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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Hoofddorp Pioniers & Marco Stoovelaar) UVV first winner of international Frank Maduro Tournament Nederlands HOOFDDORP (Neth.) - UVV is the winner of the inaugural edition of the international Frank Maduro Tournament, which from now on will be an annual pre-season tournament, hosted by Hoofddorp Pioniers. On Sunday (April 2), UVV played two games and won both. Due to rain on Thursday and Friday, the schedule of the tournament was adjusted. Initially, six games were to be played on Saturday. On Sunday, placement games were scheduled for the 3rd/4th place and the 5th/6th place to be followed by the Final, but these games were dropped. In the new schedule, two games were played on Saturday and four today (Sunday), beginning at 11 AM and 2:30 PM. On Saturday and in the first games on Sunday, the two Belgian participating teams Borgerhout Squirrels and Hoboken Pioneers played. UVV and Sparks Haarlem played twice on Sunday. The two teams of organisor Hoofddorp Pioniers played a game on both days. Today, the weather conditions had clearly improved, as there was a friendly blue sky with some spread clouds. But there was a very cold wind. When the first two games began today, it was only three degrees Celsius (37,4 Fahrenheit). However, the apparent temperature was -5 Celsius (23 F)! Later in the day, the temperatures rose somewhat, but towards the final innings of the last two games, they dropped again. ...Quin Cotton (UVV) was the MVP... ...He stands between Pioniers-chairman... ...Shirley Beljaards and Menno Daalder of... ...the tournament-committee... (© Photo: Hoofddorp Pioniers) UVV won its two games today. The team opened with a big 15-4 win against Borgerhout Squirrels, then also recorded a big win against Hoofddorp Pioniers, 12-2. Sparks Haarlem played a 2-2 tie against Hoboken Pioneers, then suffered a big 10-1 loss against the second team of Pioniers in a game that was halted due to an injury of the Home Plate Umpire. After the final game ended today, UVV was crowned as the winner of the first edition of the Frank Maduro Tournament. UVV-player Quin Cotton won the award for the Most Valuable Player. The tournament committee of the inaugural Frank Maduro Tournament did a great job, as did the groundscrew, as they had to handle unfavorable weather conditions, cancellations and re-scheduling of games. The committee-members kept on smiling and had everything under control. With this event, we are a nice new international tournament richer in the preparations for a new season. Next year, the second edition will be scheduled. Final Standings Frank Maduro Tournament: 1. UVV, 2. Hoboken Pioneers, 3. Borgerhout Pioneers/Omron Pioniers, 5. Sparks Haarlem, 6. Hoofddorp Pioniers. Coming Thursday-evening (April 6), UVV will make its comeback in the Dutch big league. The team from Vleuten then opens a 3-game series against RCH Memorie Sieraden with an away-game at Heemstede. Hoofddorp Pioniers opens at home on Thursday against Quick Amersfoort. Omron Pioniers opens the new season in the First Division on Friday-evening at home against Amsterdam Pirates-2. Sparks Haarlem plays its first game in the First Division coming Saturday at Neptunus Tridents in Rotterdam. The Belgian teams also open their new season coming Saturday. Hoboken Pioneers then plays at home against Brasschaat Braves. Borgerhout Squirrels also begins with a home-game and meets Namur Angels. (April 2)

Borgerhout Squirrels vs. UVV ...The weather-conditions were much better on Day 2... ...But there was a very cold wind... (© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) UVV had a productive first game, outscoring Borgerhout Squirrels 15-4 in a 7-inning, mercy-rule game. UVV collected eleven basehits, including three doubles from American centerfielder Quin Cotton, who also scored three runs and batted in three runs. Reangelo Willems recorded three singles and also scored three runs. UVV opened the score with two runs in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Matas Sirdegas. With one out, Reangelo Willems singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. When