Dutch hoofdklasse 2018: Round 5, day 2
On the second day of round five, Hoofddorp Pioniers hosted Silicon Storks, Curaçao Neptunus hosted Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort, L&D Amsterdam Pirates was the guest in Bussum to face HCAW and De Glaskoning Twins headed to Haarlem to take on DSS.
Silicon Storks 2 – 5 Hoofddorp Pioniers
After the first two innings it looked like Hoofddorp Pioniers would beat Silicon Storks by 
a monster score as they led 5-0. But eventually, the offense stalled after the second inning. Two singles, a walk and a fielder’s choice led to two runs in the first inning. In the second inning, singles by Tyler Boersma, Duco Nuijten and Mervin Gario and a dropped fly ball by Storks’ left fielder, led to three unearned runs. It was a tough start for Storks’ pitcher Martin Kram, who allowed five runs of which four were unearned. After that second inning, Kram settled down and gave up only four more singles in the remainder of his outing, which lasted seven innings.
Eventually, in the top of the ninth inning, Silicon Storks managed to get on the board. A fielding error by third baseman Anasagasti led to two unearned runs for the team from The Hague. Alexander Valdez lasted eight innings for the win in which he struck out eight, walked one and gave up three hits. The loss went to Martin Kram.
Mervin Gario, Duco Nuijten and Tyler Boersma shared the honor of being the best hitter for Hoofddorp Pioniers as they went 2 for 3.
Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort 1 – 13 Curaçao Neptunus
For the second game in a row, Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort was no match
for Curaçao Neptunus as the latter crushed their opponent in seven innings.
The second blowout score today. Two two-run innings and three three-run innings lead to a 13-1 victory.
Orlando Yntema worked his way through six innings in which he gave up one run on two hits. The five walks he allowed were a tad high but he also struck out eight as he
earned his fifth victory of the season. Brian van Laar took the loss after two innings of work in which he gave up six runs on five hits and four walks as he struck out two.
Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was DH Ruendrick Pieternella, who went 2 for 2 with a triple, one RBI and three runs scored.
De Glaskoning Twins 19 – 1 DSS
Brian van Lingen lasted only five batters before he was pulled. As he gave up five walks,
De Glaskoning Twins was able to score twice. After Van Lingen was pulled, Bram Grooten hit into a force out at second base on which Sam Kennelly could score the third run.
In the next innings, Twins would walk away and never look back. The batters were very patient as they drew eleven walks in the first five innings.
The three extra base hits that Twins collected came at the right time with the bases loaded. In this way the team could take a thirteen-run lead.
In the meantime, Misja Harcksen cruised through the first five innings in which he retired eight hitters on strikeouts, a number he would extend to ten in seven innings.
After a scoreless fifth, Twins would score five more runs. No surprise the team only needed seven innings to clinch the lopsided win. 
Misja Harcksen clinched his second win of the season, Timo van Lingen took the loss.
Most impact in the batter’s box today had Shurman Marlin as he drove in six runs on a double and a grand slam home run. Hitting wise, Nick Peels was the best with 2 for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Notable feat, Dennis de Quint drew four walks.
L&D Amsterdam Pirates 4 – 2 HCAW
A victory for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, but not an easy one. Four one-run innings were
enough for Pirates to clinch the victory. After the club had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, HCAW rallied for two runs. A triple by Bryce Cherry and a double by Patrick Bok drove in two for the team from Bussum. But that was all HCAW was capable of. Rob Cordemans, who lasted five innings kept Pirates in the game as he inched close to the hoofdklasse strikeout record by striking out two batters so he needs eight more Ks to break the record of 1,984. With runners in scoring position, Linoy Croes hit towards first base and allowed Nick Urbanus to score the game-ting run. A solo shot in the sixth by Rodney Daal gave Pirates the lead and back-to-back groundouts drove in Remco Draijer,who led off the seventh with a double, for an insurance run. 
Rob Cordemans earned the win as he gave up two runs on one hit and three walks.
Kaj Timmermans lasted seven innings and gave up all four runs to Pirates for the loss.
Best hitter for L&D Amsterdam Pirates was Rodney Daal, who went 3 for 4 with a double, a home run, an RBI and a run scored. 
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