(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
  Amsterdam Pirates has productive weekend in Belgium
Nederlands
  BORGERHOUT / DEURNE (Belgium) -
Reigning champion L&D Amsterdam Pirates played four games in the weekend in Belgium.
There, the team participated in the Johan Veraghtert Memorial Tournament, which was organized by Borgerhout Squirrels and Deurne Spartans.
The games also were played on the sites of these two clubs, who are neighbours, but reside in two different suburbs of Antwerp.
Besides Pirates, Squirrels and Spartans, a third Belgian team participated, which was Brasschaat Braves.
The second team of Twins Oosterhout completed the field of participants.
For Amsterdam Pirates, winning the tournament was not its main goal this weekend.
As the team has some new players, as well as a new Head Coach, it was more important to get to know each other, being with one another and playing together.
In other words, the weekend was used as a team-building event.
,,And we succeeded in having a great weekend'', new Head Coach Ronald Jaarsma said afterwards.
,,Of course, it is fun to win a tournament and of course, we would have have loved to win it, but it was more important to be together with each other.
And to play games to get ready for the season.''
As the pitching-staff of Pirates is still shorthanded, some position-players also briefly took the mound.
Coming weekend, former Major League-pitcher Shairon Martis will re-join the Pirates-squad.
On Saturday, Amsterdam Pirates won 10-5 in a 6-inning game against Deurne Spartans.
Lefthander Nelmerson Angela started for Pirates and threw five innings, then (former pitcher) Kenny Berkenbosch threw the sixth.
In the afternoon, Pirates outscored Borgerhout Squirrels 8-4 in a 5-inning game.
This time, Donny Breek started and threw two innings.
He was relieved by Roland Laurens, who then threw the remaining three innings.
On Sunday, Pirates played a 4-4 tie in a 6-inning game against Brasschaat Braves, which left a strong impression.
In this game, the two veterans in the Pirates-staff were on the mound, as Jurrian Koks and Martin Kram both pitched three innings.
In its final game, Pirates ended up short against the second team of Twins Oosterhout, losing 6-4 in a 6-inning game.
Starter Connor Prins threw five innings, then infielder Rashid Gerard pitched in the sixth.
The team had a good offensive weekend, led by Rafael Smeenk, Luca Pastor and Denzel Richardson.
The latter belted three homeruns.
(March 26-27)
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