ball-four to next batter Tijmen Takke also ended in a wild pitch, Willems advanced to third base. Another wild pitch followed and that enabled Willems to score the first run. With Takke at second base, next batter Quin Cotton hit a comeback-grounder to Sirdegas. Takke had left his base and was eliminated at second base. Now with two outs, Cotton stole second base, was awarded third base on a balk and scored on the fourth wild pitch in this inning. In the second inning, UVV rallied for five runs off of Sirdegas. Lead-off hitter J'mar Calliste was hit by a pitch and next batter Stefan Kuipers walked. The first then scored on a single by Timothy Rojas, which gave UVV runners at the corners. In a double-steal situation, Kuipers scored the next run. Hereafter, it was Rojas who was able to cross home plate on a single by Malcolm Marlin. The latter then scored all the way from first base when an infield-hit by Reangelo Willems was followed by a throwing error. After a grounder by Tijmen Takke had accounted for the first out, Willems scored the fifth run in the at bat on the first double in the game by Quin Cotton. After UVV was retired in order in the third inning, the team scored four more runs in the fourth off off new pitcher Viktor Van Der Velden. He got the bases loaded quickly when Malcolm Marlin walked, Reangelo Willems singled and Tijmen Takke also walked. Quin Cotton followed with a 2-run double. A grounder by Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura and an error on a grounder by Etienne van Tielraden led to the next two runs and lifted the lead to 11-0. UVV-starter Aaron Isenia got six baserunners in the first two innings. In the first inning, the lefthander walked lead-offf hitter Timen Van Geel, but he was forced out on a grounder by Jens Boermans. Isenia then walked Tim Veraghtert, but struckout the next two batters. In the second inning, Isenia got the bases loaded with one out via two singles and a walk. This time, Isenia was supported with an inning-ending double play. In the third inning, Isenia retired the first two batters, then had reached his pitch-count for today and was relieved by Gijs van den Brink, also a lefthander. He closed the third with a strikeout. In the fourth, Van den Brink gave up the first Belgian run. With one out and Mauro Van Mook (fielder's choice) on first base, he got the bases loaded when the next two batters walked. Van Mook then scored on a passed ball. With runners on second and third base, a strikeout and grounder followed. Van den Brink struckout the side in the fifth inning. In the top of the fifth, UVV had added another run. Stefan Kuipers then led offf with a walk and scored on a wild pitch with two outs. UVV increased its lead with three more runs in the top of the sixth off of new pitcher Gienco Pacheco Alvarez. He was greeted with the third double in the game by Quin Cotton, who scored on a following single by Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura. With one out, the bases got loaded when J'mar Calliste walked and Stefan Kuipers singled. A force play-grounder by Timothy Rojas and a single by Lucas Bekker produced two more runs. Trailing 15-1, Borgerhout scored its second run in the bottom of the sixth off of new pitcher Sean Wout. He hit lead-off hitter Cedric Vandesompele with a pitch. With one out, pinch-hitter Matas Sirdegas hit a pop-fly into short leftfield, behind the short stop-position. UVV-leftfielder Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura appeared to catch the ball, but ended up short. However, he was able to force out Vandesonpele at second base. Sirdegas later stole second base and scored on a double by Sander De Saedeleer. The Belgians added two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning off off Wout. With one out, a foul pop-fly hit by Jens Boermans was missed and ended in an error. Moments later, Boermans walked and the bases got loaded when Wout hit Ayoub Fatihi and Nick Van Thillo with a pitch. After an infield-fly accounted for the second out, a walk and another hit batter led to two runs. With the bases still loaded, Sander De Saedeleer hit a line drive, but that was caught by short stop Timothy Rojas, which ended the game.

