After the 2017 edition, in which Pirates barely stayed in the Champions Cup and ended at a disappointing seventh place, the team from Amsterdam reached this year’s final thanks to a clear victory over Parmaclima Parma. In the first semi-final, L&D Amsterdam Pirates beat Parma 8-4.
Pirates continued the way they did all week, with good and aggressive hitting. Good ole’ 
In the first inning, Parma took an early lead when Segundo Paolini scored on a fielder’s choice. But in the bottom of the same inning, Pirates turned the tables and never looked back. With two outs, Denzel Richardson started a rally with a solo home run to left center field. Kenny Berkenbosch, Delano Selassa and Linoy Croes followed with a single before Niels van Weert connected for a double down the left field line that drove in two runs after Berkenbosch had scored on Croes’ single. When Victor Draijer singled through the left side, Van Weert scored the fifth run for Pirates.
After Parma scored once in the top of the second, Pirates scored twice an inning and a half later and once in the sixth. After Parma scored their third run, in the seventh inning, they rallied for another run in the ninth, but the rally came too late as Maickel Rietel recorded the final out to secure Pirates’ spot in the final. 
With his solid outing, Cordemans earned the win. Orlando Oberto took the loss after 2.1 innings in which he gave up seven runs on nine hits and four walks.
Delano Selassa, Victor Draijer and Linoy Croes all went 2 for 4. Of the three, Draijer drove in the most runs (3).
Dutch Baseball Hangout 