Playing in the team of Curaçao are several familiar players, who already participated in previous World Port Tournaments or the Haarlem Baseball Week.
Some players have a professional background, being pitchers Nelmerson Angela (2015-2018, Rookie League, New York Mets), Hershelon Juliana (2012-2014, Rookie League, New York Yankees), Shair Lacrus (2014-2017, Rookie League, Boston Red Sox) and Cerilio Soleana (2015-2016, Rookie League, Cincinnati Reds), catchers Ildion Martina (2015-2016, Rookie League, Atlanta Braves) and Ulrich Snijders (2006-2008, Rookie League, Milwaukee Brewers; 2009-2010, San Marino), infielder Raywendley Van Gurp (2007-2010, Rookie League/Single-A, New York Mets) and outfielders Sander Boeldak (2015-2016, Rookie League, Atlanta Braves), Rayshelon Carolina (2017, Independent League) and Sherman Lacrus (2013-2016, Rookie League/Single-A, Texas Rangers).
Another player on the roster who has played professionally is catcher Quintin De Cuba.
He played in the Rookie League (New York Mets) in 2007-2009, before coming to the Netherlands, where he plays in the big league since 2011.
De Cuba currently plays for Curaçao Neptunus.
De Cuba is one of two players, who are active in the Dutch big league, the other being lefthanded pitcher Jhan Rifaela, who plays for L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
Two other players have played briefly in the Dutch league in the past, pitcher Ruderly Manuel (2011, Sparta-Feyenoord) and infielder Johnny Gregorius (2007, ADO).
Both also played in Italy, Manuel in 2012, Gregorius in 2009.
Gregorius is the brother of Didi Gregorius, the short stop of Major League-team New York Yankees.
The two Gregorius-brothers grew up in Amsterdam, where they played in youth-teams of Amsterdam Pirates, where their father Didi Gregorius (Sr.) was one of the pitchers.
Today's game remained scoreless in the first five innings and basehits also were sparse.
Both teams got some baserunners in the first inning, but failed to open the score.
Both teams also got their lead-off hitter on base in the opening at bat.
For the Netherlands, Dwayne Kemp led off with a single and moved on a wild pitch from starting pitcher Chris Koeiman.
The 19-year old righthander (he turns 20 in August) pitched for the Netherlands U18 Team during the WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup 2017 in Thunder Bay (Canada).
Koeiman walked next batter Bryan Engelhardt, but he was eliminated in an unassisted double play when first baseman Alexander Rodrigues caught a line drive from Gilmer Lampe.
Hereafter, Gianison Boekhoudt also walked, but was forced out shortly thereafter.
For Curaçao, Rayshelon Carolina led off with a single off of starter Rob Cordemans, who had a solid outing.
The veteran righthander was then supported with a double play.
Sherman Lacrus then singled, but Cordemans closed with a strikeout.
In the next two innings, both teams got only one runner, both via a walk.
For the Netherlands, Sharlon Schoop led off with a walk in the second inning, but stranded on first base.
The Orange Team was retired in order in the third (two strikeouts).
Curaçao was retired in order in the second at bat.
With two outs in the third, Rayshelon Carolina walked, but was caught stealing.
Cordemans retired the side again in the fourth.
The Netherlands got its second runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth.
Gianison Boekhoudt then led off with a walk.
With two outs, he moved to second base on a passed ball, but a pop-fly ended the at bat.
The Orange-squad got another chance to open the score in the fifth when it got the bases loaded with one out, but again was unable to do so and left two runners behind.
With one out, Stijn van der Meer reached on an infield-hit, stole second base and became the first runner on third base when he advanced on a wild pitch.
Dwayne Kemp then walked and also stole second base.
With first base open, a force play was set up by walking powerhitter Bryan Engelhardt intentionally.
The force play indeed followed, as a grounder by Gilmer Lampe resulted in an inning-ending double play.
