(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Nettuno 1945 Baseball)
  Second Norwegian player in Dutch big league
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
For the second time in history a player from Norway has played in the Dutch big league.
On Saturday (July 6), Lars Liguori made his debut in the highest league when he was in the starting line-up for HCAW in an away-game against Amsterdam Pirates.
...Lars Liguori...
(© Photo: Nettuno 1945 Baseball) |
Liguori, who is a lefthanded pitcher, was the starting leftfielder for the Bussum-team.
He played only briefly, as he was replaced after the first batter of Pirates had completed his at bat in the bottom of the first inning.
Liguori's participation in Saturday's game was only to make him eligible to play for HCAW later in the (post)season.
He also might be inserted in Sunday's home-game in Bussum.
It became a memorable game in Amsterdam and not only because of the participation of the second Norwegian player.
Pirates took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a 2-run homerun by Oliver van der Wijst off of HCAW-starter Lars Huijer.
In the top of the second inning, HCAW came alongside off of Australian Pirates-starter Luke Wilkins without recording a basehit.
In the bottom of the second inning, after a lead-off hit by pitch, a 5-minute bench-clearing brawl erupted, which led to two ejections, one player of each team.
When the bench-clearing ended, immediately thereafter, a 38-minute rain-delay followed.
In the top of the sixth, HCAW took a 3-2 lead, in the bottom of the sixth, Pirates rallied for seven runs.
HCAW came back with three runs, including two on a homerun by Delano Selassa in the eighth.
Pirates won 10-6 and after the final out was made, another rain-shower followed.
The defensive highlight was a great catch in the fourth inning by HCAW-leftfielder Brendly Martina when Kenny Berkenbosch drove the ball into foul territory.
Martina ran to foul territory, jumped up and caught the ball over the fence.
The 33-year old American-born (Scottsdale, Arizona) Lars Liguori played in the team of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before turning professional.
Liguori, who also can play in the outfield, played in Independent Leagues in 2014-2019.
In the 2019-2020 winter-season, Liguori played in the Australian Basebal League.
He was 3-0 in four games on the mound for Melbourne Aces.
Since 2021, Lars Liguori plays for Nettuno 1945 in the Italian Serie A.
In his first season there, the lefthander was 6-2 with one save and a 3.21 ERA and struckout 61 batters in 47 2/3 inning.
In 2022, Liguori's record was 2-7 with a 3.25 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 52 2/3 inning.
Last season, his record was better again and also lowered his ERA, as he was 7-2 with an 1.29 ERA.
Liguori also improved his total of strikeouts: 97 in 69 2/3 inning.
This season, Liguori again plays for Nettuno.
So far, he pitched in three games (one start) and is 0-0 with one save and five strikeouts.
After this weekend, Liguori will return to Italy.
To make him eligible to play later in the season for HCAW, he had to play before July 15.
HCAW did the same earlier this season with German infielder Eric Brenk, who plays for Bonn Capitals in the 1.Bundesliga.
Brenk made his debut on April 25.
Since then, he played in seven games for HCAW, besides also playing in Germany.
HCAW did the same during the 2022 season.
Back then, Canadian pitcher Jared Mortensen and Curaçaon outfielder Phildrick Llewellyn played in Germany.
They also made a brief appearance before the deadline and then returned during the postseason to HCAW, which then captured the Championship-title.
Mortensen also made one appearance for HCAW last season, while playing in Germany.
A week ago, Oosterhout Twins inserted Japanese lefthanded pitcher Yoshitaka Nammoku one inning as rightfielder.
Nammoku plays in the highest Belgian league for Borgerhout Squirrels, but by playing before July 15, he is now eligible to play for Twins later this season.
Lars Liguori has dual citizenship.
Besides the American, he also has the Norwegian nationality.
In 2022, Liguori participated with the National Team of Norway in the European Championship Qualifier in Belgrade (Serbia).
There, he was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 23 strikeouts and only three walks in 14 innings.
Liguori was the starting and losing pitcher against Slovakia.
He then pitched three innings and completed the game as first baseman.
Four days later, Liguori threw a 9-inning complete game against Serbia and was the winning pitcher, striking out 15 batters.
Norway finished in a tie for first place with Slovakia and Hungary.
Based the Team Quality Balance (head-to-head also ended in a tie), Norway ended up in third place.
In both games during the Qualifier, Tye Brødsjø was Liguori's catcher.
Coincidentally, Brødsjø became the first Norwegian player in the Dutch big league when he played in one game for Storks during the 2022 season.
This year, Brødsjø has played in the highest league in two games for Worldwide Pharma Logistics Hoofddorp Pioniers.
(July 6)
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