Dutch hoofdklasse 2017: Round 3, day 1

Yesterday the first games of round three were played. Normally these games are played on a Thursday night, but due to the celebration of Kings Day, the games were moved to Friday night. Curaçao Neptunus hosted De Glaskoning Twins, HCAW visited DSS and Hoofddorp Pioniers headed to Utrecht to face UVV. 

De Glaskoning Twins  5  –  10  Curaçao Neptunus

Even though De Glaskoning Twins collected more hits than Curaçao Neptunus, they stayed at the wrong side of the score. But despite still being without a victory, Twins played a good game. For the first time this season, De Glaskoning Twins did not commit any error. At times Neptunus pitcher Diegomar Markwell was hit hard but then again Twins lacked some luck as they hit straight to the fielders. One of the differences between the two teams was the pitching. Even though he was not lights out, Diegomar Markwell was solid over six innings in which he allowed six hits and struck out three which earned him the win.
Twins starter Jan Evertse lasted five frames and even though his numbers tell a different story (seven runs on nine hits), he did not pitch a bad game. He hit the strike zone, gave up only three walks but was hit at times as Neptunus collected four doubles, of which Dwayne Kemp hit three, and two triples, which was the second difference as Twins collected only singles.
Only after Markwell was replaced by Stefan Iannelli, Twins started to come through. Iannelli gave up a walk with the bases loaded to allow Twins to score their first run. Then Misja Harcksen took over and gave up back-to-back singles that drove in three more runs. In the next inning, Twins added one more run. 
Neptunus scored runs in six of the eighth innings that were played due to the curfew rule: two in the second and seventh inning, three in the third and one in the fourth, the fifth and the eighth inning.
Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Dwayne Kemp, who went 3 for 5 with three doubles, a RBI and two runs scored.
Jan Evertse took the loss.

HCAW  17  –  0  DSS

DSS was no match for HCAW last night in a lopsided game. The team was totally kept in check by Jim Ploeger, who gave up only one hit and Tim Niekerk.
For HCAW on the other hand, this game merely a batting practice as the team collected sixteen hits of which three doubles, a triple and a home run. No surprise this game was shortened by the mercy rule in seven innings.
The second inning was a disastrous one for the team from Haarlem. With Sander Helmendach on the mound, HCAW rallied for nine runs (seven earned). It all started when DSS already trailed 3-0 after one inning and Helmendach loaded the bases and gave up a triple to Delano Selassa. Singles by Vince Rooi, Kevin Dirksen and Sven Jongejans drove in a run each before Raoell Kortstam homered to left field for three more runs.
Eventually, HCAW scored three more runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to reach the final score.
Jim Ploeger earned the win and Sander Helmedach took the loss. Best hitter for HCAW was Vince Rooi, who went 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored.

Hoofddorp Pioniers  4  –  2  Pickles UVV

Unlike the game between HCAW and DSS, the game between Hoofddorp Pioniers and Pickles UVV was far from lopsided. In a close game UVV took the lead in the second inning. With two outs, Steven van Reem singled up the middle, followed by a double to left center field, hit by Julian Goins. A wild pitch by Lars Huijer allowed Van Reem to score the opening run.
Four innings later, Pioniers tied the game when Mervin Gario hit a two out triple to right center field and scored on a wild pitch by Timo van Ancum. But in the bottom of that same inning, UVV would take the lead again. Jelle Blaauw hit a leadoff single to center field, followed by a double, hit by Bryce Cherry. Tijmen Takke hit an infield single to the shortstop that drove in Jelle Blaauw for the go-ahead run. Bryce Cherry tried to score from second but was thrown out on a 3-2-5-2 play.
But once again Pioniers would tie the game. In the top of the seventh, Shurman Marlin scored from second base on a single by Brennan Nijhof.
In the next two innings not much happened, so extra innings were needed. In the tenth inning, Pioniers scored two runs. One on a triple by Sander Paap and one on a throwing error by second baseman Tijmen Takke. Maickel Rietel then shut the door for UVV in the tenth inning for the save. The win went to Glenn Wassink, who pitched three innings in which he gave up one hit and fanned one. Jose Moreno took the loss after three innings in which he gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. He also struck out a hitter.
Average wise, the best hitter for Hoofddorp Pioniers was Brennan Nijhof, who went 1 for 2 with a RBI.

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