Borgerhout Squirrels - UVV 4-15 (7 inn.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E UVV 2 5 0 4 1 3 0 - 15 11 1 Borgerhout Squirrels 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 - 4 3 2 pitchers UVV inn. SO BB H R ER Aaron Isenia, W (3-0) 2.2 4 3 2 - - Gijs van den Brink 2.1 5 3 - 1 - Sean Wout 2 - 2 1 3 1 pitchers Borgerhout Squirrels inn. SO BB H R ER Matas Sirdegas, L (0-1) 3 3 3 5 7 6 Viktor Van Der Velden 2 1 3 2 5 5 Gienco Pacheco Alvarez 1 1 1 4 3 3 Aaron Meert 1 - - - - - Umpires: HP-Elvin Englentina, 1B-Erik de Vries. Official Scorer-Marco Stoovelaar. Public Address Announcer-Jason Houtkamp (from 3rd inning on). Scoreboard Operator-Valentijn van Limburg. Starting Time-11:04 AM. Time Played-2:51 hrs. Site-Field #1, ETO Ballpark, Sportpark Hoofddorp Pioniers, Park21, Hoofddorp. Game Notes: Game 3 - 1st Frank Maduro Tournament 2023.

Hoboken Pioneers vs. Sparks Haarlem After Field #2 was not used on the rainy Saturday, it looked fine today and so, the game between Hoboken Pioneers and Sparks Haarlem was the first to be played there today. However, there was a very cold wind blowing over the field. Therefore, and because of the availability of pitchers, the coaches of both teams decided to play a 7-inning game instead of nine innings. And that ended with a 2-2 score. The Belgians opened the score in the bottom of the first inning off of Sparks-starter Rutger Zwaal. He walked lead-off hitter Lucas Rizzi, who stole second base moments later. Rizzi advanced to third base on a flyout, then scored on a grounder by Drew Janssen. He is the nephew of wellknown Belgian coach Steve Janssen, who has been the Manager of the German National Team the past few years and also has been the Manager and Pitching Coach of the Netherlands National Team. In the second inning, Hoboken Pioneers got the bases loaded, but was unable to score. Xander Verspreet led off with a single and with one out, Christoff Peeters was hit by a pitch and Jason Jie Sam Foek walked. But a strikeout and force out followed. In the third inning, the Belgians got runners on second and third base with two outs, but they also were left behind. Drew Janssen also was the starting pitcher for Hoboken. He was supported with a double play in the first inning, then got runners on first and second base in the second at bat, but a grounder ended that inning. In the third, Sparks Haarlem came close to the tying run. Janssen hit lead-off hitter Yasar Guntekin, who advanced on a wild pitch. Next batter Calvin Kruining walked and as ball-four ended in another wild pitch, Guntekin moved to third base. Hereafter, Kruining also moved into scoring postion on a comeback-grounder by Roberto Rosario, which kept Guntekin at third base. After Janssen struckout the next batter, he got the bases loaded when he hit Ruben Hoek with a pitch, but a force play-grounder ended this scoring opportunity. Sparks Haarlem then did score the tying run with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Veteran player Duko Jansen led off with an infield-hit, but a double play followed. The bases then loaded when Joffrey Heus walked, Roberto Bertucelli was hit by a pitch and Calvin Semeleer singled. Heus scored on a wild pitch, before Janssen closed the at bat with a strikeout with runners at second and third base. Sparks Haarlem took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning off of new pitcher Brendan Verspreet. With one out, Roberto Rosario doubled, moved on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Wessel Pirovano. Hoboken Pioneers immediately came alongside in the bottom of the fifth off of new pitcher Menno Soederhuizen. He was greeted with a lead-off single by Lucas Rizzi, who stole second base and was able to move to third base when the pitch ended in a wild pitch. With one out and after Drew Janssen had been hit by a pitch, Rizzi scored on a sacrifice bunt/squeeze by Brendan Verspreet. Sparks Haarlem was retired in order in the sixth and seventh inning, but Hoboken Pioneers got two more scoring opportunities. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, the team had runners on first and second base, but a flyout into leftfield then ended in a double play. With two outs in the seventh, the team again had runners on first and second base. Another flyout followed and that ended both the inning and the game.

