Dutch U12 Team Wins Opening Game vs Austria

The Dutch U12 team has beaten Austria in a relatively easy fashion in both teams opening game of the U12 European Baseball Championship. The team needed only five innings to get the job done. Final score 16-5.

For both teams, the game started off the wrong foot. Due to traffic problems, team Austria arrived late at the facility of the Mortsel Stars. As a result, the game started about half an hour late. Not nice for both teams. Not for Austria that has likely been stressing to get in time (as much as possible), and not for team Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the players had to wait all the time. And then it is hard to stay focused.

Anyhow, the Dutch took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. A triple by Camilo Araya Lemaire drove in the opening run. Camilo and teammate Ryan Bosch were driven in on a single to center field, hit by Marcus Callender.

But in youth baseball at this age, everything is possible, something Austria proved in the top of the second inning when it scored three runs. But the Dutch bounced back with a huge inning in the bottom of the second. Jayden Stols drove in two runs with a single to center field, followed by a double hit by Raylano Clarke that drove in Jayden Stols. A wild pitch, followed by a single by Tim Hanemaaijer, followed by an erroneous throw by the Austrian pitcher allowed the Dutch to score two more runs. Eventually, a triple, a double, a wild pitch and an error by the Austrian catcher, allowed the Dutch to score five more runs.

After Austria scored two runs again, in the third inning, the Netherlands countered with as many runs in the bottom fo the third, to reach the final score.

Binq Cashoek and Tim Hanemaaijer both went 2 for 2. Cashoek hit a triple and drove in three and scored thrice. Hanemaaijer doubled, drove in one and scored one run and thus helped his own cause as he also earned the win. In 2.1 innings, he allowed five runs on six hits and a walk. Roman Ernst pitched 2.2 innings in relief for the save (according to the box score). He gave up one hit, walked three and struck out two.
Elias Claus took the loss. In 1.1 innings, Claus allowed five runs on four hits and three walks and struck out three.

Eternal rival Italy swept Poland aside 23-0 in just three innings. Another contender, Germany beat Lithuania 15-0 in four innings. France had to go deep to beat Hungary 3-2. The Czech Republic beat Poland with the same numbers as the Italians did. In its second game, Germany beat Austria 22-1 in three innings and Belgium was victorious over Lithuania 7-5.