Dutch playoffs 2017: Round 4, day three

After several rainouts in the previous days, the scheduled games of today were played as planned. Curaçao Neptunus took on Hoofddorp Pioniers in Hoofddorp and needed just seven innings to clinch the win. L&D Amsterdam Pirates needed the full nine innings to beat HCAW.

Curaçao Neptunus  15  –  3  Hoofddorp Pioniers
Curaçao Neptunus only needed seven innings to clinch a spot in the Holland Series. A two-run first inning and a four-run second were the start of a clear victory for the Rotterdam based team. Solo home runs by Stijn van der Meer and Gianison Boekhoudt, singles by Dwayne Kemp, Gregory Muller and Stijn van der Meer, a double by Jochem Koedijk and walks drawn by Shaldimar Daantji and Daniel Fernandes led to a seven-run sixth inning.
It took Pioniers until the fifth inning to get on the board. A leadoff walk by Shurman Marlin, a double by Sander Paap and a single by Oliver van der Wijst drove in two runs for Pioniers. In the next inning, the team would score one more run. After Neptunus scored once more in the seventh inning, the final score appeared on the board.

Even though his numbers did not look that impressive today, Diegomar Markwell pitched well enough to keep Pioniers at bay. The starter of Neptunus pitched six full innings in which he gave up three runs on five hits and two walks and struck out just one.
Chris Pfau did not get far in the game. After the third inning, he was replaced. With only two earned runs, he did not get the much needed defensive support of his teammates. He took the loss as he gave up seven runs on five hits and six walks and struck out five.

Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Stijn van der Meer, who went 3 for 3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

L&D Amsterdam Pirates  8  –  4  HCAW
Two big innings were enough for L&D Amsterdam Pirates to take the win back home and to clinch the second spot in the Holland Series. After the third inning, Pirates had a slim one-run lead but in the fifth inning, they scored three runs, right in time as HCAW scored three runs in the bottom of that inning as well.  Kaj Timmermans started the inning with striking out Max Clarijs, but thanks to a wild pitch, Clarijs was able to reach first base. After a single and an HBP to load the bases, Gilmer Lampe doubled down the left field line to drive in Clarijs and Zerzinho Croes. Nick Urbanus scored on Kenny Berkenbosch’ sac fly to center field. But HCAW got back in the game as they scored three runs as well. With runners in scoring position, Kevin Weijgertse hit a 2-RBI single. A throwing error by Max Clarijs led to the third run of that inning. HCAW managed to tie the game in the sixth inning when a sac fly by Seb Visser drove in Vince Rooi. But a four-run seventh inning for Pirates put the final score on the board.
Rob Cordemans, who normally is scheduled to pitch on Thursday nights, lasted five innings but did not get the win. That honor went to Daan Hendrix, who pitched 3.1 innings in which he kept HCAW from scoring and gave up three base hits. 

The best hitter for L&D Amsterdam was Zerzinho Croes, who went 3 for 5 with three runs scored. The most impact had Kenny Berkenbosch, who drove in three runs with a sac fly and a double.

Coming Monday and Tuesday, the rained out games of last Thursday and Saturday will be scheduled to be played.

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