Hoofdklasse 2018, Round 1, day 1

Finally, after a long winter and a preseason in which the weather did not always cooperate, the Dutch hoofdklasse season will be underway.  On the very first day (night) of the season, Storks from The Hague headed to De Glaskoning Twins, Curaçao Neptunus hosted Hoofddorp Pioniers, L&D Amsterdam headed to neighboring Haarlem to face DSS and CitySide Appartments Quick Amersfoort hosted HCAW from Bussum.

HCAW  7  –  4  CitySide Appartments Quick Amersfoort
After HCAW took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, CitySide Appartments Quick Amersfoortinched closer in the bottom of the first when Rick Kuipers scored when Tijmen Takke singled through the right side and second baseman Roelie Henrique committed a throwing error.
In the third inning, Quick tied the score when Tijmen Takke scored from second base on a triple by Jelle Blaauw.
In the fifth inning, Quick’s Brian van Laar recorded two quick outs but then failed to get out of the inning as he allowed runners on first and second on a single and a walk. After he was replaced by Jasper Popken, the latter gave up a single to Delano Selassa that allowed Julian Goins to score the go-ahead run for HCAW. In the sixth inning, HCAW put runners in scoring position when Patrick Bok laid down a sac bunt towards third base.
HCAW managed to score the much-needed insurance run in the top of the sixth inning Bryce Cherry scored on Julian Goins’ single. 
Quick managed to tie the game at four in the seventh inning, but a three-run eighth, handed the victory to HCAW as Timo van Ancum shut the door in the final 1.1 innings and struck out two for the win.
Colin van Laar took the loss as he gave up three runs on two hits and a walk.
Best hitter for HCAW was Julian Goins, who went 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored.

Hoofddorp Pioniers  1  –  4  Curaçao Neptunus
After Hoofddorp Pioniers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, Curaçao Neptunus flexed its muscles and scored four runs in the following inning. Four singles, a fielder’s choice and a throwing error gave the Rotterdam based team a commanding lead. Pioniers had a big opportunity to get closer as the team loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning but Damian Melis grounded out to third base for the final out of the inning.
Diegomar Markwell kept Pioniers at bay but needed 84 pitches to do so in just five innings. In the top of the sixth, manager Jaarsma replaced Markwell with Jiorgeny Casimiri. Pioniers had another good opportunity to score as it put runners on first and second, but the opportunity was killed as Mark Smit hit into an inning-ending double play. Lars Huijer, normally a solid pitcher, struggled today. He was tabbed for four runs in the six innings that he pitched. He needed 104 pitches, quite a lot for just six innings.
Manager Jaarsma decided to play it save as he directed set up man Loek van Mil to the mound in the top of the eighth inning.  In the top of the ninth, Van Mil was replaced by Ber van Driel, recorded two quick outs before giving up a single to Mark Smit. But then he retired Damian Melis for the final out and the save. 
Neptunus’ defense was very strong today, despite committing two errors. Pioniers managed to collect only four hits, compared to the eleven of Neptunus.
Diegomar Markwell earned the win. In five innings he walked three and struck out four. Lars Huijer took the loss.
Best hitter for Neptunus was Jochem Koedijk who went 2 for 3.

L&D Amsterdam Pirates  3  –  5  DSS
A surprising loss for L&D Amsterdam Pirates. Leaving runners in scoring position four times cost them the game. Lars Vogelaar kept L&D Amsterdam Pirates in check rather well in the first three innings. But so did Kevin Heijstek of Pirates, so in the first three innings, none of the two managed to score. But in the top of the fourth inning, a couple of errors allowed Nick Urbanus, who had gotten on base on a double, and Kenny Berkenbosch to give Pirates a 2-0 lead.
Kevin Heijstek gave up a leadoff triple to Odion Gouverneur in the bottom of the fourth inning, then hit Tino van Erk with a pitch before recording two outs. But a fielding error by Rachid Gerard, allowed Odeon Gouverneur to cut Pirates’ lead in half as he scored from third base.
Despite putting runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning, Pirates failed to extend the score. After Pirates failed to take advantage of a runner on third base in the top of the seventh, DSS eventually tied the game. Sander Paap hit a leadoff single to third base, advanced to second on a groundout by Mitchel Dautzenberg. Another groundout, this time by Kevin Nieveld, allowed Paap to reach third base. A single by Odion Gouverneur eventually drove him in for the game-tying run. 
In the eighth inning, DSS scored thrice to take a commanding lead. Pirates tried to put up a rally in the top of the ninth, but after scoring a run, the attempt fell short.
Jim Ploeger, who gave up the three runs in the eighth, took the loss. Tim Halderman earned the win. In two innings, he gave up one earned run on two hits.
Three batters shared the honor of being DSS’ best hitter. Odion Gouverneur, Omar Williams, and Tommy van de Sanden went 2 for 4.

Silicon Storks  3  –  10  De Glaskoning Twins
At sportpark De Groote Wielen in Rosmalen, De Glaskoning Twins hosted Storks from the Hague. Why in Rosmalen instead of Oosterhout? Because some *beeeeep* is still blocking the installment of a hoofdklasse worthy lighting system.
After newly acquired Japanese pitcher Shogo Nakashima had allowed runners on the corners with one out in the first inning, he was helped by his defense that turned a double play to get out of the inning. Leadoff hitter, Jarreau Martina got on base on a throwing error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a home run hit by Ruar Verkerk. In the next inning, Bram Grooten hit a leadoff single to left field and advanced on a throwing error on the “hit” by catcher Dave Janssen. With both runners in scoring position, Jarreau Martina drove them in with a single to right field.
After a scoreless third inning, Twins pushed once more in the fourth frame. Dave Janssen got on base on a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored when Brian Biezen hit towards first base and first baseman Aldrich Guzman committed an error. Biezen stole second and was caught stealing third base. But Jarreau Martina tripled to right field and scored on Ruar Verkerk’s double into the gap of right-center field.
After just 60 pitches, Shogo Nakashima was replaced by Mic van de Ven in the top of the fifth inning. Van de Ven struggled as he gave up four consecutive walks to hand Storks its first run. Van de Ven was replaced by Jan Evertse afterward. With the help of his defense, Jan Evertse got out of the inning as he recorded a strikeout and a double play.
In the top of the sixth, Storks produced its second run when Aldrich Guzman drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on Joran Berkhout’s groundout and scored when Giovanny Perez grounded out to third base.
Jarreau Martina singlehandedly managed to score the seventh run for Twins. After he drew a walk, he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Jurriaan Dijk. A wild pitch by Nick Winkel allowed him to cross home plate. 
After Storks scored their third run in the top of the seventh, Twins added three more in the bottom of the eighth to reach the final score.
Jan Evertse pitched four innings for the win as he gave up two runs (one earned) on four walks. He also struck out four. Despite lasting five frames, Gijs Timmer took the loss as he gave up six runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk as he struck out six.
Best hitter for De Glaskoning Twins was Ruar Verkerk who went 4 for 5 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI and two runs scored.