(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Series-opener Hoofddorp Pioniers vs. Amsterdam Pirates postponed
Nederlands
  HOOFDDORP / AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
The series-opener between Hoofddorp Pioniers and reigning champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates, scheduled for Thursday-evening, has been postponed, as was announced on Monday-evening (August 10).
Last weekend, the second and third game of the 3-game series between Pioniers and Silicon Storks were also postponed, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
At Pioniers, a player of its second team (which plays in the second highest league) had tested positive just over a week ago.
Of course, for privacy-reasons, the name of the player will not be announced.
As the player also had been in contact with some players of the main-team and according to protocol-rules, not only both games of the second team against Twins Oosterhout 2 were cancelled, but also the two weekend-games of the main-squad against Storks.
As no players were allowed to have contact with each other, Tuesday-evening's practice sessions also were scrubbed.
On Monday, Pioniers announced that the opening game against Amsterdam Pirates also has been removed from the schedule.
As of now, the games to be played on coming Saturday (at Amsterdam) and Sunday (at Hoofddorp) are still on the schedule, as are the games of the second team against HCAW-2 on Friday and Sunday.
It has been confirmed that Thursday's game will be made up coming Tuesday.
Because of the renovation-work to the main-field at the Pioniers Complex in Hoofddorp, Thursday's game was to be played at the site of Amsterdam Pirates.
That will also be site location for Tuesday's game.
The games of Pioniers against Storks will be made up on Tuesday, August 25 (home) and Tuesday, September 1 (away).
In an article in the Haarlems Dagblad-newspaper on Tuesday, Pioniers General Manager Roger Kops confirmed that the results of the players that have been tested were all negative.
Kops added that the player that was tested positive only has minor symptoms.
However, out of precaution and after discussing the sitiation with the Dutch Associaton, Pionies decided to cancel last weekend's games.
In the article, Kops said:
,,The guys would have loved to play, but I think it is more important that they stay healthy.
If and when the game will be made up, I don't really care.
There are more important things than to determine which teams will play for the title.
We have now consciously acted preventively and will continue to do that in the coming days.
Therefore, we won't play on Thursday against Amsterdam Pirates.
To be sure, we want to have one week from the moment the case was announced before we continue.
The players that have been tested were negative, that is good news.
So, we hope we can play coming weekend.
But we are taking no risks''.
(August 11)
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