(Story by Marco Stoovelaar, with a contribution by Hans Jansen de Vries)
 Coming weekend, Ome Loek Indoor Christmas Baseball Tournament at Pirates
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
In the upcoming weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 12 & 13, the indoor facility of Amsterdam Pirates will be the site of an international indoor-tournament for young baseball-players 6 through 12 years old.
Six teams will participate in the annual Big Ome Loek Indoor Christmas Baseball Tournament.
The international flavor comes from Team Japan Thamen from Uithoorn (Netherlands), Royal Greys from Antwerp (Belgium) and Sénart Templiers from Sénart-Paris (France).
Joining these teams are three Dutch teams, Badhoevedorp and two from host Amsterdam Pirates.
Activities will start at 9 AM and run through 7 PM.
Two days full of enjoying youth baseball at a high level in the wonderful indoor-facility of Amsterdam Pirates at Sportpark Ookmeer.
The entrance is free.
Also participating in the tournament are umpires, official scorers and announcers from the Dutch big league.
There will be individual awards for the Homerun King, Most Valuable Player and the Best Pitcher.
But there will be more, including popcorn, hamburgers and hot dogs.
Hall of Famer 'Uncle' Loek Loevendie of course will be present himself.
The now 83-year old 'pater familias' of youth baseball in Amsterdam is a living legend in the Dutch baseball-world.
He coached in youth baseball for more than 65 years and retired two years ago, but still is giving advice during practice sessions of the youngest baseball-players.
Amongst the players he trained through the years, many went on to play in the Dutch big league, the Netherlands National Team and also turned professional.
Amongst them is Rikkert Faneyte, who reached the Major League, playing for the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers.
Faneyte also will attend the tournament, as will be the Netherlands' most successful pitching-ace Rob Cordemans, plus most of the players from the L&D Amsterdam Pirates big league-team.
They of course will be available to sign autographs.
(December 10)
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