2024 U12 European Championship: The Netherlands Brushes Lithuania Aside

After the opening game of the tournament, in which the Czech Republic beat France 14 – 4, the Netherlands took on Lithuania in the second game of the day. The Dutch only needed two-and-a-half innings to win it 26 – 0.

In the bottom of the fist inning, the Netherlands scored twenty-one (!) runs and never looked back. Dutch starting pitcher Tijn Delamarre started the game by striking out the Lithuanian side in the first inning. The Dutch started with two walks followed by a passed ball and two wild pitches that lead to the first two runs. 

After a couple of errors led to the third run, Rugendrick Felicia connected for a home run and drove in two runs to make it 5 – 0. The Dutch would go on to score sixteen more runs in this inning in which twenty-five players stepped into the batters box. 

Despite hitting a batter with a pitch, Tijn Delamarre struck out three once more in the second inning. Kjeld Koehorst led of the second for the Dutch with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch. With runners in scoring position, Iceson Ardjosoediro cleared the left field fence to drive in three more runs. With the bases loaded, Macelo Montenegro Espinoza scored on a dropped strikeout (2-3) for the fifth and final run of the game. 

Lucas Baan took over on the mound in the top of the third inning. He gave up a walk but retired the three other batters to end the game. 

The Dutch hit quite some extra base hits: three doubles (Iceson Ardjosoediro, Kjeld Koehorst, and Tijs Sodekamp), one triple by Kjeld Koehorst, and two home runs by Iceson Ardjosoediro and Rugendrick Felicia. 

Tijn Delamarre earned the win as he pitched two no-hit innings in which he fanned six. Four Dutch hitters went 2 for 2 (Iceson Ardjosoediro, Dyshairo Zandvliet, Krijn van der Wens, and Tijs Sodekamp), but Iceson Adjosoediro contributed in the biggest way with five RBI and four runs scored. 

Tomorrow, the Netherlands will take on Austria, game time :10.30 CET. 


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