Not Neptunus, but DSS/Kinheim was the best team in the first five, six innings tonight.
On a chilly evening, DSS/Kinheim-starter Nick Boxelaar had a great outing on the mound and kept the Rotterdam opponent not only scoreless, but also hitless in more than five innings.
On the other hand, DSS/Kinheim got several scoring opportunities in its first five at bats off of two pitchers, but was unable to score.
And there were a few interesting plays, which needed close attention by the umpires, but they made the correct calls.
Tonight also was a game between two debuting Head Coaches, Greg Muller at Neptunus and Etienne Meijer at DSS/Kinheim.
Both also made their coaching-debut at the highest league.
After last season, (American) Muller, who then was a player, succeeded Raily Legito, while Meijer succeeded Michael Crouwel.
DSS/Kinheim got its first chance to open the score in the top of the first inning off of Tom de Blok.
The righthander made his first regular season-appearance since June 3, 2021 when he was on the mound for Amsterdam Pirates against Neptunus.
De Blok then was the losing pitcher in a 9-1 loss.
Thereafter, he participated with the Netherlands Team in the WBSC Final Global Olympic Qualifier in Mexico.
After that event, De Blok was signed by professional club Pericos de Puebla of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol.
However, after one start, he was released by the Mexican club due to an injury and De Blok returned home to the Netherlands.
He then made one more appearance in the 2021 season when he threw in one inning as reliever on September 5 during the Play-Offs against HCAW.
Due to his injury, De Blok didn't pitch in the entire 2022 season.
After the season, he transfered from Pirates to Neptunus.
Last month, the righthander made his comeback when he pitched for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
In the top of the first inning, Nick Hofer led off with a single.
That was hit at 7:32 PM and was the first single in the Dutch big league this season.
Hofer advanced when Jochem Koedijk delivered a broken-bat single.
With two runners on base, a bunt-attempt by Sem Kuijper ended in a foul ball.
He then hit the next delivery into centerfield, where Rayshelon Carolina made the catch, then threw the ball to second baseman Dwayne Kemp.
As Hofer left on contact and already was halfway, he was unable to return back in time and so, a double play was made.
Hereafter, it was Urving Kemp (Dwayne's brother and former Neptunian) who accounted for the third single for the Haarlem-team.
Again with two runners on base, Koen Halderman delivered a line drive, but that was caught by Kemp, which ended the at bat.
DSS/Kinheim again got a runner in scoring position in the second inning.
Mees Robberse led off with a walk and stole second base.
With one out, he moved to third base on a grounder, but was left behind.
Another opportunity to score came in the top of the third.
With one out, Sem Kuijper walked and Urving Kemp singled, which gave DSS/Kinheim runners at the corners.
A grounder ended this at bat.
DSS/Kinheim got runners on second and third base with one out in the fourth.
Lead-off hitter Mees Robberse reached on an error and Marcel Tolenaars walked.
Tolenaars had been sidelined with an injury for some year-and-a-half, as he played in his last regular season-game on July 1, 2021.
The two advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Matis Crouwel.
But with two runners in scoring position, Tom de Blok struckout Amarensio Franka and Nick Hofer.
That also ended the evening for the righthander, who had thrown 75 pitches and was relieved in the fifth by Ryan Huntington.
The lefthander retired the side in the fifth (two strikeouts).
DSS/Kinheim got its biggest opportunity to open the score in the top of the sixth.
Huntington first struckout lead-off hitter Koen Halderman, but then gave up a single to Mees Robberse and hit Marcel Tolenaars with a pitch.
He was replaced at first base by pinch-runner Julian Toppen.
With two runners on base, next batter Matis Crouwel hit the ball down the rightfield-line for a single.
Robberse overran third base, was stopped by 3B Coach Shurty Tremus, but slipped and came into a rundown.
After the ball had went from rightfield to first base to third base to catcher to short stop John Polonius, the latter reached to tag Robberse.
However, Robberse moved backwards, avoided the tag and fell down, while Home Plate Umpire Jeffrey Bentsnijder gave the safe-signal.
He was on top of the play and made a great call, as Polonius missed touching the runner.
