(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen & Jan Kruijdenberg)
 Top-4 previous seasons leads again
Nederlands
    VLEUTEN / HAARLEM / DORDRECHT / BUSSUM (Neth.) -
The top-4 in the Dutch big league in the previous seasons again leads the ranking in this years season, which opens last Thursday.
At Vleuten, vice-champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates was productive today (Sunday, April 19), winning 8-1 at UVV.
Leading 1-0, Amsterdam rallied for four runs in the fourth at bat to take more distance.
UVV registered only three hits off of three pitchers, Kyle Ward, Dennis Burgersdijk and Robin Schel.
Amsterdam was productive off of Venezuelan starter Claudio Bavera, who gave up five hits and four runs, but also walked six batters.
Gilian van Lith and Norbert Jongerius relieved Bavera.
Remco Draijer had three basehits for Amsterdam, while Kenny Berkenbosch and Bas Nooij both batted in three runs.
In the third inning, with Amsterdam leading 1-0, Bas Nooij was the center in a 'pine-tar incident'.
With runners on first and second base, Nooij made contact and appeared to reach first base.
But then, UVV appealed that Nooij's bat was illegal, stating that it had too much substance on it.
The umpires got together and decided that the bat was illegal and ruled Nooij out.
That triggered another discussion, as Pirates then stated that pitcher Bavera was wearing a wristlet.
Rule 1.10 (c) states:
The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from its end, may be covered or treated with any material or substance to improve the grip.
Any such material or substance that extends past the 18-inch limitation shall cause the bat to be removed from the game.
NOTE: If the umpire discovers that the bat does not conform to (c) above until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out, or ejected from the game.
Rule 1.10(c) Comment: If pine tar extends past the 18-inch limitation, then the umpire, on his own initiative or if alerted by the opposing team, shall order the batter to use a different bat.
The batter may use the bat later in the game only if the excess substance is removed.
If no objections are raised prior to a bat’s use, then a violation of Rule 1.10(c) on that play does not nullify any action or play on the field and no protests of such play shall be allowed.
Rule 6.06 states:
A batter is out for illegal action when -
(d) He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire’s judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball.
This includes, bats that are filled, flat-surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance such as paraffin, wax, etc.
No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand.
In addition to being called out, the player shall be ejected from the game.
Rule 6.06(d) Comment: A batter shall be deemed to have used or attempted to use an illegal bat if he brings such a bat into the batter’s box.
The most famous 'pine tar incident' occured on July 24, 1983 at Yankee Stadium when George Brett of the Kansas City Royals was ruled out after hitting a 2-run homerun with an 'illegal bat' against the New York Yankees.
...HP Umpire Henri van Heijningen rules out Bas Nooij...
...in the 'pine tar incident'... | 
...Bas Nooij after reaching first base...
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| (© Both Photos: Henk Seppen) |
...Former UVV-chairman Marina van Huissteden...
...throws the ceremonial first pitch... | 
...UVV-starter Claudio Bavera...
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| (© Both Photos: Jan Kruijdenberg) |
At Bussum, after suffering a surprise loss on Saturday, Dutch champion Curaçao Neptunus today won 14-2 in seven innings at HCAW.
Neptunus collected 17 basehits, including three by Urving Kemp and Shaldimar Daantji.
Both also batted in three runs, while Gianison Boekhoudt batted in four.
Dwayne Kemp homered for Neptunus.
Diegomar Markwell pitched the first six inning for Neptunus, then Loek van Mil threw the seventh and last inning.
Sander Helmendach started for HCAW and was followed on the mound by Bob Klaarenbeek, Steven van Groningen, Marco Schel and Tony Kreisel.
Neptunus led 10-2 after four innings, then added four more runs in the seventh to reach the 10-run difference.
In Haarlem, Corendon Kinheim, which almost was left empty-handed on Saturday, today won 6-2 vs. DSS, but didn't decide the game before the eighth inning when it scored four runs.
With a 2-1 lead, Kinheim scored four runs in the eighth on a 2-run single by Dudley Leonora, sacrifice fly by Jeffrey Arends and a single by Jochem Koedijk.
Glenn Wassink, Pim Walsma and Scott Ronnenbergh pitched for Kinheim, Tim Halderman and Jorn van Ingen threw for DSS.
At Dordrecht, Vaessen Pioniers registered its third consecutive shutout, winning 10-0 at Mampaey The Hawks.
Pioniers opened the score with three runs in the first inning off of starter Bobby Carrington, who was succeeded on the mound by Kevin van Veen, Mitchell Berghmans, Quinn Tramm and Maikel Berghmans.
Elton Koeiman started for Pioniers and was relieved by Reggie Bomberg and Swen Huijer.
Quintin De Cuba went 4-for-6 for Pioniers with a double and homerun and also batted in four runs.
The complete recaps, game details, facts and stats of all games are in the making and are coming up.
(more later)
(April 19)
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