Dutch Hoofdklasse, Sunday July 5

Another Sunday, another day in Dutch Hoofdklasse baseball. This week the fourth round in the second half of the season is played and today was day three.

The following games were scheduled:

Curacao Neptunus @ Vaessen Pioniers; HCAW @ Corendon Kinheim; L&D Amsterdam Pirates @ Mampaey the Hawks and Pronto DSS @ UVV.

Curacao Neptunus @ Vaessen Pioniers

In the rubber game of this series, both teams kept each other in check rather well. A real pitching duel would unfold on the home field of Pioniers until the sixth inning. Pioniers would take the lead after Daniel Fernandes hit a lead off single and advanced to third on a failed pick off attemtp by pitcher Kenny van den Branden. A sac fly hit by Danny Rombley drove in Fernandes for the 1-0 lead. Neptunus tied the game in the top of the second when Rien Vernooij doubled down the left field line and advanced to third base on a 4-3 groud out hit by Christian Diaz. A double by Gyenuar Lopez drove in Vernooij for the game tying run. Until the sixth inning both teams wouldn’t score a run.
But in the sixth, Neptunus started to see Lars Huijer’s pitches. With Stijn van der Meer at second and Raily Legito at first, Lars Huijer made a throwing error with a pick off. Both runners advanced a base. A single by Rien Vernooij, a walk by Christian DIaz and a single by Gyenuar Lopez drove in three more runs to give Neptunus a 4-1 lead. But Pioniers refused to give in and scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With Quintin de Cuba on second and Vince Rooi at first, Kevin Dirksen doubled to right center field and drove in De Cuba and Rooi. As both teams scored a run in the seventh, Pioniers stayed within one run from Neptunus. In the bottom of the eighth, with runners on third and second, Pioniers scored the tying run on a wild pitch by reliever Kevin Kelly. As both teams didn’t score in the ninth inning, extra innings were needed. Neptunus didn’t score in the top of the tenth. With runners on third and second after a sac bunt laid down by Vince Rooi, Kevin Dirksen was walked intentionally before Quintin de Cuba scored from third on Taylor Clemensia’s sac fly. Bayron Cornelisse earned the win after pitching two innings in relief. He gave up one run, walked one and fanned two. Kevin Kelly took the loss after four innings in relief as he gave up the winning run to Pioniers in the tenth inning. Kelly gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits, walked three and struck out two. Best hitter for Pioniers was Daniel Fernandes, who went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a double. Benjamin Dille went 3 for 4 for Neptunus but didn’t drive in any runs.

HCAW @ Corendon Kinheim   6 – 10

After Kinheim took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, HCAW got back in the game in the top of the second inning. With Emersson Paula drawing a walk and advancing to third on a single down the left field line, hit by Kevin Nieveld, Jarreau Martina hit towards third base to drive in Paula and to put runners on first and second. With two outs and with two runners in scoring position, Max Clarijs singled through the right side of the infield and drove in Kevin Nieveld for HCAW’s second run.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Victor Draijer doubled down the left field line. After Kevin Moesquit drew a one out walk, Mervin Gario singled to right center field to drive in Draijer. A single by Bryan Engelhardt drove in Kevin Moesquit and put runners on the corners. When Engelhardt stole second, catcher made a throwing error that allowed Mervin Gario to score Kinheim’s sixth run. After Philip Ortez drew a walk, Dashenko Ricardo drove in the final run of that inning as he singled through the left side of the infield. But HCAW managed to get back in the game as they scored four runs in the fifth inning. Two of the four runs were scored on errors. Kinheim would walk away again in the bottom of the fifth as they scored three runs when Jochem Koedijk scored form second on a single by Kevin Moesquit and when Dashenko Ricardo hit a double to drive in Bryan Engelhardt and Philip Ortez.
In the top of the seventh, with two outs, heaven opened it’s flood gates and the game was suspended for half an hour. But at 5:10 it was called a game because of the bad field condition.
Even though the play-by-play marked Nick Veltkamp as winner, I don’t think that they are right since he lasted only four innings. Pim Walsma, who pitched two innings in relief earned the win as he gave up one hit, walked one and fanned three. Kaj Timmermans took the loss. He lasted only 3.1 innings in which he gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits. Best hitter for Corendon Kinheim was Dashenko Ricardo with two hits out of three at bats and three RBI and a double. Emersson Paula also went 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

L&D Amsterdam Pirates @ Mampaey the Hawks    

Mampaey the Hawks must have scared the hell out of L&D Amsterdam Pirates when they took a big lead in the first inning.
Kyle Ward started the game by giving up a walk to Odion Gouverneur, who stole second and advanced to third on a bunt by Stephen Henson. Gouverneur would touch homeplate on a single by Jules Peters. Stephen Henson would score on the single hit by Julian Goins. When Goins tried to steal second base, catcher Bas Nooij made a throwing error that allowed Jules Peters to score. Eventually the Hawks would score three more runs: Julian Goins on a single by Brian Raap, Steven Wharwood and Brian Raap on a single hit by Chris Williams.
But from the fourth inning, Pirates inched closer every inning. In the fourth the team from Amsterdam scored two runs (on a two run homer by Kenny Berkenbosch) and so did they in the fifth. But in the sixth, Pirates failed to take full advantage of a bases loaded – no out situation. Linoy Croes struck out looking, Jorin van Amstel hit a sac fly to drive in Koen Nooij and Roelie Henrique grounded out to first base. In the seventh, there was a similar situation and once again, Pirates failed to cash in. Nick Urbanus hit an infield fly to third base and Jesse Aussems grounded into a double play. Eventually Pirates grabbed their last chance in the ninth when Roelie Henrique scored from third on a single hit by Bas Nooij. After the Hawks didn’t score in the bottom of the ninth the tie breaker was needed. Pirates placed Bas Nooij on second and Nick Urbanus on first. When Jesse Aussems laid down a bunt, he reached first to load the bases. A dropped fly ball in right field, hit by Rachid Gerard, turned out to be disastrous for the Hawks as both Nooij and Urbaus scored and Pirates got runners on third and second. Jesse Aussems scored on Linoy Croes’ sac fly and after two walks, with the bases loaded, Kenny Berkenbosch hit a bases clearing double to give Pirates a 12-6 lead. As the Hawks didn’t score in the bottom of the tenth inning, Pirates clinched a hard fought victory.
Daan Hendrix pitched two perfect innings in relief for the win in which he struck out one. Jose Moreno took the loss after 3.1 innings in relief. He gave up six runs (one earned) on two hits. He walked two and struck out one. The best hitter for Pirates was Kenny Berkenbosch, going 3 for 5 with three RBI, a run scored, a double and a homerun. Chris Williams earned the honors of being the best hitter for the Hawks as he went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs batted in.

The game between Pronto DSS and UVV was moved back to 6.00 PM (18.00).