Three of Dutch top four teams played in Easter tournament as preparation on upcoming season

L&D Amsterdam Pirates (last year’s runner up in the Holland Series), Vaessen Pioniers and Corendon Kinheim prepared themselves to the upcoming season at the Charles Urbanus Tournament, organized by other Hoofdklasse club HCAW from Bussum during the Easter weekend.

After HCAW from Bussum merged with Amstel Tijgers from Amsterdam prior to the 1989 season, the club from Bussum also inherited the yearly preparation tournament, which is held ever since.

The four teams played each team once.

Unfortunately, HCAW has lost quite some players during the transfer period during the off season. This resulted in three defeats: 2-0 vs L&D Amsterdam, 15-0 vs Corendon Kinheim, 12-5 vs Vaessen Pioniers.

There is one game especially that I want to highlight.

The game between L&D Amsterdam Pirates and Vaessen Pioniers was a close one; both in runs and in hits.
Rob Cordemans took the mound for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, while Lars Huijer took the mound for Vaessen Pioniers.
The youngster, just had returned from the USA, where he decided to call it quits after he was traded from the Mariners to the Cubs in the off season.

As expected, Rob Cordemans dominated the Vaessen Pioniers lineup. In five innings, he allowed six, struck out six and walked one. After five innings he was replaced by Tom de Blok, who pitched the remaining two innings in perfect fashion: No hits, no walks and one strikeout.

Lars Huijer lasted four innings before his brother Swen took over. In those four innings Lars allowed two runs (only one earned) on four hits, walked two and struck out two.

L&D Amsterdam Pirates collected seven hits and scored twice. Both second baseman Michael Duursma and third baseman Gerard went 2 for 4 but Gerard did slightly better because one of his hits was a double.

Other scores:

Friday, April 3
HCAW – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 0 – 2

Saturday, April 4
Vaessen Pioniers – Corendon Kinheim 1 – 0
L&D Amsterdam Pirates – Vaessen Pioniers 4 – 0
Corendon Kinheim – HCAW 15 – 0

Sunday, April 5
L&D Amsterdam Pirates – Corendon Kinheim 0 – 5
HCAW – Vaessen Pioniers 5 – 12

Corendon Kinheim was declared winner of the tournament on run aggregate.

Kevin Moesquit (Corendon Kinheim) was declared MVP and best hitter. Rob Cordemans (L&D Amsterdam Pirates) earned the honour of being named best pitcher.