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Updated: May 28, 2015
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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)

HCAW nips DSS after long delay
Nederlands
BUSSUM (Neth.) - It is known for years that on sunny days, games that are played on the home-site of HCAW can be bothered by the sun. When the sun sets, the brightness will blind the batter, catcher and home plate umpire. It will result in a delay, that at least takes some 30 mniutes.

Of course, such a delay can influence a game, especially with the current curfew-rule. In the past, when that rule didn't exist, the game just resumes and was completed, sometimes ending after midnight. Some years ago, a curfew-rule was introduced that stated that no new inning could be started after 11 PM. In recent years, that rule was changed into a 10:30 PM curfew. And so, because of that rule, combined with a lengthy sun-delay, makes it almost impossible to play a complete 9-inning game, and, if needed, extra innings. Even without a delay, a slow-paced game (wherever it is played) can also be halted before nine innings are played because of the curfew-rule, as was the case tonight with the UVV vs. Mampaey The Hawks, which ended in a 9-9 tie after eight innings.

So maybe, it is be time to adjust the rules and state that non-completed evening-games will be completed before the next game between the two teams involved. Or schedule double-headers on Saturday, instead of playing evening games. But that's up to others to decide.

Tonight's game (Thursday, May 28) had one of the longest sun-delays ever, as it was interrupted for one hour an 15 minutes after three innings were played. It is thought that there has been a 1½ delay somewhere in the eighties or nineties.

Because of the long delay, the starting pitcher DSS didn't return in the fourth inning and HCAW went on to score only one run in this abbreviated game to win 1-0.

(May 28)




In the first three innings, both teams left one runner. HCAW-starter Sander Helmendach retired the first five batters, then gave up a 2-out single in the second inning to Levine Gabriëls, who then stranded. In the third inning, he gave up a lead-off single to Seb Visser, but HCAW then turned a double play.

DSS-starter Rik Geestman retired the first six batters he faced, then gave up a lead-off single to Emersson Paula in the third ining. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, but was left there when three outs followed.

After having played just 41 minutes, the game was halted after three complete innings due to the bright sunset. It then took one hour and 15 minutes for the game to resume. When it resumed, Helmendach returned to mound to face Lex Leijenaar. He then fouled off a pitch on his foot, resulting in another 3-minute delay.

DSS was retired in order, then Timo van Lingen took over the pitching for starter Rik Geestman in the bottom of the fourth. He walked a batter, but he stranded on second base.

In the top of the fifth, Tino van Erk and Levine Gabriëls led off for DSS with singles. A double-steal with one out failed, as the lead runner was caught stealing, then a strikeout ended the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, HCAW scored what would be the lone run in the game. Gianni Frolijk led off with a walk, moved on a sacrifice bunt by Emersson Paula and a grounder by Rowan van Hoek, then scored on a single by Max Clarijs. It was as simple as that. The hit by Clarijs was only the second (and last) for HCAW, while DSS collected four hits.

DSS was retired in order in the sixth and seventh inning. In the eighth, Levine Gabriëls led off with a walk, but his pinch-runner Mitchel Dautzenberg stranded on first base. After the walk, Steven van Groningen took over the pitching and retired the next three batters. It was clear that the eighth would be the final at bat and the game was halted after completion of the top of the inning, as HCAW was the leading team and so, it didn't bat in the home half of the eighth.



HCAW - DSS 1-0 (7½ inn.)
RHE
DSS00000000-040
HCAW0000100X-120
(game halted after 7½ inning due to the 10:30 PM curfew-rule)
pitchers DSSinn.SOBBHRER
Rik Geestman35-1--
Timo van Lingen, L (1-2)322111
Kevin Geestman121---
pitchers HCAWinn.SOBBHRER
Sander Helmendach, W (1-5)7 (*)414--
Steven van Groningen, SV (1)11----
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Umpires: HP-Efrem Silvania, 1B-Stenar van Groningen Schinkel, 3B-John Beltman.
Official Scorer-Rienette Hamers.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Feiko Drost.
Public Address Announcer-Dieks Bannink.
Time-1:55 hr.

Game Notes:
One hour, 15 minutes sun-delay after three complete innings.
3-minute injury-delay at start of top 4th after batter Lex Leijenaar (DSS) was hit on his foot by foul ball.
Weather conditions at game time: Sunny, 15° C (59° F), west-northwestern wind 21 kmh (13 mph), humidity 50%.




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