Dutch hoofdklasse 2019: Round 1, day 1

Finally, after a long winter, the Dutch hoofdklasse season has started again. The following games were scheduled:  HCAW @ Curaçao Neptunus, Meerlease Pioniers @ DSS, Silicon Storks @ L&D Amsterdam Pirates and De Glaskoning Twins @ Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort.

HCAW  0  –  10  Curaçao Neptunus
Noblesse oblige, so the reigning European and Dutch champion did what it had to do. Three runs (on three walks, a single, a HBP and a fielders choice) in the second inning and four runs (on a three-run homer by Quentin de Cuba and a double by Stijn van der Meer) in the fifth gave Neptunus a comfortable lead over HCAW. Diegomar Markwell was his old self with his off-speed and breaking stuff as he limited HCAW to four hits and struck out seven. Just when it looked like Neptunus slowed down, the team stepped on it in the eighth inning. With runners in scoring position, Benjamin Dille singled home two runs. Dille himself scored on Dudley Leonora’s sac fly. With that run the team from Rotterdam reached the ten run margin that ended the game prematurely in eight frames.
No surprise that Diegomar Markwell earned the win. Chris Pfau took the loss after four innings.
Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Stijn van der Meer who went 2 for 3 with a double and a RBI.

Meerlease Pioniers  4  –  2  DSS
Both teams were equally matched tonight as they didn’t score for six innings but eventually Meerlease Pioniers opened the score in the seventh inning. Pioniers loaded the bases and scored on a walk but then failed to extend their lead. But DSS evened the score in the bottom of the seventh when Leandro Anasagasti singled home Daniel Heiligers from third base. Anasagasti himself scored on a single by Pieter Devano.
But in the top of the ninth, Pioniers managed to tie the game and to regain the lead when three singles by Raul Jacobs, Joey Eeman and Jaison Gijsbertha and a walk, drawn by Mark Smit, drove in two runs to give Pioniers a one-run lead again. A muffed throw allowed Joey Eeman to score Pioniers’ fourth run. DSS came very, very close to tying the game as it loaded the bases with only one out but eventually, Daniel Vos managed to record the final two outs for the save and Pioniers’ first (hard fought) win of the season.
Nathan Diaby earned the win after 1.1 innings in which he allowed three hits, walked two and struck out two. Tim Halderman took the loss after two innings as he gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks.
Best hitter for Meerlease Pioniers was Paul Brands, who went 2 for 4 with a double.

Silicon Storks  1  –  5  L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Silicon Storks, the team that had to play a promotion/relegation series in 2018 to stay in the Dutch hoofdklasse, gave L&D Amsterdam Pirates a hard time tonight.
After Pirates had taken a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run double by Gilmer Lampe, the team from The Hague cut Pirates’ lead in half in the top of the fifth inning when a series of errors allowed Roy Winkel to score. But Pirates bounced back in the bottom of the fifth when Gilmer Lampe and Niels van Weert scored on a wild pitch.
After both teams did not score in the seventh and eighth inning, Maikel Rietel took the mound in the ninth to retire the side and to secure the win for Pirates.
Rob Cordemans earned the win after five innings in which he allowed one run on four hits and two walks and as he struck out eight. Darryl Jamoena took the loss.
Best hitter for L&D Amsterdam was Delano Selasso, who went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

De Glaskoning Twins  12  –  4  Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort
A solid victory for De Glaskoning Twins and quite some debut in the Dutch hoofdklasse for Thomas Roijers. The young pitcher who did not play any higher than the eerste klasse, a third tier league, was on no-hit course for 5.1 innings as his no-hit bid was spoiled by Sam van der Ploeg who doubled and drove in Quick’s first run of the game.
De Glaskoning Twins played a solid game. A two-run second inning laid the foundation for a solid victory. After Jason Halman hit a leadoff double, and Twins drew two walks, Jerzy van Gool drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the opening run. Also the second run was scored on a walk. After one run in the fourth inning, Twins flexed its muscles in the fifth. Two doubles and two singles drove in three more runs to give Twins a 6-0 lead. A one-run and a four-run seventh led to an 11-1. Marvin Brown took over from Roijers but wasn’t able to keep Quick Amersfoort from scoring as he gave up a walk and a double that allowed Quick Amersfoort to score their second run of the game. Brown didn’t get the much-needed help as Quick’s third run was scored thanks to two errors. Eventually, with runners in scoring position, Brown managed to strike out Rachid Engelhardt for the final out of the inning.
Jan van den Hurk replaced Marvin Brown in relief and immediately gave up a solo home run to Bryan Engelhardt.
Thomas Roijers earned the win in his debut. In six innings, he allowed one run on one hit and fanned nine. Taylor Clemensia took the loss after 4.1 innings in which he gave up three runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out seven.
Best hitter for De Glaskoning Twins was Jason Halman. With four hits out of six at-bats, it was like he has never been away. He hit two doubles and scored twice.

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