After San Marino advanced to the semi-finals by losing the remainder of Monday’s postponed game by just one run, they faced the Dutch champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates in the first semi-final of the day. In a game that lacked quality pitching, Pirates stayed at the right side of the score and advanced to tomorrow’s final.
T&A San Marino 9 – 13 L&D Amsterdam Pirates
L&D Amsterdam Pirates had a flying start as it took a, what appeared, commanding lead in the first inning. After it loaded the bases, Pirates scored the opening run on a sac fly by Sharlon Schoop. The second run was scored when Kalian Sams hit into a force out at second base. Then, Sicnarf Loopstok homered and took Sams with him.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, T&A San Marino scored thanks to a balk, a single up the middle and a two-run home run to tie the game at four.
But Pirates answered immediately. With runners in scoring position, Sicnarf Loopstok doubled through the left side and drove in Sharlon Schoop and advanced Kalian Sams to third base. A two-RBI single to left field by Rashid Gerard, drove in Sams and Loopstok to give Pirates a three-run lead. With two outs, Pirates loaded the bases but didn’t take advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sicnarf Loopstok hit a leadoff solo shot on a 1-0 count. This was the beginning of the end for starting pitcher Eduardo Peluso, who was replaced after he recorded one out. But the offensive drive of L&D Amsterdam Pirates had not ended yet.
In the bottom of the fifth, the team jumped on Mazzocchi. Rachid Engelhardt drew a walk and was driven in on a triple by Delano Selassa, who scored on his turn thanks to a sac fly by Denzel Richardson. With runners on first and second, Sicnarf Loopstok doubled to left field to drive in Sharlon Schoop and put runners in scoring position. A fielding error that followed when Tommy van de Sanden put the ball into play, allowed Kalian Sams and Sicnarf Loopstok to score the fourth and fifth runs of the inning.
But when you think that L&D Amsterdam Pirates was safe, you are wrong. In the following innings, T&A San Marino pushed to inch closer. After Scott Prins walked Lorenzo Morresi in the top of the seventh inning, he was replaced by Naut Kragt. Kragt started with giving up a single that put runners on the corners. Then Erick Epifano singled to center field to drive in Morresi and to put runners on the corners again. San Marino scored one more run on a sac fly by Federico Celli. In the eighth inning, Pirates used two pitchers because San Marino came within four runs form Pirates.
In the ninth inning, Franklin van Gurp took the mound. He started by giving up a single to Federico Celli. But thanks to a double play, he came within one out. That final out had to wait a little longer as Ortwin Hose Pieternella Vargas singled to left center field and a throwing error allowed runners on the corners. But eventually, Dudley Leonora flied out to left field for the liberating out.
Scott Prins earned the win. In six innings and a batter faced in the seventh, he allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks, as he struck out two. Eduardo Peluso took the loss. In 4.1 innings, he gave up eight runs on nine hits and five walks
Sicnarf Loopstok was clearly the man of the match. He went 4 for 5 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI, and four runs scored.
L&D Amsterdam Pirates will face the winner of the matchup between Parmaclima and Bonn Capitals. At the moment of writing, Parma is leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
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