Holland Series 2019: Pirates marks anniversary year with championship

In a somewhat lopsided game, Curaçao Neptunus was no match for L&D Amsterdam Pirates. After the team tied the series at three yesterday, Pirates clearly had the momentum going. After six years, the dominance of Neptunus ended and Pirates could celebrate its fifth overall Dutch championship as it beat Neptunus 6-0.

The unlikely hero for L&D Amsterdam Pirates was Jhan Rifaela. Mainly used as a reliever, the Curaçao born pitcher dominated the Neptunus lineup. On the side of Neptunus, manager Jaarsma also opted for Diegomar Markwell to start after two days rest. That choice appeared to be the wrong one as Markwell gave up a run in the first inning on a single by Denzel Richardson and three more in the second inning, when Delano Selassa doubled down the right field line with the bases loaded. It must be said that Markwell didn’t get the needed support from his defense as Neptunus committed three errors in the first two frames.  With one out, Markwell was relieved by Berry van Driel, who kept the Pirates lineup in check pretty well in the following innings.

Only in the seventh inning, Van Driel was out-soothsayed by Sharlon Schoop, who hit a two-run dinger to left field to make it 6-0.

Throughout the game, Neptunus did not manage to get past second base. The team simply had no answer to the pitches of Rifaela, Mike Groen and Tom Stuifbergen.

Next to hitting a two-run home run, Sharlon Schoop also made a fantastic catch to end the game when Greg Muller fouled out and Schoop caught the ball at the balustrade near third base as you can see at the video below (video by 9innings.nl)

https://www.facebook.com/9inningsnl/videos/691996094609262/

Jhan Rifaela earned the win while Diegomar Markwell took the loss.

Sharlon Schoop was the best hitter for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, going 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.

For the first time in the history of the Holland Series, a team came back from trailing 3-0 and managed to win the seventh game. For the first time since 2011, L&D Amsterdam Pirates clinched the Dutch title. In 1987, 1990 and 2008 also won the championship. Needless to say that this championship is a nice way to finish the 60th anniversary of Amsterdam Pirates.

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