team to beat. IMHO, DOOR Neptunus is a very balanced team with good pitching and a good batting order.

This game would be the story of Kevin Heijstek (L&D Amsterdam Pirates), who dominated the Rotterdam batting order.

In the first two innings both teams didn’t score, even though L&D Amsterdam Pirates had runners in scoring position and was close  in scoring a run when Jesse Aussems laid down a bunt that was fielded by catcher Gianison Boekhoudt who tagged out Remco Draijer at homeplate.

But eventually in the third inning, L&D Amsterdam Pirates opened the score. A single by Roelie Henrique, a double by Michael Duursma and a ground out by Bas de Jong drove in the first run. The second run followed after a double hit by Bas Nooij on which Michael Duursma scored.

In the fourth inning, L&D Amsterdam Pirates loaded the bases on a single to right field by Percy Isenia and bunts by Jesse Aussems and Rachid Gerard. When Roelie Henrique hit into a 4-6-3 double play, Percy Isenia could score the third run for the team from Amsterdam.

In the meantime, Kevin Heijstek had limited DOOR Neptunus to only two hits. The only inning in which he got into trouble was the sixth, when he loaded the bases. But with two men out already, he struck out Gianison Boekhoudt to get out of the jam.

In the seventh inning, L&D Amsterdam Pirates showed how you produce runs. With one out, Roelie Henrique laid down  a bunt towards third base for a basehit. With Michael Duursma at bat, Henrique stole second. When Duursma drove a hit into center field, Henrique raced home from second base to score the fourth run for Amsterdam. Michael Duursma advanced to second base on the throw towards homeplate. Then with Kevin Kelly on the mound for Diegomar Markwell, Duursma stole third base and eventually scored the fifth run on a double by Kenny Berkenbosch.

Eventually, Kevin Heijstek was replaced by Kyle Ward in the ninth inning, after he recorded an out already. In 8.1 innings, Heijstek allowed five hits, struck out four and walked one.

Kevin Heijstek almost went the full nine innings (photo courtesy of Henk Seppen)

Heijstek’s replacement , Kyle Ward retired one batter and then made room for Jurrian Koks. Koks allowed one hit to Kalian Sams and then retired Dwayne Kemp on a fly out to center field for the final out.

For DOOR Neptunus, Diegomar Markwell pitched 6.1 innings in which he allowed all five runs for Amsterdam. Markwell allowed eleven hits, walked one and fanned four. Kevin Kelly allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one in 1.2 innings. Jorian van Acker pitched the final frame. He didn’t allow a hit but he hit Michael Duursma with a pitch.

Best hitter for L&D Amsterdam was Kenny Berkenbosch, who went 3 for 5 with two RBI and two doubles.

My favorite player, Kalian Sams, collected two of the six hits in four at bats for the team from Rotterdam. He struck out once and stole second base.

Kalian Sams went 2 for 4 with a stolen base (photo: courtesy of Rob Jelsma)