...Gianison Boekhoudt batted in both runs for the Netherlands...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Curaçao also got on third base in its fifth at bat.
Johnny Gregorius led off with a single, moved on a sacrifice bunt by Quintin De Cuba and advanced to third base on a grounder by Sander Boeldak.
But he also was left behind.
The Netherlands left another runner behind in scoring position in the sixth.
With one out, Denzel Richardson walked and moved on a grounder, but stranded on second base.
Moments later, Curaçao opened the score with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out, Rayshelon Carolina walked and that brought out Manager Evert-Jan 't Hoen.
He brought in Kevin Kelly to take over the pitching from Rob Cordemans.
But the righthander first walked Raywendley Van Gurp, then gave up a 2-out, 2-run single to Alexander Rodrigues.
With a 2-0 lead, Hershelon Juliana took over the Curaçao-pitching from starter Chris Koeiman in the top of the seventh and retired the side.
Despite walking seven batters, Koeiman gave up only two basehits in the six innings he pitched.
Curaçao then got two baserunners again in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to take some more distance.
With one out, Sander Boeldak was hit by a pitch and was awarded second base on a balk.
He was then unable to advance on an infield-hit by Risandro Pastor.
With two runners on base, Kevin Kelly closed with two strikeouts.
In the top of the eighth, the Netherlands finally was able to do some scoring and came alongside, but failed to take more distance.
Bryan Engelhardt led off with a double, then reached third base safely on a fielder's choice-grounder by Gilmer Lampe, who later moved to second base on a passed ball.
With runners now on second and third base, Gianison Boekhoudt delivered a single that enabled both to score.
It also led to a pitching change, as Shair Lacrus took over.
With one out, the Netherlands got the bases loaded when Sharlon Schoop and Rodney Daal walked.
Another pitching change followed.
This time, Ramses Jamanika took the mound and was supported with an inning-ending double play.
Pinch-hitter Jason Halman hit the ball into centerfield, where it was caught by Sherman Lacrus.
Boekhoudt took off from third base, but he was eliminated at the plate to complete a double play.
In the bottom of the eighth, Curaçao immediately re-took the lead off of new pitcher Tom Stuifbergen by scoring an unearned run.
He gave up a lead-off single to Raywendley Van Gurp, who moved to second base on a grounder.
With two outs, Van Gurp stole third base, then scored when a throwing error from catcher Rodney Daal followed.
That made it a 3-2 score in favor of Curaçao.
Now trailing again, the Orange Team got one more baserunner in the top of the ninth.
With two outs, lefthander Arjun Huerta was inserted to close the game for Curaçao.
He walked Bryan Engelhardt, but then closed by striking out Gilmer Lampe.
The following players got into action for the Netherlands:
Dwayne Kemp (3B, 1-for-4), Bryan Engelhardt (1B, 1-for-2), Gilmer Lampe (CF/LF, 0-for-5), Gianision Boekhoudt (DH, 1-for-2), Denzel Richardson (RF, 0-for-3), Sharlon Schoop (2B, 0-for-2), Rodney Daal (C, 0-for-3), Dudley Leonora (LF, 0-for-3), Jason Halman (PH, 0-for-1), Mark Smit (CF, 0-for-0), Stijn van der Meer (SS, 1-for-3), Delano Selassa (PH, 0-for-1) and pitchers Rob Cordemans, Kevin Kelly and Tom Stuifbergen.
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Netherlands empty-handed against Curaçao in third game of World Port Tournament
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
The Netherlands Baseball Team was left empty-handed on Day 3 of the 17th World Port Tournament Baseball in Rotterdam, as the team lost 3-2 to Curaçao on Sunday-afternoon (July 14).
With only two hits, the team didn't support veteran starter Rob Cordemans, who left in the bottom of the sixth with one runner on base.
His successor Kevin Kelly later gave up a 2-run single that opened the score.
World Port Tournament 2019.