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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Alfred Cop) Amsterdam Pirates to Holland Series after rain-shortened win vs. HCAW Nederlands BUSSUM (Neth.) - Reigning champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates returns to this year Holland Series after securing a spot in the best-of-seven Championship Final on Saturday-afternoon (October 3) by winning 5-1 in a 6-inning rain-shortened game against HCAW. The game was the second between the two teams in a make-up series. On Friday-evening, Amsterdam Pirates opened the series with a combined No-Hitter in a 10-0 shutout-win in seven innings. The game was initially scheduled for Thursday, but then was cancelled due to rain and field-conditions. Today, Pirates took an early lead in the game, that was halted after six complete innings due to rain. The team collected six basehits, including two by Denzel Richardson and Delano Selassa. The latter also batted in three runs. Jim Ploeger went the distance for Pirates and gave up five hits, two of them by Patrick Bok. In the Holland Series, Pirates will meet Curaçao Neptunus, which qualified earlier in the week. It will mark the fifth consecutive year that these two teams face each other in the deciding series for the Championship-title. Last year, Neptunus won the first three games, but Amsterdam Pirates then wrote history by becoming the first team in history to win the next four games to capture the title. With the loss, HCAW was elimimated for the Final and would have played instead in the Cup-Competition, which was to be played after completion of the Top-4 Pool and Bottom-4 Pool competitions. However, on Wednesday, this Cup-Competition was cancelled after stricter measures were announced against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). One of the announced measures was that sports-games will be played without spectators, effective September 29. Today, it also was reported that on Thursday, it was discussed and agreed upon by Amsterdam Pirates, Neptunus, HCAW and the KNBSB that when the second finalist would be determined in the Pirates vs. HCAW-series, the remaining make-up games (scheduled for coming week) were not to be played. This to secure the Holland Series can open on October 10 and also to eliminate unnecessary traveling after stricter measures were announced earlier last week against the coronavirus. With that, the two scheduled make-up games between Amsterdam Pirates and Neptunus (Tuesday in Rotterdam, Thursday in Amsterdam) were cancelled. The remainder of the halted game between Neptunus and HCAW was never re-scheduled. That game was halted by rain in the top of the fourth inning last Tuesday with HCAW leading 1-0. The remainder was scheduled to be played the next day, but HCAW then filed a complaint against the re-scheduling, stating it would create an overload for its players. This also means that today's rained out game between Silicon Storks and Twins Oosterhout in the Bottom-4 Pool almost surely will not be re-scheduled. In previous seasons when the Top-4/Bottom-4 format was used, all games of this competition were played, even when it was decided which two (Top-4) teams advanced to the Holland Series and which (Bottom-4) team would continue to play in a Promotion/Relegation Play-Off. Now that the remaining make-up games have been cancelled, it means that Sunday's remaining third game between Amsterdam Pirates and HCAW also has become unnecessary. However, in the discussion on Thursday, it was agreed upon that this game will be played, also when Pirates would have secured a spot in the Final. And so, the Top-4 Pool continues on Sunday. (October 3)