Pitcher Ryan Huntington quickly pointed to Polonius, who then again tagged Robberse, who was on the ground.
This time, the out-call followed.
During the rundown, Toppen and Crouwel advanced to third and second base.
Next, the bases got loaded when Amarensio Franka was hit by a pitch and so, DSS/Kinheim had another big scoring opportunity.
But this time, Huntington ended the threat by striking out Nick Hofer.
Neptunus got only one baserunner in its first five innings off of Nick Boxelaar, who gave up no basehits.
Initially, Boxelaar was to be the starter in Game 2 on Saturday, but when Thursday's game was cancelled he moved to tonight, while Martijn Schoonderwoerd (Thursday's announced starter) moved to Saturday.
The righthander retired the side in the first inning, which included a strikeout for Roger Bernadina.
In the second inning, Boxelaar hit lead-off hitter Dwayne Kemp, but he was caught stealing moments later.
The veteran player remained the lone baserunner until the sixth.
Boxelaar retired the side again in the third, fourth and fifth inning, meaning he had faced the minimum of 15 batters in five innings.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Arthur Bonevacia hit a roller down the first base-line.
Home Plate Umpire Jeffrey Bentsnijder and 1B Umpire Edwin Louisa both gave the fair-signal, while pitcher Nick Boxelaar picked up the ball near the line and threw it to first baseman Koen Halderman.
After the out-call, Greg Muller, the new Head Coach of Neptunus, came out of the dug-out to have a talk with Bentsnijder, stating that the ball had hit batter/runner Bonevacia on his way to first base, before the play was made
Bentsnijder and Louisa came together with 3B Umpire Peter de Haan to discuss the situation, but the call was confirmed and Bonevacia was out.
Although the team was unable to score, the first 5½ inning clearly belonged to DSS/Kinheim.
But with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Neptunus struck and took charge of the game.
Christian Diaz led off with a walk.
After having struckout Sheadion Jamanika, Nick Boxelaar uncorked a wild pitch, which moved Diaz into scoring position.
Hereafter, Boxelaar's No-Hitter ended when rookie Enrique Hatma singled.
Hatma was added to the Neptunus-roster recently and made his Dutch big league-debut tonight.
With Diaz at third and Hatma at first base, next batter Rayshelon Carolina grounded to first baseman Koen Halderman.
He attempted to eliminate Diaz at the plate and might have succeeded, but his throw was somewhat high and a run was scored.
Moments later, Hatma moved to third base when Roger Bernadina flied out and then the bases got loaded when John Polonius walked.
That ended the evening on the mound for Boxelaar, who had thrown five strong innings, but now had the bases loaded.
Rick Rizvić took over, but he was greeted on a baseclearing, 3-run double by Dwayne Kemp down the rightfield-line.
Next batter Arhur Bonevacia drove the ball into deep leftfield.
That was caught, but Neptunus had taken a 4-0 lead and from this moment on, the team had clearly turned the game its way.
In its final three at bats, DSS/Kinheim got only one more runner into scoring position.
That was with two outs in the eighth when Julian Toppen reached on an infield-hit and advanced on a throwing error.
Neptunus added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth.
With Rayshelon Carolina (hit by pitch) on first base and one out, the home-team got the bases loaded when John Polonius singled and Dwayne Kemp reached on an error.
Carolina then scored on a sacrifice fly by Arthur Bonevacia.
Hereafter, the other two runners advanced on a wild pitch, then both scored on a single by Junior Martina.
Martina also was added to the roster recently.
Earlier this year, he signed a professional contract with a team from the independent Frontier League, where he will open the season in May.
Until then, he will play for Neptunus.
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Neptunus wins, but strikes late against tough DSS/Kinheim
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
The season-opener between Curaçao Neptunus and DSS/Kinheim remained scoreless for five innings.
The home-team then did the most of its scoring in the sixth inning, added three unearned runs in the eighth and shutout the Haarlem-opponent, 7-0.
Furthermore, the powerful offense of Neptunus was kept hitless by the DSS/Kinheim-pitching for more than five innings.
The team recorded its first basehit with one out in the sixth and then also rallied for four runs.
Neptunus was outhit 7-4.
Opening Night 2023 Season.