(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Robert Bos)
 DSS one-runs The Hawks to re-take lead in series
Nederlands
 DORDRECHT (Neth.) -
DSS re-took the lead in the best-of-five Promotion/Relegation Play-Off this afternoon (Saturday, October 4) by winning only 1-0 at Mampaey The Hawks in Dordrecht.
With this, DSS took a 2-1 lead and is now one win away from promoting to the Dutch big league, meaning The Hawks is one loss away from relegating.
Game 4 will be played on Sunday at Haarlem.
In a very close, and thus tense, game, only one run decided today's game.
Both teams collected only six basehits.
The difference today was the fine defense by DSS and a basehit at the right moment in the sixth inning by Tino van Erk.
Both starting pitchers went deep into the game.
Tim Halderman (DSS) and Evan Simons (The Hawks) both were relieved after 7 2/3 innings, then closers Kevin Geestman (DSS) and Henk van Heijningen (The Hawks) did their job.
When the pitching changes were made, DSS already led 1-0 and the team hold onto the minimal lead.
In the first five innings of the game, both teams batted only two basehits.
DSS didn't even had a runner reaching second base.
Sven Jongejans had singled with one out in the first inning, but then a double play followed.
Mitchel Dautzenberg singled with two outs in the third and was left behind.
In the fifth, Seb Visser became the third runner after an error and also stranded.
The Hawks got a scoring opportunity in the second inning.
Berry van Donselaar led off with a single and then Berend Ruben was hit by a pitch.
Next, failed bunt-attempt almost led to a triple play!
A bunt by Steven Wharwood popped up and was caught by catcher Sven Jongejans, who then doubled off Van Donselaar at second base.
Short stop Mitchel Dautzenberg then threw the ball to first trying to complete a triple play, but that failed as he committed a throwing error, enabling Ruben to move to second base.
But there, he stranded when Dautzenberg turned a grounder into the third out.
In the fourth, Kevin Moesquit was hit by a pitch with one out, but was forced out.
Then, in the fifth, Wharwood led off with the second single for The Hawks, but then DSS turned its second double play.
From the sixth inning on, it was the DSS-defense that ruled the game, adding three more double plays!
In the top of the sixth inning, DSS first broke the scoreless tie.
With one out, Ryan Miner doubled and advanced when next batter Sven Jongejans flied out.
Moments later, Miner scored what would be the lone run in the game when Tino van Erk singled into left-centerfield.
In the home of the sixth, Tony Enos reached on an error with one out, then Jules Peters singled to put runners on first and third base, but another double play ended the inning.
In the seventh, Van Donselaar led off with his second single in the game and was replaced by pinch-runner Gregory Trinidad.
Hereafter, Berend Ruben flied out to rightfielder Seb Visser, who was able to complete a double play at first base, as Trinidad was back too late.
Wharwood then followed with his second single, but stranded at first base.
In the top of the eighth inning, DSS got a chance of increasing its lead, as it got the bases loaded with two outs.
Ryan Miner then singled and both Sven Jongejans and Tino van Erk walked.
Herefater, Henk van Heijningen took over the pitching and struckout Mitchell Koot to end the inning!
In the home of the eighth, it was The Hawks that got another runner into scoring position.
Gino Hersilia led off with a walk and moved on a wild pitch with one out.
After a strikeout accounted for the second out, Jules Peters was hit by a pitch and this time, it was DSS that went to the bull-pen.
Kevin Geestman took over and, like Van Heijningen, he also ended the inning with a strikeout, eliminating Kevin Moesquit.
In the DSS-ninth, Tim Roodenburg led off with a single, but stranded at third base.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gregory Trinidad led off with a single, but then the DSS-defense turned its fifth double play of the game.
Geestman then struckout Steven Wharwood to end the game, saving the 1-0 lead.
...Berry van Donselaar singles in the 2nd inning... |
...DSS turns its 2nd double play in the 5th inning... |
...Ryan Miner doubles in the 6th inning...
...and later scores the lone run... |
...Evan Simon started for The Hawks...
|
...The game in Dordrecht was well-visited...
|
...Pinch-runner Gregory Trinidad dives back to 1st in the 7th...
...Moments later, he is doubled up after a flyout... |
...Allan Hazel turns for a bunt in the 8th inning... |
...Tim Roodenburg leads off the 9th with a single... |
...Joffrey Heus just ends up short at 1st base in the 9th...
...1B Gregory Trinidad receives the ball in time... |
...Home Plate Umpire Martijn Bosschaart...
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...DSS turns its 5th double play in the 9th inning when...
...SS Mitchel Dautzenberg throws the ball to 1B Tino van Erk... |
...Catcher Sven Jongejans congratulates closer...
...Kevin Geestman with the win and his save... |
| (© All Photos: Robert Bos Photos) |
(October 4)
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