New additions prove their value for De Glaskoning Twins

Last night, De Glaskoning Twins played its final exhibition game but one. On the diamond of what will be their home field for Thursday night games, the home of Gryphons in Rosmalen (about 35 km East from Oosterhout), the team took on CitySide Appartments Quick Amersfoort.

CitySide Appartments Quick Amersfoort took a 4-1 lead but eventually, De Glaskoning Twins bounced back and walked off as a victor, by beating their opponent 8-5.

Shogo Nakashima, the Japanese pitcher Twins acquired earlier this year, made his first appearance for the club after he arrived last Monday. Manager Kevin Knollenburg let Shogo pitch for three innings. In those three frames, Shogo gave up three runs, though they were not earned, on three hits. He also recorded two strikeouts.

According to Kevin Knollenburg, Shogo manages to throw a variety of pitches to keep the batters of balanced and he knows to hit the spots in the strike zone.

The other acquisition, Australian Sam Kennelly, arrived on Tuesday. Sam also made his first appearance for De Glaskoning Twins last night. Sam had five plate appearances and managed to draw three walks.  In the other two plate appearances, Sam went 2 for 2 with a home run. On the defensive side, Sam played a solid game at second base. Manager Knollenburg is also very positive about this addition. “For sure he is a reinforcement for our team”, Knollenburg stated.

After Shogo Nakashima was pulled, he was replaced by Jan Evertse. Jan pitched two perfect innings in which he struck out three. His replacement, Jakob Syrén seems to have found the way up again. He had a period in which he struggled a bit, but last night and in the previous exhibition game, he performed well. Last night, Jakob pitched one inning in which he fanned two and walked one. Jakob’s successor, Pastor Chavez Martinez, also pitched one inning and gave up one run on a hit and a walk as he struck out one as well.
Closer Thijs Steenwijk, gave up his first run of the spring training. In one inning, he walked two but did not allow a hit.

Next Saturday, De Glaskoning Twins and CitySide Appartments Quick will meet again, this time in Amersfoort. This will be the last exhibition game of spring training. Next Thursday, April 26, the 2018 hoofdklasse season will finally start.