(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
  Netherlands eliminated for Super Round Premer12
Nederlands
 ZAPOPAN, Jalisco (Mexico) -
The Netherlands Baseball Team was officially eliminated for the Super Round of the Premier12 on Sunday-evening (November 3) after Mexico won against the USA.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Netherlands could not convince against the USA and the Dominican Republic.
The pitchers frequently ran into problems and the offensive production was limited to eleven basehits in the two games, while only four runs were scored.
As a result, the Orange Team suffered two big losses.
On Saturday, the team was shutout 9-0 by the USA.
On Sunday, the Netherlands lost 14-4 against the Dominican Republic in what was its first mercy-rule loss since 2013.
Despite the two losses, the Netherlands still had a minor theoretical chance to advance to the Super Round.
For that to happen, the USA had to win its games against Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
The Netherlands then had to win its remaining game against Mexico on Tuesday.
Only then, a 3-way tie would be created between the Netherlands, Dominican Republic and Mexico.
The head-to-head results then would lead to another tie, meaning the runs would become important.
However, due to the big loss against the Dominicans, the Netherlands had to record a big win (in run-difference) against Mexico to finish ahead of these two teams.
But it all came to and end on Sunday-evening when Mexico recorded an 8-2 win against the USA.
With that, Mexico won its second game and not only secured first place in Pool A, but also advanced to the Super Round.
It also meant that the Netherlands was now officially eliminated.
Mexico took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the USA came alongside thanks to homeruns by Erik Kratz (3rd inning) and Bobby Dalbec (4th inning).
Mexico re-took the lead in the fifth when a runner scored on a passed ball.
The team then rallied for five runs in the eighth inning on a 2-run single by Efren Navarro and a 3-run homerun by Román Solis.
Five Mexican pitchers gave up only six basehits with only two of them being hit in the final five at bats.
On Monday-evening, the USA and the Dominican Republic will meet each other.
The winner of that game will also advance to the Super Round, the losing team is elimimated.
On Tuesday-evening, Pool A will close with the game between the Netherlands and Mexico.
And with Mexico as Pool-winner and the Netherlands being eliminated, this game will be played just for the record.
Four years ago, during the first edition of the Premier12, the Netherlands advanced to the Second Round.
Back then, there were two pools with six teams each.
The four best teams of each Pool then advanced to the Quarter Finals.
This time, the two best teams of each of the three Pools will advance to the Super Round, which will be played in Japan.
The highest ranked teams from the Americas and Asia/Oceania will qualify for next years Olympic Games in Japan.
So far, host Japan and Israel have qualified.
Israel qualified in September by winning the Africa/Europe Olympic Qualifier in Italy.
There, the Netherlands also ended up short and finished in second place.
With that, the Orange Team gets a second chance to reach the Olympics via a Global Olympic Qualifier in March next year in Taiwan.
Coming Tuesday, the first games will be played in Pool B in Taiwan, to be followed by Pool C on Wednesday in South Korea.
(November 3)
Related Articles:
 Netherlands loses big vs. Dominicans in 2nd game Premier12. (November 3)
Netherlands suffers big shutout-loss in Premier12-opener vs. USA. (November 2)
Netherlands Team wins rainshortened exhibition game in Mexico. (October 31)
Netherlands Team plays first exhibition game in Mexico. (October 30)
Hensley Meulens returns as Orange-Manager for Premier12; Roster announced. (October 14)
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