Dutch hoofdklasse 2017: Curaçao Neptunus wins in comeback-from-behind fashion.

After trailing 5-0 at the start of the fifth inning, Curaçao Neptunus managed to come back in the ninth inning and walk away with the 7-5 victory in extra innings. L&D Amsterdam Pirates' bullpen did not manage to do the job as they gave up four runs in the ninth inning. A passed ball and …

World Port Tournament 2017: Dutch surrender win in last inning

For 8.5 innings it looked like team Kingdom of the Netherlands would beat Taiwan but three errors by the Dutch catcher cost them the game eventually. The Dutch pitching was superb last night but unfortunately, the effort was in vain as the Dutch lost 4-3. The Dutch took a quick lead in the first inning. …

World Port Tournament 2017: Easy victory for Dutch vs Cuba

A juvenile team Kingdom of the Netherlands beat Cuba in a surprisingly easy way. The Dutch pitching limited the Cubans to one run and seven hits in a 6-1 victory as the Dutch outhit them 12-7.  After Gianison Boekhoudt doubled home Stijn van der Meer from second base, Cuba tied the game in the bottom …

European Champions Cup 2017: Clear victory for L&D Amsterdam Pirates

In a game that was close a close affair for  5 innings, L&D Amsterdam clinched a clear 5-1 victory over San Marino. L&D Amsterdam Pirates loaded the bases once with less than two outs but failed to push for more runs, but nevertheless, it was a clear victory for the Dutch. In a game that started in …

Team Kingdom of the Netherlands loses first practice game

In the first practice game since the start of their training camp in preparation of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the Dutch team traveled to Tucson to face the KT Wiz from the Korean Baseball Organization for a practice game. Thanks to some sloppy defense by the Dutch, the Koreans won 5-2.  The KT Wiz …

Team Kingdom of the Netherlands: the roster behind the WBC roster

Yesterday the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) presented the roster of team Kingdom of the Netherlands for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. But next to that roster, there is, what they call, a designated pool of pitchers. This designated pool of pitchers is a list with reserve players. Even though Kenley Jansen has …

Kingdom of the Netherlands: What conclusions can be drawn from friendly matches vs Japan?

Last Saturday and Sunday, team Kingdom of the Netherlands played two exhibition games vs team Samurai Japan. The two games were part of  a four game series. Two were played between Mexico and Japan. For Japan it was a must to win all games, but one was lost to Mexico (7-3). The Dutch played two …

Kevin Heijstek out for the season

By now this is old news already, but I have totally missed it. Bad news for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, good news for the rest of the Dutch Hoofdklasse. Baseball website Grand Slam Stats & News announced this on June 12. Kevin Heijstek injured himself during the final of the European Champions Cup as he covered first …

European Champions Cup 2016: L&D Amsterdam Pirates a surprising winner?

You all may have noticed by now that L&D Amsterdam Pirates won the European Champions Cup by beating A.S.D. Rimini Pirates in extra innings. But was this a surprising win? Even though Curacao Neptunus won the cup last year, Italian club baseball was dominant in Europe over the past eight years. Since 1996, Neptunus from …

Asia Winter League: Europe falls to Chinese Taipei 1-5

In the second game that the European delegation played at the Asia Winter League, team Chinese Taipei was too strong. One of the highlights was the 2-6 double play that Italian catcher Alberto Mineo made in the first inning. Another positive thing was that starting pitcher Maickel Rietel pitched three good frames before he was …

Dutch gather at Curacao to prepare for Premier12

The Dutch national team went to Curacao to prepare for the upcoming Premier 12 tournament which will start on November 8. The players arrived at the Blue Bay Curaçao Golf & Beach Resort in Willemstad yesterday. At the resort the local players that received a call up joined the team, together with manager Hensley Meulens. Meulens …

Dutch Hoofdklasse Play Offs, Saturday August 22: No-hit bid spoiled

Today the following games were scheduled in the Play Offs:  Vaessen Pioniers @ Curacao Neptunus and Corendon Kinheim @ L&D Amsterdam Pirates.  Two exciting games . One in which both teams were almost each other’s match and another in which a no-hit bid was spoiled late in the game. Vaessen Pioniers @ Curacao Neptunus  1 …

Rosters of the Dutch All Star Game presented

Yesterday the rosters of the Dutch All Star game were announced. There is a slight change regarding to previous years with the forming of the teams. In the previous years you had a North team and a South team. North mainly cointaining players form L&D Amsterdam Pirates, Corendon Kinheim, Vaessen Pioniers and HCAW. The South …

Dutch Hoofdklasse, Thursday July 30: NO-HITTER FOR ORLANDO YNTEMA

On day one of round six in the second half of the season the following games were scheduled: Curacao Neptunus @ UVV, Pronto DSS @ L&D Amsterdam Pirates, Vaessen Pioniers @ HCAW and Mampaey the Hawks @ Corendon Kinheim. Two major surprises today. Curacao Neptunus @ UVV  5 - 0 Orlando Yntema made the history …

Dutch Hoofdklasse, Tuesday July 7: Curacao Neptunus @ L&D Amsterdam Pirates

Because of European Cup obligations Curacao Neptunus later this season, the game that was scheduled then, between Curacao Neptunus and L&D Amsterdam Pirates was played today. In a high scoring and close game, Neptunus took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. With two outs and Rien Vernooij on first, Vernooij advanced …

European Cup in Paris, final game

As you may have read in my previous post, the grand finale of the European Cup won't be an all Dutch game. In a game where the runs didn't come cheap but in which they came early, Bologna took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Francesco Fuzzi drew …

Robert Eenhoorn in the center of the attention during Dutch Star Awards

Tonight the KNBSB (Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation) organized the Star Awards. An evening where several prices were given to softball and baseball players from the Dutch Hoofdklasse. I will focus on the baseball awards. But the night was built around Robert Eenhoorn, former shortstop of the New York Yankees. For years, after his …

Holland Series 2014: Game 6

          vs   It was a tough day for a fan of L&D Amsterdam Pirates. Leading in the best of seven series by 3 games to 2, the team from Amsterdam was one win shy of the title. Today's game started three and a half hours later because of a rain delay. The …