Starting at third base for Quick Amersfoort tonight was Emeron Lourens, who was added to the team-roster a few days earlier.
Lourens last played in the Dutch big league in 2011 when he played for Sparta-Feyenoord.
Before that, he played in the highest division for Almere '90 Magpies in 2007.
In recent years, the 34-year old Lourens switched from baseball to softball and has become a regular player of the Netherlands Men's Softball Team.
With the Orange-squad, he participated in several international events through the years, including last years World Championship in the Czech Republic.
Quick-starter Brian van Laar retired the side in the first and second inning, then was supported with a run in the bottom of the second.
Storks-starter Twan Naessens also retired the side (two strikeouts) in the first, but then got some baserunners in the next at bat.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Tijmen Takke reached on an infield-hit, then Taylor Clemensia also singled and the bases got loaded when Jules Cremer walked.
Next, Takke scored the first run for Quick on a sacrifice fly by Alberto Enrique Ostos.
The inning ended when Cremer was forced out on a grounder by Emeron Lourens in his first big league-at bat since July 10, 2011.
Back then, while playing for Sparta-Feyenoord, Lourens was a teammate of Brian Biezen, Arthur Bonevacia, Quintin De Cuba and Rubinet Koko, who this season respectively play for Twins Oosterhout, HCAW, Curaçao Neptunus and Silicon Storks.
Storks got two basehits in the top of the third inning.
In his first at bat of the season, Sergio Schoop reached on an infield-hit, but was eliminated in a double play.
Next, Jurian Hansen also reached on an infield-hit.
He stole second base, but then was left behind.
Storks then came alongside in the fourth.
With two outs, Giovanny Perez singled and scored when Brian van der Vlist followed with a triple.
There were several baserunners in the next at bats, but no runs were scored.
After leaving two runners behind in the fourth, Quick Amersfoort stranded runners on second and third base in the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, it was Storks that left two baserunners.
After Brian van Laar has retired the side again in the top of the sixth, the first pitching change was made in the bottom of the sixth.
Storks-starter Twan Naessens then walked lead-off hitter Taylor Clemensia and was relieved thereafter by William Sowers.
He saw Clemensia advance on a sacrifice bunt by Jules Cremer, but stranded on second base.
More pitching changes followed in the seventh inning, which also saw three runs being scored.
For Storks, Jurriaan Dijk led off the seventh inning with a walk and thereafter, Jasper Popken took over the pitching for Quick.
Dijk moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Sergio Schoop, then advanced to third base on a passed ball.
Moments later, he scored on a single by Ibrahin Redan to put Storks ahead, 2-1.
Redan later stranded on second base.
Quick Amersfoort reacted with two runs in its seventh at bat.
Denzel Brooks led off with a double, then moved to third base on a sacrifce bunt by Jordy Burger, who himself reached on a fielder's choice.
With one out, the bases got loaded when Bryan Engelhardt walked.
Next, Tijmen Takke delivered a 2-run single that put Quick ahead, 3-2.
Brooks and Burger scored, but Engelhardt was eliminated in a rundown trying to advance to third base on the throw to the plate.
With his two runs batted in, Takke accounted for all three runs of his team, as he scored the first run himself.
After Takke's basehit, Ricky Voorn became the next pitcher for Storks, taking over from William Sowers.
Voorn last pitched for the main-squad of Storks during the 2018 season, then played for its second team last year and was not on the Opening Day-roster for this season.
Voorn walked Taylor Clemensia, then got runners on second and third base after a wild pitch and got the bases loaded when he also walked Jules Cremer.
Another pitching change followed, as Diornick Sanchez entered the game.
With the bases loaded, he ended the threat with a strikeout, but Quick was now leading 3-2.
Storks got a chance to do something back in the top of the eighth.
With one out, Luuk Visser singled, but was eliminated trying to stretch it in to a double.
Hereafter, Kelvin Knape reached second base on an error.
Former professional pitcher Wendell Floranus (the announced starter for Saturday) was then inserted to take over the pitching for Quick.
He did very well.
Floranus not only closed the eighth with a strikeout, but he also struckout the side in the ninth to earn a save.
|