Dutch Hoofdklasse, August 8

On the second day of the final round of the regular season, the following games were scheduled:

HCAW @ Pronto DSS, Corendon Kinheim @ Vaessen Pioniers and UVV @ Mampaey the Hawks.

HCAW @ Pronto DSS 1 – 4

HCAW from Bussum moved to Haarlem to take on DSS. Once again the team from Bussum lacked hitting. In the first inning DSS took a 1-0 lead when Sven Jongejans tripled to center field and was driven in on a single to center field, hit by Mitchell Koot. Two innings later DSS scored again. Mark Smit drew a lead off walk and promptly stole second. He moved to third on a single to center hit by Sven Jongejans. As he stole second, catcher Jarreau Martine made a throwing error that allowed Smit to score the second run. In the bottom of the eighth, DSS scored two more runs. All what HCAW was capable of was a run in the top of the ninth. Lead off hitter Peter van Doesburg was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a walk drawn by Marciano Philippi. When Roy Seltenrijch hit into a fielder’s choice/force out at second, Van Doesburg advanced to third and scored on Emersson Paula’s sacrifice fly to center field.
In five on the nine innings HCAW got three hitters up and all three went back to the dugout again. In the second inning HCAW had a runner on third but failed to score. In total the team managed to collect two hits. DSS got seven hits.
Mike Groen pitched eight innings for DSS and earned the win by giving up only two hits, walking one and fanning four.
Sander Helmendach pitched a complete game but took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits in eight innings.
Best hitter for DSS was.Sven Jongejans, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Corendon Kinheim @ Vaessen Pioniers 0 – 1

A real pitcher’s duel was carried in in Hoofddorp. The game was decided by one run.
In the third inning, Kevin Dirksen singled to center field, followed by a walk drawn by Djewi Appelman. After Kevin Weijgertse struck out, Daniel Fernandes got on base on a throwing error by shortstop Dudley Leonora who attempted to make the out at second base. With the bases loaded, Danny Rombley walked in the game winning run.
Throughout the game, Kinheim produced only two hits and Pioniers only three. In general the innings didn’t take long because of the quick outs. Only in the eighth inning, Kinheim managed to put a runner at third but they couldn’t drive hime in.
Ricardo Hernandez pitched five innings for the win. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out five. David Bergman took the bitter loss as he also pitched a good game but gave up the only run of the game. In six innings he allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four.

UVV @ Mampaey the Hawks 1 – 5

To many the outcome of this game may come as a suprise. I attended the game on my way to Rotterdam, where Neptunus will play game two of the European Cup final vs Bologna, but when I saw UVV play, it wasn’t a surprise. UVV played uninspired, like they didn’t care. Of course this game was about nothing because nothing can change in the standings anymore. UVV will finish the regular season in fifth place and cannot be reached by nr. six DSS. Mampaey the Hawks has finished in eighth place and will start the play downs with zero points.
Anyhow, the first inning passed without any runs. But in the second the Hawks built the foundation for the victory. The achilles heel of UVV today was, with all due respect, catcher Dennis de Quint. Regular catcher Joris van Ballegooy was ill and UVV’s second catcher had some shoulder/arm issues. After Stephen Henson singled he advanced to second base on a fast ball. Brian Raap reached base on a throwing error by Ian DelaMarre and Henson advanced to third on the play. When Amir Daou singled down the right field line, Raap and Henson scored. Daou tried to stretch his single into a double and was caught in a 9-4-3-6-3 run down for the out. In the fifth, sixth and eighth inning the Hawks scored a run each. UVV only scored a run in the top of the fifth when Dennis de Quint drew a walk and Tony Enos singled. Omar Williams then singled through the right side of the infield to drive in Dennis de Quint.
Winning pitcher was Enoch Deaton, who lasted five innins in which he gave up one run on six hits. He walked five but didn’t strike out anyone. Ian DelaMarre took the loss. In four innings he gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Best hitter for the Hawks was Louis Sienders, who went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Omar Williams went 2 for 4 and drove in the sole run for UVV.
Mampaey the Hawks didn’t play brilliant baseball but they were simply more eager to win this game than UVV.