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Updated: August 19, 2020
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Grand Slam/Marco Stoovelaar


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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Robert Bos)

Neptunus wins big vs. HCAW to complete sweep
Nederlands

ROTTERDAM (Neth.) - Curaçao Neptunus recorded a big 17-3 win in 6½ inning on Tuesday-evening (August 18) against HCAW to complete a 3-game sweep. The game was initially scheduled for last Thursday, but then was cancelled due to rain.

On Saturday, Neptunus led only 2-0 after six innings, then decided the game by scoring twice in both the seventh and ninth inning. The next day, Neptunus scored five runs in the sixth inning and went on to win 6-1.

Several times this season, Neptunus had one productive innings or decided the game late. Tonight, leading 3-1, the team scored 14 runs in the three middle innings, highlighted by a 6-run rally in the fourth.

Neptunus collected twelve basehits, including three by John Polonius (one double) and Coco Johnson. Polonius also batted in three runs, as did Stijn van der Meer. Polonius scored twice, but Dudley Leonora, Gregory Muller and Coco Johnson all scored three runs. The HCAW-defense committed six errors.

(August 18)



Both teams scored one run in the first inning, then Neptunus scored twice in the second at bat. The team then broke open the game with a 6-run rally in the fourth and added eight more runs in the next two innings to record a big victory.

In the top of the first inning, HCAW opened the score off of Neptunus-starter Kaj Timmermans, who threw against his former teammates, as he played for the Bussum-team since 2012 through last season. The righthander gave up a lead-off single to Jeandro Tromp, who then moved into scoring position on a grounder by Linoy Croes and scored on a double by Berend Ruben, who was left behind on second base.

Neptunus immediately came alongside in its first at bat off Nick Keur. Like Timmermans, Keur also gave up a lead-off single, which was hit by Stijn van der Meer, whose brother Bob van der Meer plays for HCAW. After the next two batters flied out, Van der Meer stole second base and advanced on a following throwing error. Keur then walked Gianison Boekhoudt with ball-four ending in a wild pitch that enabled Van der Meer to score the tying run. Boekhoudt also stole second base, moved to third base on a wild pitch, but stranded there, as Keur closed with a strikeout.

Neptunus added two runs in the second inning. Lead-off hitter Dudley Leonora reached on an error, stole second base and scored the go-ahead run when next batter Gregory Muller hit a double. Muller moved on a sacrifice bunt by Jarreau Martina, then scored on a single by Coco Johnson, who played in his first game of the season Neptunus. The American outfielder arrived last month, but out of precaution, he was in quarantine for two weeks because of the coronavirus. When that was behind him, Johnson played for Tridents, the second team of Neptunus in the second highest league, last weekend to get some game-rhythm. After the weekend, Johnson was added again to the roster of the main-squad and played in his first game tonight. After delivering a runscoring single in his first at bat, his stay at first base was brief, as he was eliminated after a pick-off.

After giving up the run in the first inning, Kaj Timmermans threw four solid innings. He did get some baserunners, but the Neptunus-defense turned three double plays. The fourth inning was the lone inning without a double play, but it began with a dropped ball that was ruled a catch. HCAW's lead-off hitter Berend Ruben hit a pop-fly in short rightfield where rightfielder Jarreau Martina moved forward and appeared to have a chance to catch the ball. However, he stopped, as he saw second baseman Dwayne Kemp racing backwards and coming towards him. Kemp caught the ball just in front of Martina, but the two then collided and the ball dropped to the ground. However, an out-call was given immediately and it was ruled a catch, as the ball dropped after the two players had collided, meaning the ball must have been under control after being caught. Moments later, Martina made a diving catch on a line drive by Arthur Bonevacia. In the fifth, Neptunus made an unassisted double play in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and third base and one out, Raibiëntly Mercalina hit a line drive. Third baseman Stijn van der Meer made a diving catch, then tagged the base to also eliminate the runner and end the inning.

HCAW had turned a double play in the bottom of the third inning, but then gave up six runs in the fourth. The first five batters reached base off of Nick Keur. The bases got loaded when Dashenko Ricardo and Dudley Leonora both singled and Gregory Muller walked. Next, an error was made on a force play-grounder by Jarreau Martina, which led to two runs. Coco Johnson followed with another single and when that was followed by an outfield-error, another run was added. Hereafter, Jasper Elfrink took over the pitching, but he got the bases loaded when he walked Stijn van der Meer. Two more runs were added. The first when Elfrink also walked next batter John Polonius, the second on a force play-grounder by Dwayne Kemp. And that lifted the lead to 9-1.

Neptunus got another rally in the fifth when it scored five runs. This time, the first four batters reached base. Dudley Leonora led off with a double and Gregory Muller walked. That led to the next pitching change, as Johannes Verroen Garcia took over from Jasper Elfrink. Verroen got the bases loaded when he walked Jarreau Martina, then saw a runner score on a wild pitch. After re-loading the bases by walking Coco Johnson, the next run was scored on a sacrifice fly by Stijn van der Meer. John Polonius followed with a runscoring double, then a sacrifice fly by Dwayne Kemp and an error on a grounder by Gianison Boekhoudt accounted for two more runs. And with that, Neptunus made it a 14-1 score.

