(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
    Amsterdam Pirates withdraws players from Euro League Baseball
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates has withdrawn its players and coaches from participating with Amsterdam Baseball in the Euro League Baseball, which opened its inaugural season last month.
Amsterdam Pirates announced and confirmed its decision on Monday-evening (May 9).
Amsterdam Baseball had its first two games in the ELB scheduled for coming Sunday (May 15) and Monday (May 16) at the site of L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
In those games, Amsterdam was to host Draci Brno from the Czech Republic.
The governing European Association of Professional Baseball and the ELB, are not (yet) officially recognized by the European Baseball Confederation (CEB).
According to the competions-rules of the CEB, players who are listed on rosters for European Cup-competitions, which are organized by the CEB, are only allowed to play for that team and may not play for other teams in other competitions.
This might result in protests from opponents in those CEB-competitions and thus sanctions for the clubs they play for.
L&D Amsterdam Pirates and Curaçao Neptunus will represent the Netherlands in the European Champions Cup-tournament May 31-June 5 in Rimini (Italy) and San Marino.
Gerard van Tiggelen, Chairman of Amsterdam Pirates said: ,,We have learned that players who are on the roster of Pirates for the European Cup might be declared ineligible.''
In a press release, he added: ,,The board of L&D Amsterdam doesn't want to jeopardize its participation in the European Champions Cup and with that, we informed the KNBSB and CEB today of our decision to withdraw players and coaches of L&D Amsterdam from participation in the Euro League Baseball.
The risk of a possible exclusion or other sanctions is too big.
The interests of our players, coaches, clubs and sponsors with the participation in the European Champions Cup have our absolute priority.''
,,We respect the decision of Amsterdam Pirates'', EAPB-President Wim van den Hurk reacted on Monday-evening.
Van den Hurk also confirmed that the games of Amsterdam Baseball for coming weekend have been postponed.
The European Association of Professional Baseball was founded in May last year.
Since then, a total of thirteen European clubs from seven different countries have shown interest to join the ELB.
In February, it was announced that this year, Euro League Baseball would have its first season with the participation of four clubs.
Participating in the first season are Buchbinder Regensburg Legionäre, Munich-Haar Disciples (both Germany), Draci Brno (Czech Republic) and Amsterdam Baseball (Netherlands).
The Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) didn't gave permission to member clubs, as well as game officials (umpires, official scorers), to participate in the activities of ELB, because it is not recognized by the European Baseball Confederation.
Amsterdam Baseball is a team fielded by ELB and was to be composed of top players and coaches from Dutch leagues.
When the roster was announced in April, it mostly listed players of current big league-leader Amsterdam Pirates, plus some players of several other clubs.
In following weeks, five players of big league-club De Glaskoning Twins were added to the roster, which now consists of 29 players.
The participation of all these players was tolerated by the KNBSB.
,,Players are individual members of their respective clubs, while officials are part of the KNBSB-organization'', said Frits Mulder, who handles baseball affairs in the board of the KNBSB.
The CEB will look into the matter during an upcoming board meeting at the end of this month.
Jan Esselman, President of the CEB, said: ,,The EAPB is not recognized (yet) by the CEB.
Statutes of the respective federations are very important.
You need permission to participate in activities that are not sanctioned by the CEB.
I hope that everyone can sit around the table to work things out.''
EAPB-President Wim van den Hurk states: ,,Of course, we want to have a talk.
This concerns the success of baseball.
We cannot do this alone.
No one can do this alone.''
Amsterdam-chairman Van Tiggelen added in a press release: ,,Despite sceptical reactions from concerned baseball-organisations, our players and coaches were very excited to play in Europe on moments that they had no commitments in the Dutch competition.
This is a missed opportunity to give the sport of baseball new impulses and to promote the sport.
We are very disappointed that you can be punished as a club when you only have positive intentions to do something extra for the sport of baseball.''
Regensburg, Munich-Haar and Brno already have played some ELB-games, while Amsterdam was to open its season next Sunday.
In the winter period, Neptunus (which was a founding member) and Amsterdam Pirates (which joined in September), who both support the objectives of the EAPB, had made it clear it would participate in the first season only when it would be possible financially.
(May 9)
Related Articles:
 Amsterdam Baseball unveils ELB-roster and staff. (April 3, 2016)
First season Euro League Baseball opens in 2016! (October 27, 2015)
Euro League Baseball unveils provisional schedule 2016. (September 22, 2015)
Amsterdam Pirates joins professional Euro League Baseball. (September 9, 2015)
Professional European Baseball League founded. (May 8, 2015)
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