(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Neptunus extends winning streak against Hoofddorp Pioniers
Nederlands
  HOOFDDORP / ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus recorded two exhibition victories last weekend against Hoofddorp Pioniers to extend its winning streak to seven games.
Coming weekend, both teams close the exhibition season.
They will then participate in the annual In Memoriam Charles Urbanus Sr. Tournament in Bussum.
There, the two will be joined by L&D Amsterdam Pirates and host HCAW.
The regular season opens on Thursday, April 26.
On Saturday (April 14), Neptunus outscored Pioniers 7-3 in Hoofddorp.
On Sunday (April 15), at home, Neptunus nipped the opponent, 2-1.
In Saturday's game, Neptunus took an early lead off of starter Lars Huijer, but Pioniers came alongside off of Orlando Yntema.
In the following innings, Neptunus scored twice to re-take the lead, but Pioniers again came alongside.
Huijer threw four innings, Yntema five.
In the remainder, Pioniers was held scoreless by relievers Loek van Mil (one inning), Elton Koeiman (two innings) and Jiorgeny Casimiri (one inning).
In the bottom of the sixth, Neptunus scored two runs off of reliever Ryan Oduber, then added two more off of Gilian van Lith.
On Sunday, it was Pioniers that opened the score early off of starter Stefan Iannelli.
But Neptunus reacted with two runs in the third inning off of starter Dion Steijl.
Shaldimar Daantji scored both runs for Neptunus.
He scored the first in a steal-situation with runners at the corners.
The second run was scored when an outfield-error followed on a single by Greg Muller.
The pitchers did fine in this game, as it remained scoreless from the fourth inning on.
Iannelli (who threw five innings) was followed on the mound by Loek van Mil, Berry van Driel, Elton Koeiman and Jiorgeny Casimiri, who all threw one inning.
All earned a Hold, while Casimiri earned a Save.
For Pioniers, Steijl (who pitched three innings) was relieved by Luuk ter Beek, Andrew Wanapa, Alex Valdes, Angelo Wicklert and Howard Winklaar.
Ter Beek threw two innings, the others all pitched one.
(April 15)
Scores
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