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Playing your best game so far and still ending up at the wrong side of the score. That is what happened to the Dutch U21 squad today.
Versus Nicaragua the Dutch took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kirvin Moesquit doubled down the left field line. Moesquit promptly stole third base and scored on a 5-3 ground out hit by Dudley Leonora.
In the fifth inning, the Dutch extended their lead when Kirvin Moesquit, who had drawn a lead off walk, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Dudley Leonora. Leonora got on base on a throwing error by the Nicaraguan pitcher Joseph Guillermo and Moesquit advanced to third on the same action. After Guillermo retired Daniel Fernandes, he threw a wild pitch which allowed Moesquit to score the second run for the Dutch. Dudley Leonora advanced to third on the play.
Leonora was driven in on a hit by Aldair Adamus. Eventually the Dutch loaded the bases on a hit by Cezan Rafaela and a walk drawn by Jorin van Amstel. Guillermo then gave up a bases loaded walk to Urvin Kemp and thus walked in Aldair Adamus for the fourth run.
Things looked promising for the Dutch but Nicaragua wasn’t about to give up. The sixth inning started with a throwing error by second baseman Kevin Moesquit that allowed first baseman Meza to reach second base. From that moment on the Dutch were not able to shut the flood gates and allowed Nicaragua to score five runs.
Despite this blow, the Dutch showed some flexibility by loading the bases in the seventh inning, but they failed to take advantage and left the bases loaded.
Nicaragua scored one run in the eighth inning to reach the final score of 6-4.
Dutch pitcher Reginald Bomberg took the loss after he faced three batters in the fifth without recording an out, after replacing Vincent Antonia (who allowed three runs before handing over the ball).
Urvin Kemp earned the honours of being the best batter, going 1 for 2 with a double, an RBI and a walk.
Despite the fact that the youngsters could leave the diamond with their heads up the Dutch will now play for the seventh to eleventh spot in the standings. Too bad that one bad inning made the difference today.
Dutch Baseball Hangout 