...It was a nice day to play baseball...
...On this photo, Gio de Graauw is on the mound...
...for his 'new' team HCAW...
(© Photo: Rob Schuurman) |
Exhibition games not only enable players to work out and prepare for the new season, it also enables spectators to get acquainted with new names and new players in the teams.
Today, several new players appeared in new uniforms.
Nathan Berkel (who last season played for Hoofddorp Pioniers), Quintin de Cuba (Neptunus), Gio de Graauw (Amsterdam Pirates), Brendly Martina (Storks) and Stijn van der Schaaf (HCAW-2) all played in their first 'real' game for HCAW, which is led for the first time this season by Head Coach Danny Rombley.
The team of Amsterdam Pirates clearly is not at full force yet at the moment.
Making their debut in a Pirates-uniform were Nelmerson Angela (Storks) and Rachid Engelhardt (Quick Amersfoort).
Five players from the second team were added for today's game, being Elias van de Bos, Daaf van Kouwen, Marijn Oor, Timothy Richards and Rafael Smeenk.
Richards last season played for RCH-Pinguïns.
In the coming weeks, the team will be strenghtened with some additions, including the return of pitcher Shairon Martis, catcher Sicnarf Loopstok and short stop Sharlon Schoop.
Outfielder Kalian Sams didn't play today, as he was sick.
New Pirates Head Coach Ronald Jaarsma inserted six pitchers today, who all were throwing on a pitch-count.
Jaarsma, who made his coaching-debut several years ago while being with HCAW, was the Head Coach of Curaçao Neptunus in the past four seasons.
A few seasons ago, HCAW's new Head Coach Danny Rombley retired as a player while playing for Amsterdam Pirates and will make his big league-debut as coach.
Jaarsma succeeded Michael Duursma, Rombley succeeded Roy Berrevoets.
Last year, Amsterdam Pirates repeated as Dutch champion, defeating Neptunus in the Holland Series.
In today's exhibition game, HCAW struck early with three runs off of starter Donny Breek.
The righthander walked lead-off hitter Brendly Martina and with one out, he gave up a homerun to Quintin de Cuba.
Hereafter, Victor Draijer delivered a double, then moved to third base on a wild pitch, which was ball-four for Kevin Dirksen.
Draijer went on to score on another wild pitch and HCAW got the bases loaded thereafter, but two flyouts ended the at bat.
One run was added in the second at bat off of Nelmerson Angela.
The lefthander began with a strikeout, but then gave up a single to Brendly Martina, who last season was his teammate at Storks.
With two outs, De Cuba was hit hard on his hand by a pitch.
He briefly left the game, but the returned to his position as third baseman in the fifth inning.
After Angela encountered no problems in the third inning, four rookies took the mound for Amsterdam Pirates in the remainder of the game.
Connor Prins gave up HCAW's fifth run in the fourth inning.
Brendly Martina led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Quintin de Cuba.
In the fifth inning, three more runs were added off of Prins.
Nathan Berkel and Bob van der Meer (who both walked) then scored on a double by Julian Goins.
He then scored himself when an error was made on a grounder by Dion Frank, who was the tenth batter in HCAW's batting order today.
Hereafter, Prins followed with a strikeout.
Although this was the first out, the inning ended as Prins had reached his pitch-count.
Leading 8-0, HCAW was held scoreless in the next three innings.
Daaf van Kouwen took over the Pirates-pitching in the sixth and got one baserunner.
With a runner on second base and two outs in the seventh, he was relieved by Timothy Richards, who completed the inning.
He got a flyout for the third out, but despite that, the inning continued for an additional batter.
After giving a single to Dion Frank, then inning did end.
Marijn Oor then pitched a 5-out eighth inning, which was highlighted by a great running catch by centerfielder Roelie Henrique (against the fence) and rightfielder Rachid Engelhardt.
Amsterdam Pirates scored its three runs today in the top of the ninth inning.
In the first three at bats, he team got three baserunners off of starter Lars Huijer, who was supported with two double plays.
Gio de Graauw then threw the next three innings.
The righthander played for the Amsterdam-team last year, but after the season he returned to HCAW for whom he already played in the big league earlier.
The righthander got six baserunners.
In both the fourth and sixth inning, De Graauw gave up a single to Delano Selassa, but he stranded on second base both times.
Rookie Stijn van der Schaaf then threw the seventh inning and he saw Pirates reach third base for the first time.
Lead-off hitter Rashid Gerard reached on an error and Emilson Haswell walked.
Both advanced on a passed ball, but then were left behind, as Van der Schaaf struckout two rookies, then got a grounder that ended the at bat.
In the eighth inning, Jasper Elfrink was supported with a nice play.
He gave up a lead-off double to Roelie Henrique, who tried to stretch it into a triple.
But he was eliminated at third base on a nice throw from centerfielder Jeandro Tromp.
Elfrink then closed with two strikeouts.
Trailing 8-0, Amsterdam Pirates rallied for three runs in the ninth inning off of new pitcher Ruben Dekker.
Veteran player Kenny Berkenbosch led off with a single and Rashid Gerard walked.
The latter was then forced out on a grounder by Emilson Haswell.
Next, both Berkenbosch and Haswell scored on a double by rookie Rafael Smeenk.
With two outs, Smeenk scored on a single by Rachid Engelhardt.
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Exhibition-win HCAW against Amsterdam Pirates
BUSSUM (Neth.) -
HCAW recorded an 8-3 exhibition-victory in Saturday-afternoon (March 12) against reigning champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
Under very acceptable weather conditions of some 15 degrees (59 F), the two teams met at the home-site of HCAW in Bussum.
Initially, the teams would play another game again on Sunday in Amsterdam, but that has been cancelled.
Instead, HCAW will play a game against its second team and Pirates will conduct a practice-session.
Exhibition game.