(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 Also 'promotion' for Quick Amersfoort
Nederlands
 AMERSFOORT (Neth.) -
The same time when it was announced that Mampaey The Hawks returned to the big league, it also rumored that Quick Amersfoort would take the place of the Dordrecht-team in the second highest division ('Overgangsklasse').
This now also has been confirmed officially by the club on its website.
In January, The Hawks was awarded the vacant spot in the Dutch big league after ADO Lakers announced its withdrawal from the highest division earlier in the month due to the financial situation of the club.
This probably will lead to the complete discontinuation of ADO Lakers, but the final decision will be taken during a special in March.
When The Hawks took over the spot of ADO Lakers, the big league was brought back to eight clubs.
But that left the 'Overgangsklasse' to nine teams.
Two days after it became clear that The Hawks was moving back to the big league, another move was first reported.
Biosilk Quick Amersfoort was mentioned as the club to move to the second highest league taking The Hawks' place.
Last season, Quick Amersfoort finished in fourth place in the First Division A (third highest league) with a 12-8 record.
Following the transfer of The Hawsk to the big league, the Dutch Federation KNBSB informed with several candidate clubs whether they were intested in taking over the spot of The Hawks in the 'Overgangsklasse'.
Quick Amersfoort was one of these clubs.
After discussing the matter within the club and taking the off-season acquisitions in consideration, Quick Amersfoort decided not to let by this opportunity.
Its 'promotion' means that Quick Amersfoort now has to play games on both Saturday and Sunday this season.
In the First Division (and lower), the team's play only one game per weekend.
Quick Amersfoort had added three new players to its roster with big league-experience.
Pitcher Jos de Jong and outfielder Bas de Jong came to Amersfoort from L&D Amsterdam Pirates returning to the club where they started their career.
Last season, Bas de Jong was the Batting Champion of the big league for the third year in a row.
Quick also added catcher Giovanni Samboe, who played for UVV.
By playing in the 'Overgangsklasse', Quick Amersfoort now has the opportunity to promote to the Dutch big league at the end of the season.
In case that happens, it will mark its return to the highest league in which it last played in 1996.
(February 18)
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