(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
   Dutch U21 Team wins first game in 2nd Round-opener
Nederlands
 TAICHUNG (Taiwan) -
After lost its first four games in the Preliminary Round of the first-ever 21 Under Baseball World Cup, the Nethelands Under 21 Team today registered its first victory.
In its opening game of the Second Round, the Dutch squad won 7-2 vs. Mexico, which had lost its five games in Group A.
Italy had no game scheduled today, while the Czech Republic lost 15-0 in 5 innings to undefeated Japan in its opener in the Championship Group.
Dutch Umpire Winfried Berkvens today was at first base in the game between Nicaragua and South Korea.
Italian Fabrizio Fabrizi was behind the plate in this game.
...Tom de Blok - 5 strong innings...
...Here, he pitches in an exhibition game in 2013...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In Taichung Baseball Stadium, the Dutch Team today got some fine pitching, as four pitchers gave up only five basehits.
Starter Tom de Blok had a good outing.
The righthander struckout six batters and gave up four hits in 5-plus innings.
He left with a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning, then three relievers closed the door and were supported with four more runs.
After the Dutch defense had turned an inning-ending double play in the opening at bat, the offense produced the first run in the bottom half of the first inning.
Kirvin Moesquit led off with a double and next batter Dudley Leonora walked.
Moments later, Moesquit stole third base, then scored on an one-out single by Kevin Weijgertse.
A double-steal then brought Leonora and Weijgertse both in scoring position and the bases got loaded when Aldair Adamus walked.
But then, Milton Croes grounded into a double play to end the at bat.
Both teams then were held scoreless in the second and third inning, but Mexico came alongside in the fourth.
De Blok walked lead-off hitter Francisco Ferreiro, who then advanced to third base when Hector Ponce singled.
After the latter was forced out, Ferreiro scored the tying run on a following grounder by Jesus Cerda.
The Dutch Team re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring two runs.
Dennis Gustina and Kirvin Moesquit opened with singles, then both scored on an one-out double by Kevin Moesquit to give the Orange a 3-1 lead.
It also led to a pitching change.
In the top of the 6th inning, Mexico threatened again.
Tom de Blok walked the first batter, then gave up a single, which put runners on second and third base.
Bayron Cornelisse was brought in to take over for De Blok, but was greeted with a runscoring single by Hector Ponce that made it 3-2.
Cornelisse then struckout the next batter and the defense turned another inning-ending double play.
And with that, it closed the door for Mexico, which was held scoreless in the remainder of the game.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Dutch Team took more distance, rallying for four runs.
Initially, the first two batters struckout, but then Kevin Weijgertse walked.
Hereafter, Mexico changed pitchers, while Dutch Manager Steve Janssen inserted Jules Peters as pinch-runner.
Peters then stole second base and the Dutch got the bases loaded when Aldair Adamus walked and Milton Croes was hit by a pitch.
Next, Cezan Rafaela cleared the bases with a 3-run double down the leftfield-line that gave the Dutch some much needed breathing space.
Moments later, Rafaela scored himself when Max Clarijs followed with a single to make it 7-2 in favor of the Dutch.
In the eighth inning, Scott Ronnenbergh took over the Dutch pitching and retired the side.
Aldair Adamus, who was the catcher in most games and today was the designated hitter, then pitched the ninth inning.
He also retired all three batters he faced and ended the game with a strikeout.
| Pitchers |
| Pitcher | INN | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Tom de Blok, W (1-0) | 5 (*) | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Bayron Cornelisse, H (1) | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | - | - |
| Scott Ronnenbergh | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Aldair Adamus | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| (*) - De Blok pitched to two batters in the 6th inning |
Today's starting line-up was as follows:
Kirvin Moesquit (SS, 2-for-5), Dudley Leonora (LF, 1-for-4), Kevin Moesquit (2B, 1-for-5), Kevin Weijgertse (1B, 1-for-3), Aldair Adamus (DH, 0-for-2), Milton Croes (RF, 1-for-3), Cezan Rafaela (3B, 1-for-4), Max Clarijs (C, 1-for-3), Dennis Gustina (CF, 2-for-4).
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Jules Peters (0-for-0) was inserted as pinch-runner for Weijgertse.
In the top of the 8th inning, Peters took over in leftfield, while Leonora switched to first base.
In the top of the 9th inning, DH Adamus came in defensively and threw the final inning.
Other scores:
Wednesday, November 13
Championship Group
Japan vs. Czech Republic, 15-0 (5 inn.)
Nicaragua vs. South Korea, 2-9
Taiwan vs. Australia, 9-3
7th-11th Place
Netherlands vs. Mexico, 7-2
Venezuela vs. New Zealand, 9-8
(November 13)
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