In the top of the sixth, HCAW was able to score again. With two outs, Berend Ruben singled, then Arthur Bonevacia followed with his second homerun of the season. Hereafter, Rodney Daal singled, but Kaj Timmermans closed with a strikeout. Shortly thereafter, HCAW's 3B Coach Rudy Dirksen said something and was sent away by Home Plate Umpire Martijn Bosschaart.

Neptunus also scored again with two outs in its sixth at bat. With one out, pinch-hitter Julian Goins walked. He returned in time to first base after pinch-hitter Darnell Collins lined out to second baseman Raibiëntly Mercalina. Collins, who made his debut, is the brother of outfielder Darryl Collins. The two are the grandsons of longtime Neptunus-coach Jan Collins. With two outs, Coco Johnson singled, which was his third basehit in his first game of the season. Both scored when Stijn van der Meer followed with a triple. Moments later, Van der Meer scored on a single by John Polonius, who also had three basehits. With Neptunus now leading 17-3, HCAW made another pitching change. This time, first baseman Berend Ruben took the mound. He threw six pitches, with the sixth becoming an inning-ending pop-fly.

Elton Koeiman threw the seventh inning for Neptunus. With one out, the 47-year old righthander gave up singles to Leandro Anasagasti and Raibiëntly Mercalina, but then struckout the next two batters to end the game.


...Kaj Timmermans and Nick Keur were the starting pitchers for Neptunus and HCAW...

...Left: Dudley Leonora steals 2nd base in the 2nd inning while short stop Raibiëntly Mercalina gets the ball...
...Right: John Polonius dives back during a pick-off attempt in the 3rd inning while 1B Berend Ruben waits for the ball...

...Neptunus 2B Dwayne Kemp catches a pop-fly (hit by Berend Ruben) in front of rightfielder Jarreau Martina in the 4th...
...A collission follows, the ball drops, but the batter is called out, as the ball was caught before the collission...

...Left: Jarreau Martina catches a line drive (hit by Arthur Bonevacia) in the 4th inning...
...Right: Dudley Leonora hits a double in the 5th inning, as watched by pitcher Jasper Elfrink and Umpire Richard Wessel...

...Jasper Elfrink and Johannes Verroen Garcia pitched in relief for HCAW...

...Left: Linoy Croes is eliminated, 1B Dudley Leonora has the ball in time in 6th inning, as watched by Umpire Richard Wessel...
...Right: Arthur Bonevacia is greeted by 3B Coach Rudy Dirksen after hitting a homerun in the 6th inning...

...Left: HCAW's 3B Coach Rudy Dirksen in discussion with 1B Umpire Richard Wessel and HP Umpire Martijn Bosschaart...
...after being ejected in the 6th inning; 1st baseman Berend Ruben tries to intervene...
...Right: Darnell Collins looks at a pitch during his first big league at bat in the 6th inning...
(© All Photos: Robert Bos)


Curaçao Neptunus - HCAW 17-3 (6½ inn.)
RHE
HCAW1000020-396
Curaçao Neptunus120653X-17120
pitchers HCAWinn.SOBBHRER
Nick Keur, L (0-2)3 (*)22786

Jasper Elfrink1 (**)13132

Johannes Verroen Garcia1.2-3465

Berend Ruben0.1-----
(*) - Keur pitched to five batters in the fourth inning
(**) - Elfrink pitched to two batters in the fifth inning

pitchers Neptunusinn.SOBBHRER
Kaj Timmermans, W (2-0)622733

Elton Koeiman12-2--

Homerun: HCAW: Arthur Bonevacia (2)(6th,2-run,2 outs,off Timmermans).
Box Score
Play-by-Play
Standings
Scores
Schedule
Team Rosters
Umpires: HP-Martijn Bosschaart, 1B-Richard Wessel, 3B-Peter de Haan.
Official Scorer-Jeanette van Drunen.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Rob Schuurman.
Technical Commissioner-Henk van der Linde.
Public Address Announcer-Jan van der Sande.
Scoreboard Operator-Lex Looijen.
Starting Time-7:32 PM.
Time Played-2:26 hrs.
Site-Neptunus Familiestadion, Sportpark Abraham van Stolkweg, Rotterdam.

Game Notes:
Darnell Collins (Neptunus) makes his debut in the Dutch big league.
Rudy Dirksen (3B Coach HCAW) ejected in top 6th ejected by Home Plate Umpire Martijn Bosschaart after making remarks.
This game was cancelled due to rain on Thursday, August 13 and re-scheduled for tonight.
This game was scheduled for Thursday, September 3 in the original schedule, but was annulled on July 2 by the KNBSB when it announced the new schedule after measures against the coronavirus (COVID-19) were eased.
Weather conditions at game time:
Sunny, 21,2° C (70,2° F); wind direction west; wind speed 16 kmh (9,9 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 65%.



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