(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
 Orange roster announced for World Port Tournament
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
Manager Steve Janssen and his coaching-staff have named the 24 players who are selected for the Netherlands National Team for participation in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam.
The 16th edition of the bi-annual international event opens on Saturday, July 1.
The Final will be played on Sunday, July 9.
...Sidney de Jong (left) and Steve Janssen share the...
...Manager-duties during the World Port Tournament...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Also participating are national teams of Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Curaçao and Japan.
Looking ahead to the Olympic Games of 2020, it was decided to compile a younger Netherlands Team this time.
The Orange squad is a mix of experienced players and some young talented players, who are getting the opportunity to gain international experience.
Amongst the 24 selected players are nine, who will make their National Team-debut.
All nine are currently on the preliminary roster of the Netherlands Under-23 Team.
They are pitchers Jerremyh Angela and Kaj Timmermans, catchers Max Clarijs and Rowan van Hoek, infielders Kendrick Delima (Rotterdam Orioles) and Max Draijer and outfielders Rachid Engelhardt, Bram Grooten and Nick Peels.
Delima is the lone player on the roster who plays in the second highest league.
Also the roster is outfielder Chris Garia, who has a professional background and is eligible to play for Hoofddorp Pioniers, for whom he also played in the last part of last season.
This year, he played in an Independent League.
The Under-23 Team participates in August in the European Championship in Brno (Czech Republic).
That team will be led by Manager Sidney de Jong, who has been the Hitting Coach in the staff of Steve Janssen the past few years.
During the upcoming World Port Tournament, Janssen and De Jong will share the Manager-duties.
Except for Clarijs and Peels, all rookies have played college-baseball in the USA.
Engelhardt played professionally in the organization of the Baltimore Orioles in 2014-2016.
The roster looks as follows:
Pitchers (11):
Jerremyh Angela (UVV), Mike Bolsenbroek (Regensburg Legionäre, Germany), Rob Cordemans, Kevin Heijstek (both L&D Amsterdam Pirates), Berry van Driel, Kevin Kelly, Diegomar Markwell, Loek van Mil (all Curaçao Neptunus), Lars Huijer (Hoofddorp Pioniers), Jim Ploeger and Kaj Timmermans (both HCAW).
Catchers (3):
Gianison Boekhoudt (Neptunus), Max Clarijs (Amsterdam) and Rowan van Hoek (HCAW).
Infielders (6):
Kendrick Delima (Rotterdam Orioles), Max Draijer, Dudley Leonora (both Hoofddorp Pioniers), Dwayne Kemp, Stijn van der Meer (both Neptunus) and Nick Urbanus (Amsterdam).
Outfielders (4):
Rachid Engelhardt (HCAW), Chris Garia (no club), Bram Grooten and Nick Peels (both De Glaskoning Twins).
Coaching Staff:
Steve Janssen (Field Manager), Sidney de Jong (Manager), Wim Martinus (Bench Coach), Eugène Kingsale (1B Coach), Evert-Jan 't Hoen (3B Coach).
Supporting Staff:
Pepijn van Ingen (Physical Therapist), Kevin Sprengers (Physical Therapist), Jaap Visser (Equipment Manager), Greta Schouten (Team Manager), David Bergman (Scout).
(June 23)
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