Hoboken Pioneers - Sparks Haarlem 2-2 (7 inn.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Sparks Haarlem 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 - 2 4 1 Hoboken Pioneers 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 2 6 0 pitchers Sparks Haarlem inn. SO BB H R ER Rutger Zwaal 4 2 2 3 1 1 Menno Soederhuizen, BS (1) 3 2 2 3 1 1 pitchers Hoboken Pioneers inn. SO BB H R ER Drew Janssen 4 2 4 2 1 1 Brendan Verspreet 2 1 - 2 1 1 Lucas Rizzi 1 - - - - - Umpires: HP-Roy van de Wateringen, 1B-Aad Otsen. Official Scorer-Stefan Slinger. Public Address Announcer-None. Scoreboard Operator-None. Starting Time-11:01 PM. Time Played-2:00 hrs. Site-Field #2, ETO Ballpark, Sportpark Hoofddorp Pioniers, Park21, Hoofddorp. Game Notes: Game 4 - 1st Frank Maduro Tournament 2023.

Sparks Haarlem vs. Omron Pioniers The second game of Field #2 started twenty minutes later than scheduled. The two teams had prepared and finished their pre-game activities to start the game at 2:30 PM (as scheduled) and of course, the starting pitchers also had completed their preparations. However, there were no umpires at game-time. The two assigned umpires also led the first game on the main-field, which had lasted almost three hours, so probably they took some additional rest. When the umpires arrived, it also became clear that the assignments had been changed. Originally, Roy van de Wateringen was to be the Field Umpire in this game, while Elvin Englentina was to remain at Field #1 as the Field Umpire in the second game there. They were the Home Plate Umpires in the first games. But they switched for the last two games today, and so, Englentina moved to this game, while Van de Wateringen was one of the two umpires at Field #1. The wait, combined with the cold wind, might have infuenced the two starting pitchers, who both got baserunners in the first inning. Pioniers struck early with three runs in the top of the first inning off of Sparks-starter Mees de By. With one out, the righthander got the bases loaded. He hit Tyler Brohm with a pitch, then gave up singles to Angelo Wicklert and Joost van den Bergh. Brohm then scored the first run when Bram Stoovelaar walked. Thereafter, Wicklert scored when an error was made on a grounder by Yannick Romeijn. Moments later, the latter was forced out on a grounder by Joris Meinsma, but that also enabled Van den Bergh to score the third run. Pioniers added another run in the third inning. With two outs, Bram Stoovelaar and Yannick Romeijn both walked. Joris Meinsma followed with a double. Stoovelaar scored, but Romeijn was eliminated at the plate, which ended the at bat. Pioniers-starter Lars Broersen had a solid outing on the mound and got fine defensive support. In the first inning, the righthander walked Roberto Bertucelli and gave up a single to Ruben Hoek, but then was supported with a nice double play started by third baseman Joost van den Bergh. With two outs in the third, Broersen gave up a single to <>Arno Guntekin and walked Roberto Bertucelli. This time, a force play-grounder followed with Van den Bergh forcing out the runner at third base. In the fourth inning, Sparks Haarlem got runners on second and third base. With one out, Duko Jansen singled and advanced on an error with two outs. He moved to third base on a single by Roberto Rosario, who stole second base moments later. But they stranded, as Lars Broersen closed with a strikeout. Trailing 4-0, Sparks scored what would be its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Wessel Pirovano singled, then stole second and third base. Hereafter, he scored on a grounder by Arno Guntekin. Pioniers rallied for six more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but that at bat was halted with two outs due to an injury. Jimmy Osinga was the new pitcher for Sparks Haarlem, but he encountered some problems with his control and hit four consecutive batters with a pitch. After he had hit Joris Meinsma, pinch-hitter Gael van Son and Sem Afman with a pitch, Osinga also hit Miles Burleson with a pitch, which led to a run. With the bases still loaded, veteran Duko Jansen took over the pitching, but he was greeted with a runscoring single from Tyler Brohm. A force play-grounder by Angelo Wicklert then led to a throwing error and two runs. Brohm later scored on a wild pitch and Wicklert on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Daan Hoogkamer was in the batter's box for Pioniers. On a swing, he appeared to hit the glove of Sparks-catcher Roberto Rosario (catcher's interference). Umpires Erik de Vries and Elvin Englentina discussed the situation, but no interference was ruled and so, Hoogkamer returned in the batter's box. Two pitches later, Home Plate Umpire Erik de Vries was hit hard on his left arm by a foul ball. He was unable to continue and with that, the game was halted.

