(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 Kinheim withdraws from big league after losing all players
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
In a dramatic transfer-period, Kinheim saw all of its players leave the team in the past few weeks.
As a result, the club has withdrawn its team from next years big league.
Kinheim officially confirmed its withdrawal on Tuesday-evening (November 1).
In the past few days, several rumors and articles circulated stating that Kinheim already had withdrawn its team, but these were not completely correct.
On Tuesday-afternoon, it was even confirmed by Kinheim that it still was one of the big league-teams.
As the transfer-deadline (5 PM on Tuesday) was approaching and no new players were added, it was desperately tried to compile a competitive team for next season.
Unfortunately, that was unsuccessful and talks with the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association followed the last few days regarding the situation of fielding a team in next years competition.
Kinheim requested the KNBSB to play in the second highest division ('Overgangsklasse') next year.
On Monday-evening, representatives of the club and the KNBSB met in a meeting to discuss the situation.
The KNBSB also has confirmed the withdrawal of Kinheim.
Due to the discontinuation of the Rookie League (in which the 'second' teams of the big league-clubs played), a transition followed enabling the clubs to register its second team for another division.
As Kinheim had registered its second team in the 'Overgangsklasse', that team now will become the main squad and will play in the second hightest division.
The KNBSB also stated that none of the current teams in the 'Overgangsklasse' can or want to take the vacant spot in the big league.
With that, the highest division will field seven teams next year instead of eight.
The KNBSB now will set up a meeting with these seven teams to discuss the competition format for next year.
It marks the third time in the last five years that a renowned club with a long and rich baseball-history has to withdraw its team from the highest division.
In October 2012, Sparta-Feyenoord withdraw its team after it had relegated from the big league.
In February 2015, ADO Lakers also withdraw its team.
The place of ADO Lakers was taken by The Hawks, which had relegated the year before.
And now, it is Kinheim that had to make the decision to leave the big league.
On a positive note, did the entire clubs of Sparta-Feyenoord and ADO Lakers dissolved, Kinheim will continue playing with several other teams in both baseball and softball at several levels and in several age groups.
With that, Kinheim can built a new future and return to the big league again in the upcoming years.
This season, under new Head Coach Michael Crouwel, Kinheim finished in fourth place with a 24-17 record and one tie.
With that, the Haarlem-team again qualified for the Play-Offs for the eleventh consecutive consecutive season.
Kinheim formed a successful quartet with Amsterdam Pirates, Hoofddorp Pioniers and Neptunus, as these teams reached the Play-Offs annually together since 2007!
Kinheim reached the Holland Series ten times since 1992.
In the last two weeks, nineteen of its regular players left, including three who retired.
There are only a few players left over, who played in the Rookie League Team of the club and had made their big league-debut playing for the main squad of Kinheim during this season.
Five of their players opted to played for 'neighbouring' Vaessen Pioniers, three went to neighbour DSS, which plays its home games on the other side of the road that divides its field from Kinheim's stadium.
One player was added to the roster of Curaçao Neptunus, three are going to play on a lower level.
Two players returned to the Antilles, while two others have left the club, but didn't announced yet where they will play next year.
During the season, pitcher David Bergman already had announced his retirement.
Besides Bergman, lefthanded pitcher Nick Veltkamp and designated hitter Bryan Engelhardt also retired.
At least nine players will play in the big league next season, as lefthanded pitcher Scott Ronnenbergh, righthanded pitcher Glenn Wassink, catcher Sander Paap and infielders Dudley Leonora and Oliver van der Wijst Severino transfered to Vaessen Pioniers, righthanded pitchers Reggie Bomberg and Tom Stuifbergen and infielder Thomas Bos will wear the shirt of DSS and outfielder Jochem Koedijk will play for Curaçao Neptunus.
Catcher Dexter de Weert (HCAW-3), infielder Niels van Weert (Quick Amersfoort) and outfielder Jasper Keijzer (De Zuidvogels) will play in a lower division.
Pitcher Luis Figuera Roman and outfielder Julio Hernandez returned to the Antilles.
Infielders Victor Draijer and Kevin Moesquit also left, but their new team is not known yet.
...Better times...
...Kinheim celebrates its 5th Dutch...
...Championship-title in 2012...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Non-roster outfielder Kalian Sams, who briefly played for Kinheim in 2015, but has been active professonally in Canada in the last two years, transfered to L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
As there were not enough players left over to compile a team, Kinheim had to take the decision to withdraw from next years big league.
That marks the end of an era, as the Haarlem-based club played in the highest division the past 28 consecutive years!
Being founded in 1934, Kinheim is one of the oldest clubs in the Netherlands.
From 1939 through 1973, the club was known as HCK, which was the abbreviation of the official name Honkbal (Baseball) Club Kinheim.
Its main-squad debuted in the highest league in 1949 when it was called the First Division.
The team relegated, but returned in 1954 for a 4-year period.
More relegations and promotions followed in following years.
In 1976, Kinheim made another comeback to the big league and since then, it has played at the highest level almost every following season.
Except for some years when it again played in the second highest league, as another relegation followed in 1980 and then again in 1984 and 1986.
Kinheim celebrated the Dutch Championship-title for the first time in 1978, then was the best team again in 1994.
Hereafter, three more championships followed, including two in a row in 2006-2007.
The last title was captured in 2012.
In that year, Kinheim was almost eliminated during the Play-Offs, replaced its Head Coach and qualified for the Holland Series.
In the best-of-seven Final, Kinheim swept Neptunus in four games!
A year ago, Kinheim also played in the Holland Series against Neptunus, but lost 4-1.
Now, a year later, Kinheim had to withdraw from the big league!
It's a sad day for Dutch baseball!
(November 1)
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