European Cup 2014: Dutch clinch 21st title
Yogi Berra said it once: “It aint over until it’s over.” Italy proved that this Berraism is very true.
After the Dutch took a 5-0 lead, all runs but one were scored on solo homeruns, the Italians started to get back into the game. In the top of the fourth, the Italians started to see the pitches of Rob Cordemans and eventually loaded the bases. But with two outs already, Cordemans retired Alberto Mineo with a strikeout.
Cordemans: four shutout innings
The Italians were about to prove that they are a dangerous team, even if they appear to be beaten.
In the next inning David Bergmans would come in in relief. Bergman got through the fifth and the sixth inning without many problems. But in the seventh the Italians jumped on him. With one out Mario Chiarini doubled down the right field line followed by a walk and a double down to left center field on which Chiarini scored the first run for Italy.
Bergman followed with two more walks of which one drove in the second run for the Italians.
That was enough for Steve Janssen who brought Tom Stuifbergen. Stuifbergen started with a HBP, so the Italians scored their third run of the game. Eventually Stuifbergen settled down and got out of the inning, thanks to a dribbler hit towards him, so he could toss the ball to Shawn Zarraga to make the out at homeplate and by striking out Alex Liddi.
Stuifbergen cruised through the eighth inning and in the Dutch eighth at bat, Curt Smit hit a leadoff homerun off Pat Venditte, who entered the game in relief. Once again a solo homerun for the sixth run of the Dutch.
Most hilarious part of the game were the heated discussions of the Italian manager Marco Mazzieri, who argued with the umpire about a time out that wasn’t given to an Itallian batter. Tom Stuifbergen was in the middle of his windup when the Italian asked for a time out. The homeplate umpired didn’t give in and the pitch was called for a strike. After a Dutch hitter asked for a time out, the umpire agreed. Once again, Mazzieri left the dugout for a heated discussion. When another Dutch batter was rewarded a timeout, he shouted something from the dugout. That was the last drop for the Austrian umpire, who tossed the Italian manager.
Eventually Tom Stuifbergen cruised through the ninth inning as well and a 4-3 out clinched the championship for the Dutch.
Rob Cordemans pitched four innings in which he didn’t allow a run, gave up two hits and a walk and struck out six. Cordemans declared after the game that he had started pitching too fast after he burned his hand. That caused an elbow injury. He and Steve Janssen agreed that when Cordemans would start to feel his elbow, he would be pulled.
David Bergman pitched 2.1 innings and was tabbed for all the Italian runs. Bergman gave up three hits and four walks and struck out one.
Tom Stuifbergen pitched the remainder of the game (2.2 innings). He did not allow a hit and he struck out three.
Like I said, all runs but one were scored on solo homeruns: Randolph Oduber 1, Kalian Sams 2 and Curt Smith 2. Randolph Oduber hit his homerun, batting leadoff in the first inning.
The only run that didn’t come from a homerun was scored on a fielding error by first baseman Alex Sambucci.
The Dutch kept their unbeaten status for this tournament and clinched their 21st European title.
