Dutch Hoofdklasse, Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24

Thanks to the Pentecost weekend I have done a couple of other things. Yes there is more in life than baseball; even in my life.

This weekend the following series were played:

Pronto DSS vs L&D Amsterdam Pirates, HCAW vs Vaessen Pioniers, Curacao Neptunus vs UVV and Mampaey the Hawks vs Corendon Kinheim.
The top four teams won all their games and cannot be caught by the others in the first part of the competition.

Something that needs te attention is Curacao Neptunus’ combined no-hitter vs UVV on Saturday. Officially it was not a no-hitter because the game was a mercy rule shortened seven inning game, but since these games are not a rarity, this great effort is regarded as a no-hitter anyway.
Orlando Yntema started the game and lasted five innings in which he struck out three and walked two. In total he faced seventeen hitters. In the sixth inning, he was replaced by Jorian van Acker. Van Acker pitched a perfect sixth. Loek van Mil took the mound in the seventh inning and issued one walk but retired the remaining hitters for the combined no-no.
Jim Ploeger took the loss for UVV. In 3.1 innings he gave up eight runs (three earned) on ten hits. He fanned four and gave up one walk.
Shaldimar Daantji went 2 for 2 with a run scored for Neptunus. Neptunus won 10-0 on Saturday and 0-6 on Sunday.

On Sunday, Pronto DSS was close to a suprise. After seven innings the trailed 4-0 but they managed to get back in the game.  In the top of the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Levine Gabriels singled in the first run for DSS. Lex Leijenaar then hit the ball towards shortstop Michael Duursma, who committed a fielding error that allowed Tino van Erk to score the second run.
In the top of the ninth Sven Jongejans led off with a single to left field, followed by a walk drawn by Ryan Miner. A single by Tino van Erk loaded the bases. When Shane Boeree hit into a force out at second and reached base on a fielder’s choice, Sven Jongejans brought DSS within one run of Pirates. But that was the closest that DSS would come as Tommy van de  Sanden grounded out 3-4 for the final out of the game. L&D Amsterdam won Saturday’s game in an easier way: 6-0

HCAW faced Vaessen Pioniers and lost both games 7-1. Lars Huijer pitched a gem on Saturday. In seven full innings he allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out six and walked three. HCAW’s Giovanni Tensen lasted two innings in which he allowed four earned runs on six hits, striking out two and walking two.

Mampaey the Hawks took on Corendon Kinheim. Kinheim won the game on Saturday in an easy way 9-0, but the Hawks fought hard on Sunday. They even took a 4-2 lead in the second inning. Starting pitcher Kevin van Veen pitched a good game and limited Kinheim to only three runs until the sixth inning when he collapsed and gave up three runs. Eventually Corendon Kinheim won 6-4.