(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 Postponed games Amsterdam Pirates re-scheduled; Team resumes play Thursday
Nederlands
  NIEUWEGEIN / AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
The five games of reigning champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates that were postponed in the last two weeks due to three cases of the coronavirus, have been re-scheduled, as was announced on Monday (September 21).
The team returns to the field coming Thursday (September 24) to play the scheduled opener of the 3-game series against Hoofddorp Pioniers, which will be completed in the weekend.
Because of the re-scheduling of games, the KNBSB announced that the best-of-seven Holland Series will start one week later.
Amsterdam Pirates played its last game on Thursday-evening, September 10 in Rotterdam against Curaçao Neptunus.
On that day, the team took an early 4-0 lead, but lost 7-4.
The next day (Friday), Amsterdam Pirates announced that Saturday's game (to be played in Amsterdam) had been postponed out of precaution due to a possible case of the virus.
The game was initially postponed to the following Tuesday-evening (September 15).
However, on Saturday, the club announced that both Sunday's game as well as the make-up game on Tuesday were removed from the schedule.
Amsterdam Pirates issued the following statement on Saturday, September 12:
,,Unfortunately, two people tested positive for the coronavirus at L&D Amsterdam.
This means that source- and contact-research is now being carried out by the GGD.
Until it is known what the advice of the GGD is, L&D Amsterdam will not come together.
Therefore, tomorrow's and Tuesday's game against Neptunus will be canceled.''
...Amsterdam Pirates is ready again for 'Play Ball'...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
On the following Wednesday (September 16), it was announced that the next 3-game series of Amsterdam Pirates against HCAW also had been postponed.
The teams were scheduled to be played last Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (September 17, 19-20).
This time, the clubs issued the following statement:
,,In recent days, another player from L&D Amsterdam has tested positive for corona.
Because of this and the previous cases, the playoff series against HCAW tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday has been postponed.''
The club has now been given the green light to resume its activities and playing in the Top-4 Pool.
The team will have a practice session on Tuesday-evening, then returns to the field coming Thursday-evening at home against Hoofddorp Pioniers.
That series continues on Saturday in Hoofddorp, then concludes on Sunday in Amsterdam.
On Thursday, Curaçao Neptunus will open its 3-game series against HCAW.
These series were to be the final series of games in the Top-4 Pool.
However, this Pool will now continue one more week.
On Tuesday, September 29, Amsterdam Pirates will play at home to make-up the first game against Neptunus.
On Thursday, October 1, the team opens the postponed 3-game series at home against HCAW.
The series will be completed on Saturday (in Bussum) and Sunday (in Amsterdam).
Thereafter, on Tuesday, October 6, Pirates travels to Rotterdam for the final game against Neptunus.
The two best teams of the Top-4 Pool will qualify for the Holland Series.
The best-of-seven Holland Series was to start on Thursday, October 1, but now will open on Saturday, October 10 at the site of the Top-4 Pool winner.
Game 2 will be played on Sunday, October 11, then Game 3 follows on Thursday, October 15.
The next two games are scheduled for October 17-18, then the Championship Final will conclude on October 24-25, if the Series needs all seven games.
(September 21)
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