Starting pitchers Mike Groen (DSS) and Sander Helmendach (HCAW) both had a good outing and were supported by fine defensive plays.
However, it was DSS that was most productive on the bases to win the game and secure sixth place.
The home team opened the score right away in the first at bat.
With one out, Sven Jongejans tripled, then scored on a following single by Mitchell Koot.
...The attractive game was well-visited...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
DSS added its second run in the third inning.
With one out, Mark Smit walked and stole second base, then moved to third base when Sven Jongejans singled.
Good baserunning was then combined with throwing back-and-forth, resulting in two errors and a run.
First, Jongejans stole second base.
While Smit took off from third base, he ran towards the plate to score when the throw to second base ended up in centerfield after a throwing error.
Hereafter, the centerfielder threw the ball to the short stop, who then made an errant throw in the ground in front of the catcher, just after Smit had scored and that enabled Jongejans to reach third base.
But he stranded there, as two outs followed.
After giving up the single to Jongejans, HCAW-pitcher Sander Helmendach retired 12 of the next 13 batters and 14 of the next 16.
He walked Joffrey Heus with two outs in the fourth, but then retired eight batters in a row.
Helmendach was then supported with some good defensive plays, including a nice play by short stop Roy Seltenrijch.
With one out in the seventh, Heus again reached base, this time with a single, but he now stranded on second base.
DSS added two more insurance runs in the ninth off of Helmendach, who went the distance.
Mark Smit led off with a single, then scored all the way from first base when Sven Jongejans doubled.
After Helmendach struckout the next two batters, Seb Visser doubled to bring in the fourth run.
DSS-starter Mike Groen gave up only two hits in the eight innings he pitched.
The righthander allowed only three HCAW-batters to reach base.
After having retired the side (two strikeouts) in the first inning, Groen walked lead-off hitter Emersson Paula in the fourth inning, but he was forced out on a grounder by Jarreau Martina.
He then stole second base and advanced to third on a grounder by Raoell Kortstam, but was left behind.
Groen retired the side again in the third, then gave up a 2-out double to Paula in the fourth, who would strand on second base.
After giving up Paula's double, Groen retired 12 batters in a row and that streak saw some great defensive plays.
In the sixth inning, Max Clarijs led off with a sharp line drive into left-centerfield, but there centerfielder Mark Smit made a great diving catch.
In the seventh, with two outs, Jarreau Martina lined the ball the third baseman Mitchell Koot, who made a nice catch to end the inning.
Groen retired the side five times in the first seven innings.
With two outs in the eighth, he gave up a 2-out double to Jelle Blaauw, but he also was left behind.
HCAW then scored its lone run in the top of the ninth inning off of closer Kevin Geestman.
He hit lead-off hitter Peter van Doesburg with a pitch, then walked Marciano Philippi.
Van Doesburg moved to third base while Philippi was forced out on a grounder by Roy Seltenrijch.
He then scored HCAW's lone run on a sacrifice fly by Emersson Paula, before a grounder ended the game.
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DSS secures 6th place in attractive game
HAARLEM (Neth.) -
In an attractive game, DSS won 4-1 vs. HCAW on Saturday (August 8) to finish in sixth place in the Overall Standings.
With that, DSS earned home advantage in most games of the upcoming Play-Downs, which opens next Thursday-evening.
DSS, which makes its debut in the highest league this season, also takes four points with them to the postseason.