2021 European Champions Cup: Curaçao Neptunus @ Bonn Capitals

This Dutch-German matchup appeared to become a victory for Curaçao Neptunus, but once again the big bats of the Bonn Capitals came to the rescue for a totally unexpected Capitals win.


Curaçao Neptunus  7  –  8  Bonn Capitals
NEP flagWith a four-run first inning, Curaçao Neptunus appeared to be the one Dutch team to have an answer to the big surprise of the tournament so far: the Bonn Capitals. Especially after the team from Rotteram had scored two more runs in the third and the fourth inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead. 

But against L&D Amsterdam Pirates, the Capitals showed already that they are a bunch of dangerous hitters, especially with the short center field and right field porch. 

What likely nobody expected, happened. When the Capitals scored its second run in the sixth inning, there was still nothing to worry about. But in the seventh inning, Bonn’s offense exploded. Once again the Germans used the long ball to score their runs. Once again, Lee Wilson hit a jack, a leadoff solo shot. Singles by Eric Brenk and Joseph Wittig drove in two more runs. And with that the offensive drive of the Germans wasn’t over yet. After Vincent Ahrens doubled and put runners in scoring position, Terrell Joyce hit a three-run home run to give the Capitals an 8-6 lead. And even though manager Jaarsma had his best pitchers available, they could not stop the Germans. 

When Gianison Boekhoudt hit into a force out at second base in the ninth inning, Dwayne Kemp could score Neptunus’ seventh run. And when Neptunus put runners on first and second, things became thrilling for a moment but eventually, Nicholas Miceli got out of the inning without further damage. 

Maurice Wilhelm earned the win, he pitched eight innings in relief and got into the game in the first inning with no outs. He allowed three runs on ten hits and struck out six. NicholasSome positive baseball news surrounds the corona misery | Dutch Baseball  Hangout Miceli earned the save. In 0.2 inning, he walked one but shut the door. Aaron de Groot took the loss. In the seventh, he was tabbed for one run without recording an out. 

Best hitter for the Bonn Capitals was Eric Brenk, who went 4 for 6 with one RBI and two runs scored. Schermafbeelding 2021-07-16 om 19.41.46

Thanks to the win of the Capitals, there will be a final that no one expected. Likely most of us thought that Fortitudo Bologna and Curaçao Neptunus would face each other. And how much yours truly would have liked to see a Dutch team in the final, I think it is a good thing for baseball that we will have an unexpected gold medal game. Likely Parmaclima will be the favorite but so far Bonn Capitals is the revelation of the tournament and with all crazy high scoring games we have seen this week, everything is possible. 




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