Jim Ploeger had a strong outing this afternoon on the mound for Amsterdam Pirates. The lefthander went the distance and struckout nine batters in the 6-inning game, giving up only five basehits. Amsterdam Pirates opened the score with one run in the top of the first inning off of starter Nick Keur, also a lefthander. Keur began with a strikeout, but then walked Gilmer Lampe, who moved to second and third base on two consecutive passed balls. He then scored on a following grounder by Sharlon Schoop. Hereafter, Kalian Sams singled, but the inning ended when first baseman Patrick Bok caught a line drive hit by Denzel Richardson. Due to the two passed balls, the run was unearned. The visitors added a run in the second at bat of the game, which was mostly played in the rain. Kenny Berkenbosch led off with a walk, then completed his circle around the bases thanks to the next three batters. He moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Delano Selassa, advanced to third base on a grounder by and scored on a double by Jair van Borkulo. Hereafter, walked, but Nick Keur then closed with a strikeout. The third run was scored in the third inning. With one out, Kalian Sams walked, moved on a single by Denzel Richardson, then scored on a 2-out single by Delano Selassa. However, the team again left two runners behind. Amsterdam Pirates was then held scoreless in the fourth inning. With one out, Roelie Henrique walked, but then was caught stealing. In the meantime, Jim Ploeger went through HCAW's batting order without problems. The lefthander retired the first ten basehitters he faced, five of them with a strikeout. Ploeger struckout the side in the first inning. With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and Pirates leading 3-0, HCAW got its first baserunner when Patrick Bok doubled. That was the first basehit given up by the Pirates-pitching in 10 2/3 inning. On Friday, Pirates No-Hit HCAW in a 7-inning game. After giving up the double, Ploeger followed with a strikeout, but thereafter, Bok advanced to third base and scored on two consecutive singles, which were hit by Arthur Bonevacia and Kevin Dirksen. These two were left behind, as Ploeger closed with his seventh strikeout. In the top of the fifth inning, Pirates took more distance by scoring twice off of new pitcher Gio de Graauw. With one out, the bases loaded when Kalian Sams walked, Denzel Richardson singled and Kenny Berkenbosch also walked. Delano Selassa followed with a 2-run single that raised the lead to 5-1. Two runners were left behind, as a strikeout and flyout followed to end the at bat. Pirates was then retired in order by De Graauw in the top of the sixth. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Raibiëntly Mercalina walked for HCAW, but he stranded on first base. The team then got a chance to do some additional scoring in the bottom of the sixth, but failed to do so. Patrick Bok and Linoy Croes (both former Pirates-players) led off with singles. After Jim Ploeger had struckout his eighth batter, he nicely fielded a comeback-grounder from Kevin Dirksen. Ploeger turned and forced out Croes on second base, but Bok advanced to third base. With runners at the corners, Ploeger ended the at bat with his ninth strikeout. That also ended the game, as the umpiring crew halted the game due to heavy rain. No attempt was made to re-start the game, as it became clear that that would have been impossible due to the weather conditions. And so, the game ended with a 5-1 win for Amsterdam Pirates. With that, the reigning champion secured its spot in the Holland Series.

...Left: HCAW-centerfielder Jeandro Tromp made three catches, including this nice sliding catch... ...Right: Gio de Graauw closed the game for HCAW... ...Patrick Bok was 2-for-3 with a double for HCAW; At right, he is with Pirates 1B Kenny Berkenbosch... (© All Photos: Alfred Cop Fotografie)

HCAW - L&D Amsterdam Pirates 1-5 (6 inn., rain) R H E L&D Amsterdam Pirates 111 020 000 - 5 6 0 HCAW 000 100 000 - 1 5 0 (Game halted after six complete innings due to rain) pitcher Pirates inn. SO BB H R ER Jim Ploeger, W (2-0) 6 9 1 5 1 1 pitchers HCAW inn. SO BB H R ER Nick Keur, L (0-2) 4 2 5 4 3 2 Gio de Graauw 2 1 2 2 2 2 Box Score Play-by-Play Final Standings Season Standings Top-4 Pool Standings Bottom-4 Pool Scores Schedule Team Rosters Umpires: HP-Aad Otsen, 1B-André Ficken, 3B-Richard Wessel. Official Scorer-Sten Wessel. Play-by-Play Scorer-Feiko Drost. Public Address Anouncer-Huub Baaij. Scoreboard Operator-Nico van de Luitgaren. Starting Time-2:30 PM. Time Played-1:59 hrs. Site-Rob Hoffmann Vallei, Sportpark Zanderijweg, Bussum. Game Notes: Top-4 Pool. Game halted definitively due to rain after six complete innings. With today's win, Amsterdam Pirates qualified for the best-of-seven Holland Series. With today's loss, HCAW was eliminated for the Holland Series. Game was originally scheduled for Saturday, September 19, but then was postponed at the request of Amsterdam Pirates due to three positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the team; Game later re-scheduled for today. Weather conditions at game time: Overcast, 14° C (57,2° F); wind direction south-southwest; wind speed 16 kmh (9,9 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 94%.

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