Dutch playoffs 2017: Round 2, day 1

On the first day of the second playoff round, Curaçao Neptunus hosted Hoofddorp Pioniers in a very quick, low scoring game. L&D Amsterdam Pirates hosted HCAW from Bussum. 

Hoofddorp Pioniers  0  –  3  Curaçao Neptunus
In a game that lasted less than two hours (1h53), Curaçao Neptunus stayed at the right side of the score vs Hoofddorp Pioniers. Both pitchers pitched a complete game. Diegomar Markwell allowed three hits to Pioniers and Lars Huijer gave up five hits.
Until the fifth inning, nothing really much happened. In the fifth inning, Christian Fernandes singled through the left side, followed by a single to center field hit by Shaldimar Daantji. Fernandes advanced to third and scored on the throwing error, committed by center fielder Mark Smit. Diegomar Markwell did not let Pioniers get any further than second base.  In the eighth inning, Neptunus pushed once more. With runners on firtst and second, Benjamin Dille hit the ball towards first base. When Lars Huijer took over first base, first baseman Shurman Marlin muffed the throw and thus allowed Jochem Koedijk and Stijn van der Meer to score two unearned runs. 
Diegomar Markwell earned the win. As written above, he gave up three hits, walked one and struck out five. Despite pitching a good game, Lars Huijer took the loss. In eight innings, he gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits, walked three and struck out five.

Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Shaldimar Daantji, who went 1 for 2.

HCAW  1  –  4  L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Just like last week, HCAW gave its opponent a hard time. Yes, the club from Bussum lost, but the team could keep pace rather well. Two innings in which Pirates stepped on it were enough for the victory. In fact one inning was enough, the runs scored in the other inning were just insurance runs.
In the first inning, Zerzinho Croes singled down the left field line and advanced to third on Nick Urbanus’ single through the right side. When Gilmer Lampe hit towards first base, first baseman Kevin Weijgertse, attempted to throw out Croes, who was dashing towards home, but the throw was too late and Lampe was safe on the fielders choice. After Nick Urbanus was picked off second base, Gilmer Lampe stole second and scored on the double to right field, hit by Kenny Berkenbosch.
Manager Charles Urbanus used the same tactics he normally does; starting pitcher for six or seven innings and then two relievers. Rob Cordemans lasted seven innings, Daan Hendrix replaced him (and lasted 1.2 frames) and Nick Veltkamp recorded the final out of the game. In the third inning, Pirates added two more runs. With runners on first and second, Gilmer Lampe singled to left center field and drove in Zerzinho Croes. Nick Urbanus advanced to third and Lampe advanced on the throw towards home plate.
A sac fly to center field, hit by Danny Rombley, drove in Nick Urbanus for Pirates’ fourth run.
Rob Cordemans earned the win but still had to allow a run to HCAW in the fourth inning. He hit Rachid Engelhardt with a pitch and gave up a double to Rossini Frolijk, who jacked the ball towards right field and drove in Engelhardt for the sole run HCAW scored. Cordemans gave up four hits, walked none and struck out eight.
Jim Ploeger lasted six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks. He also struck out four for the loss.

Best hitter for L&D Amsterdam Pirates was Nick Urbanus, who went 3 for 4 with a run scored. 

This report is brought to you by Score66 Baseball