Sparks Haarlem - Omron Pioniers 1-10 (6 inn.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Omron Pioniers 3 0 1 0 0 6 - 10 5 3 Sparks Haarlem 0 0 0 0 1 X - 1 5 4 (Game halted with two outs in top 6th inning, due to injury Home Plate Umpire) pitcher Hoofddorp Pioniers-2 inn. SO BB H R ER Lars Broersen, W (2-0) 5 2 2 5 1 1 pitchers Sparks Haarlem inn. SO BB H R ER Mees de By, L (0-1) 5 4 4 4 4 1 Jimmy Osinga - (*) - - - 4 3 Duko Jansen 0.2 2 - 1 2 1 (*) - Osinga pitched to four batters in the sixth inning Umpires: HP-Erik de Vries, 1B-Elvin Englentina. Official Scorer-Marco Stoovelaar. Public Address Announcer-None. Scoreboard Operator-None. Starting Time-2:50 PM. Time Played-1:26 hrs. Site-Field #2, ETO Ballpark, Sportpark Hoofddorp Pioniers, Park21, Hoofddorp. Game Notes: Game halted with two outs in top 6th inning, no runners on base, Pioniers leading 10-1 and a 2-2 count on the batter, when Home Plate Umpire Erik de Vries got injured after being hit by a foul ball. Game 5 - 1st Frank Maduro Tournament 2023.

Hoofddorp Pioniers vs. UVV In its second game today, UVV recorded another convincing victory, this time winning 12-2 in seven innings against tournament-host Hoofddorp Pioniers. With that, UVV won its second game and became the winner of the first editon of the Frank Maduro Tournament. UVV collected thirteen basehits, including four by newcomer Roy Winkel, who last season played for Pioniers. He scored three runs and batted in two. ...The team of tournament-winner UVV... (© Photo: Hoofddorp Pioniers) Leftfielder Quin Cotton walked three times and scored once. In the first game today, the American had three doubles, scored three runs, batted in two and reached base four times. With that, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. It was Pioniers that opened the score in the bottom of the first inning off of veteran starter Jurjen van Zijl, who has played for the Hoofddorp-team in the past. With two outs, the righthander gave up a single to Daan Terstall, who was his teammate last season when UVV played in the First Division. Thereafter, Van Zijl also gave up singles to Michael Dumitrescu and Vincent Mevissen, which led to the run. UVV came alongside in the top of the second inning off of starter Just van den Ouweelen. He gave up a lead-off bunt-single to Roy Winkel, who stole second base, advanced on a grounder and scored when a balk was called. After UVV had been retired in order in the top off the third, Pioniers got four baserunners in the bottom half, but was unable to score. Rookie Jack van Gorkum led off with a single. Initially, Van Gorkum was at Field #2 and in the starting line-up of the second team of Pioniers for the game against Sparks Haarlem. But shortly before the start of the game at Field #1, the outfielder was called up for the main-squad to fill in due to an injury. And so, Van Gorkum went from Field #2 to Field #1, played in leftfield, was the lead-off hitter and batted 2-for-4. Van Gorkum moved to second base when Van Zijl made a throwing error on a grounder by Miquel Willem. Thereafter, Daan Terstall hit the ball into short centerfield, where Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura was able to throw the ball in time to second baseman Lucas Bekker to force out Willem. With runners at the corners, Van Zijl followed with a strikeout, then a force play-grounder ended the at bat. In the top of the fourth, UVV broke the 1-1 tie by scoring three runs. Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura led off with a walk, then Tijmen Takke singled. After Espinal had stolen third base, Roy Winkel delivered a runscoring single to put UVV ahead, 2-1. With one out, UVV got the bases loaded when Stefan Kuipers singled, then Takke scored the next run when J'mar Calliste was hit by a pitch. A pitching change followed and Sem Nijman took the mound. The lefthander got a grounder from Malcolm Marlin, but that also brought in Winkel and made it a 4-1 score. Pioniers got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, which also saw a lot of action on the bases. Rookies Terrance Heemskerk and Max Vonk began with singles. Hereafter, Andreas Meijer grounded into a double play, which moved Vonk to second base. That was followed by a single from Dani Heiligers. With runners at the corners, Heiligers stole second base and when that was followed by a throwing error, Vonk scored. Hereafter, Jack van Gorkum singled, but while trying to score Heiligers was then thrown out at the plate, which ended the at bat. UVV took more distance in the fifth inning by scoring four more runs. With one out, UVV had Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura (single, stolen base) on third base and Tijmen Takke (single, stolen base) on second base when Roy Winkel delivered another runscoring single. Espinal scored and Takke moved to third base, but there, he was replaced by pinch-runner Reangelo Willems, due to an injury. When a pick-off attempt at first base went errant, Willems scored and Winkel moved to third base. Sem Nijman then hit Lucas Bekker with a pitch and was replaced by Daan Kuit. The catcher-turned-pitcher began with a wild pitch that enabled Winkel to score. He then gave up a single to Stefan Kuipers and when that was followed by an outfield-error, Bekker also scored to make it an 8-2 score. Hereafter, J'mar Calliste also singled and next batter Malcolm Marlin followed with a line drive. But that was caught by first baseman Daan Terstall, who made an inning-ending, unassisted double play. UVV again scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning, three of them with no outs. Timothy Rojas led off with a single and Quin Cotton walked, then Jorge Luis Espinal Ventura singled in a run. That led to another pitching change and Maarten Smit took over. He gave up a runscoring single to Reangelo Willems, who last season also played for Pioniers. Smit got the bases loaded when Roy Winkel collected his fourth single and Lucas Bekker walked. While pitching to Bekker, he uncorked a wild pitch that brought in Espinal. After a flyout and strikeout, another wild pitch followed and this time, Willems scored to make it a 12-2 score. Hoofddorp Pioniers was unable to get a runner into scoring position in its final three at bats off of new pitcher Allard Helms. He was supported with a double play in the sixth inning, then retired the side (two strikeouts) in the seventh. And that also ended the game and the tournament.

Hoofddorp Pioniers - UVV 2-12 (7 inn.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E UVV 0 1 0 3 4 4 0 - 12 13 3 Hoofddorp Pioniers 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 2 9 2 pitchers UVV inn. SO BB H R ER Jurjen van Zijl, W (1-0) 4 3 - 8 2 2 Allard Helms, SV (1) 3 2 - 1 - - pitchers Hoofddorp Pioniers inn. SO BB H R ER Just van den Ouweelen, L (0-1) 3.1 3 2 5 4 4 Sem Nijman 1 1 1 2 4 4 Daan Kuit 0.2 (*) - 1 4 3 3 Maarten Smit 1 1 1 2 1 1 Nick Loos 1 - 1 - - - (*) - Kuit pitched to three batters in the sixth inning Umpires: HP-Aad Otsen, 1B-Roy van de Wateringen. Official Scorers-Stefan Slinger, Muriel van de Wateringen. Public Address Announcer-Jason Houtkamp. Scoreboard Operator-Valentijn van Limburg. Starting Time-2:35 PM. Time Played-2:50 hrs. Site-Field #1, ETO Ballpark, Sportpark Hoofddorp Pioniers, Park21, Hoofddorp. Game Notes: UVV wins tournament. Game 6 - 1st Frank Maduro Tournament 2023.

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