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Updated: July 29, 2017
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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)

Pioniers walks off with win against Pirates
Nederlands

HOOFDDORP (Neth.) - Hoofddorp Pioniers came from behind twice against league-leader L&D Amsterdam Pirates twice on Saturday-afternoon (July 29) and went on to win 3-2 on a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth inning. Last Thursday, Pioniers led 3-1 in the opener, but that game ended in a 3-3 tie. The series closes on Sunday in Amsterdam.

Despite the small and close score, the game wasn't that suspenseful and it wasn't the best one of games played either. There were some nice plays, but both teams also made costly errors, resulting in runs.

Pioniers outhit Pirates 12-6, including three by Jeffrey Arends.

Despite the loss and today's win of Curaçao Neptunus, Amsterdam Pirates is still having a comfortable lead. The team stil only one win away from finishing in first place.

(July 29)

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Amsterdam got on base quickly in the top of the first inning off of starter Chris Pfau. Remco Draijer led off with a single, but he was caught stealing with one out. Nick Urbanus then also singled, but was left behind.

In the second at bat, Amsterdam opened the score when Kenny Berkenbosch homered with one out. The next time that the team got a runner that reached beyond first base was in the seventh inning.

After giving up the homerun, Pfau walked Rashid Gerard, but he was eliminated when next batter Max Clarijs grounded into a double play. From this moment on, the lefthander retired 14 consecutive batters.

In the fourth inning, Amsterdam appeared to add a run when Gilmer Lampe drove the ball into deep left-centerfield. At the last moment, it became clear that the ball would stay in the field, but it sailed over leftfielder Shurman Marlin. However, centerfielder Mark Smit was closely behind him and caught the ball just above the ground. While the view of Smit making the catch was somewhat blocked by Marlin, it was observed and the out-call was made.

Pioniers also didn't got that many scoring opportunities off of Amsterdam-starter Kevin Heijstek. The home team also got its first batter on base in the first inning, as Mark Smit led off with a single. He then took off on a drive into right-centerfield by Max Draijer, which nicely caught by his nephew and centerfielder Remco Draijer. In the meantime, Smit already had rounded second base, so it was easy to complete a double play at first base.

In the bottom of the fourth, Draijer led off with a walk, moved on an one-out single by Jeffrey Arends and a force play-grounder by Shurman Marlin, but stranded on third base.

In the fifth, Pioniers got runners on second and third base. With one out, Duco Nuijten doubled down the leftfield-line. Hereafter, Joey Eeman hit a sharp grounder to the leftside of the infield, which was nicely fielded by short stop Nick Urbanus. As he had no play at first base, he attempted to have one at third, but everyone was safe and Eeman reached on an infield-hit. Eeman then stole second base on a strikeout, but the two runners were left behind.

Pioniers came alongside in the sixth, but then also left three runners behind. Dudley Leonora and Jeffrey Arends led off with singles, then Shurman Marlin delivered a runscoring single to make it an 1-1 score. A bunt by Glenn Bakker led to a force out on third base and he was forced out himself moments later on a grounder by Gianni Frolijk. The bases got loaded when Kevin Heijstek walked Duco Nuijten, but he then closed with a strikeout.

In the top of the seventh, Amsterdam re-took the lead. With one out, Chris Pfau gave up a single to Gilmer Lampe and was relieved by Darryl Jamoena. He got a flyout, but then walked Kenny Berkenbosch. Rashid Gerard then hit a hard grounder towards the leftside, which was fielded well by short stop Dudley Leonora. Gerard beat throw to first base to reach on an infield-hit, but as the throw went by first base, all runners advanced an additional base and Amsterdam took a 2-1 lead. Two runners were left on second and third base, as a strikeout ended the at bat.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pioniers tied the score again. With two outs, Dudley Leonora reached on an infield-hit, which was followed by a pitching change. Dennis Burgersdijk took over and he got a pop-up from Jeffrey Arends near the foul-line behind first base with the ball being not catchable that easy. First baseman Kenny Berkenbosch had to turn around and no chance. Second baseman Zerzinho Croes raced from his position towards the line for a catch-attempt. He touched the ball, never had control over the ball and it dropped on the ground, rolling further into foul territory. Arends had taken off on contact and continued running to score the tying run. When Croes touched the ball, he appeared to do so on foul territory, however, it was ruled to be on fair terroritory and so, the score was tied at 2-2. Due to the extraordinary effort by Croes (it would have been a great catch), no error was charged and Arends was credited with a runscoring single. The inning ended when Arends was picked off first base moments later.

With one out in the top of the eighth, lefthander Scott Ronnenbergh took over the Pioniers-pitching, but walked Remco Draijer. Hereafter, Zerzinho Croes went after the first pitch and lined out, then Draijer was force out to end the at bat.

In the bottom of the eighth, Glenn Bakker singled with one out, but the inning ended when pinch-hitter Sander Paap lined into a double play.

In the top of the ninth, it was the Pioniers-defense that turned an inning-ending double play on a line drive. Gilmer Lampe led off with a single and stole second base. With one out, Kenny Berkenbosch lined into the double play.

Pioniers then decided the game moments later. Mervin Gario, who had just entered the game in the top half of the inning as the new third baseman, grounded the ball to third baseman Rashid Gerard, but his throw to first base was too high and off-base. Gario then stole second base and needed some attention, as he had injured himself while sliding into second base. Hereafter, Dennis Burgersdijk retired the next two batters, but Max Draijer then lined the ball into right-centerfield for a walk-off single, as Gario raced towards the plate to score the winning run.



Hoofddorp Pioniers - L&D Amsterdam Pirates 3-2
RHE
L&D Amsterdam Pirates010000100-261
Hoofddorp Pioniers000001101-3121
(two outs when winning run was scored in the ninth inning)
pitchers Piratesinn.SOBBHRER
Kevin Heijstek6.252922

Dennis Burgersdijk, BS (2), L (0-2)21-31-

pitchers Pioniersinn.SOBBHRER
Chris Pfau6.131421

Darryl Jamoena1211--

Scott Ronnenbergh0.2-1---

Maickel Rietel, W (2-1)11-1--

Homerun: Pirates: Kenny Berkenbosch (3)(2nd,solo,off Pfau).
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Umpires:
HP-Henri van Heijningen, 1B-Stenar van Groningen Schinkel, 3B-Jos van Eijsden.
Official Scorer-Jeanette van Drunen.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Marco Stoovelaar.
Public Address Announcer-Hans Heil.
Scoreboard Operator-Arjan Kardijk.
Starting Time-2:00 PM.
Time Played-2:49 hrs.
Site-Pioniers Honkbalstadion, Park21, Hoofddorp.

Game Notes:
2-minute injury-delay in bottom 9th inning (runner Mervin Gario after stealing 2nd base).
Weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 21,6° C (70,9° F); wind direction west-southwest;
wind speed 29 kmh (18,3 mph); wind force 5 Bft; humidity 63%.



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