(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Robert Bos)
 DSS/Kinheim adds youth-international Amarensio Franka to team for 2023
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
DSS/Kinheim on Sunday (November 6) announced that youth-international Amarensio Franka will play for the team in the 2023 season.
Franka is the first new addition announced by the Haarlem-team.
This year, the 16-year old infielder played for Neptunus Tridents in the First Division, but he also played in a few games of the big league-team of Curaçao Neptunus.
With Tridents, Franka finished in fourth place.
On October 27, DSS/Kinheim announced that Etienne Meijer was named the new Head Coach of the team.
He succeeds Michael Crouwel, who retired after the season had ended.
...Amarensio Franka as pinch-runner for Neptunus...
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
Amarensio Franka played in seven regular season-games for Neptunus, all as a late-inning replacement, either as pinch-runner or at second base or short stop.
On June 16, Franka made his debut in an away-game in a 6-0 loss against L&D Amsterdam Pirates when he became the new second baseman for Neptunus in the eighth inning.
Two days later, at home, Neptunus again ended up short against Pirates, this time losing 3-2.
In this game, Franka was used as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the ninth inning, but he stranded at second base.
On June 23, Franka saw some more action and also got his first at bat in the big league in a home-game against HCAW.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, HCAW led 5-4, but Neptunus then staged a 6-run rally.
After the team had scored three runs and had taken over the lead, Franka was inserted as pinch-runner for Roger Bernadina.
Moments later, he stole second base, then went on to score his first run on a single by Dashenko Ricardo.
Franka stayed in the game as designated hitter, then walked in his first at bat in the eighth inning.
Neptunus won 10-5.
Nine days later, on July 2, Franka was inserted defensively in the eighth inning as short stop in a home-game against Twins Oosterhout with Neptunus leading 7-5.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Franka was the lead-off hitter and recorded his first basehit.
He also stole second base and scored in a 9-6 victory.
Three weeks later, Franka played its next game in another game against Amsterdam Pirates, which won 3-2.
With Pirates leading 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Franka was inserted as pinch-runner and scored, but Neptunus was left empty-handed again against the Amsterdam-team.
On July 28 and 31, Franka played in two more games against HCAW, which were both won by Neptunus (2-1 and 5-3).
In the first game, he was a pinch-runner again and stole second base.
In the second game, Franka took over as second baseman in the seventh inning and struckout in his lone at bat.
In his seven games, Franka was 1-for-2, scored three runs and stole three bases.
Following the regular season, Franka didn't play in the Play-Offs and Holland Series for Neptunus.
Last year, Amarensio Franka participated with the Netherlands Under-15 Team in the European Under-15 Championship in the Czech Republic.
There, the Orange Team lost the Semi-Final against the Czech Republic 10-0, but then won the game for the Bronze Medal against Italy with a 5-3 score.
Franka batted .400 (6-for-15) with one double, scored four runs, batted in two and stole three bases.
This year, Franka again traveled to the Czech Republic.
This time to participate in the European Under-18 Championship.
The Netherlands Under-18 Team had to settle for second place after losing the Final against Spain, 6-2.
Franka played in all seven games for the Orange Team and batted .125 (2-for-16).
He scored six runs and batted in five.
(November 6)
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