2022 Dutch hoofdklasse: Round 3, Day 1

Last night, on the first day of the third round in the Dutch hoofdklasse, the following games were scheduled: Curaçao Neptunus @ Hoofddorp Pioniers, HCAW @ Quick Amersfoort, L&D Amsterdam @ Storks, and Oosterhout Twins @ RCH Memorie Sieraden.

Curaçao Neptunus  14  –  1  Hoofddorp Pioniers
Hoofddorp Pioniers was no match for Curaçao Neptunus last night, as the latter only needed seven innings to clinch the victory. Even though Pioniers opened the score in the first inning, on a stolen home plate by Duco Nuijten. But in the top of the next inning, Neptunus’ offense exploded. RBI singles by Greg Muller, Jiandido Tromp (2 RBI), and Stijn van der Meer, put the team from Rotterdam in the driver’s seat. 
As Juan-Carlos Sulbaran limited Pioniers to four hits throughout seven innings, the five runs would suffice, but Neptunus took advantage of multiple miscues in Pioniers’ defense in the sixth inning. A dropped fly ball in center field, a fielding error by the shortstop, and an error by the first baseman allowed Neptunus to score three runs. Three more runs were scored on a fielder’s choice and a single through the left side, hit by Jiandido Tromp. 
Eventually, Neptunus would win 14-1. Juan-Carlos Sulbaran earned the win. In six innings, he gave up one run on four hits and two walks and struck out eight. Benjamin Meyer took the loss. After three innings and three batters faced in the fourth inning, he was pulled. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks and struck out one. 
Sheadion Jamanika was the best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus as he went 2 for 2 with a run scored. 


HCAW  6  –  1  Quick Amsersfoort
For a long time, both teams were each other’s match, but eventually, in the seventh inning, HCAW took the lead and never looked back. In the top of the first inning, HCAW took a one-run lead on a sac fly by Kevin Dirksen but Quick Amersfoort tied the game in the bottom of the same inning when Taylor Clemensia singled down the left field line to drive in Alex Madera. Until that seventh inning, nothing much happened although HCAW had some runners in scoring position. A bases-loaded walk, drawn by Kevin Dirksen, and a sac fly by Jair van Borculo, drove in two runs for the team from Bussum in that seventh inning. In the eighth inning, a 6-3 groundout and another bases-loaded walk drove in two more runs. The final run of the game, also scored by HCAW, came in the ninth, again on a bases-loaded walk, drawn by Daan Verpaalen this time. 
Lars Huijer had his first start of the season and pitched eight frames for the win. He allowed only one run on three hits and two walks and struck out eight. Johnaikel Acosta took the loss. Ge allowed three unearned runs in six innings and three batters faced in the seventh. He gave up one hit, walked nine, and struck out one. 
With two hits out of five at-bats and a run scored, Nathan Berkel was the best hitter for HCAW. 


L&D Amsterdam Pirates  13  –  1  Storks
Still without a proper lighting installation, Storks will play its night games at the ballpark of Curaçao Neptunus. One big inning was enough for L&D Amsterdam Pirates to beat Storks. The club from The Hague though, boldly took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jurian Hansen, who got on base on a dropped fly ball at first base, scored on Edvin Yrausquin’s double to left center field. But an inning and a half later, Pirates tied the game on a single by Rachid Engelhardt. 
In the fourth inning, Pirates put things in order when it scored seven runs. A sac fly by Emilson Haswell, a single by Luca Pastor, a throwing error by the shortstop, a double by Rachid Engelhardt, a wild pitch and another throwing error by the shortstop, led to those seven runs. Eventually, Pirates would need eight innings to clinch the mercy-rule shortened win. 
Roland Laurens earned the win after three two-hit innings in relief in which he walked one.
Darrly Jamoena took the loss. In 3.2 innings, he allowed eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and five walks and struck out one. 
Rachid Engelhardt was the best hitter, going 3 for 4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored. 


Oosterhout Twins  6  –  0  RCH Memorie Sieraden
For five innings, RCH Memorie Sieraden could keep pace with Oosterhout Twins, partially thanks to a good outing by Lochlan Southee, who kept the Twins lineup in check for five innings. But eventually in the top of the first, he allowed Jason Halman on base, thanks to a fielding error by the shortstop, who would score the opening run on a muffed catch error in right field, on Urvin Kemp’s “hit.” Southee’s opponent on the mound, Koen Postelmans also had a good outing. In six innings, he limited Storks to two hits and struck out six. 
Twins’ second run was also scored in the sixth inning, when Luuk Visser got on base thanks to a fielders choice and Urvin Kemp could score from third. Thanks to a sac fly, a throwing error, and a bases-loaded walk, Twins scored thrice in the seventh inning. 
One more run was added in the eighth, when Diamond Silberie scored from third when Jason Halman hit into a double play.
It won’t come as a surprise that Koen Postelmans earned the win (1-1) and Lochlan Southee took the loss (0-3). 
With one hit out of one at-bat, Arthur Bonevacia was the best hitter for Twins. 


This blog post is brought to you by