On Friday-evening (March 30), the 35th edition of the annual 3-day international J.C.J. Mastenbroek Tournament for both baseball and softball opens at the site of Tex Town Tigers in Enschede.
Five teams from the Golden League will participate in the softball-tournament, being reigning champion FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem, DSS, Roef!, Sparks Haarlem and host Tex Town Tigers.
Also participating is Silver League-team De Glaskoning Twins.
Completing the field of participants are Barracudas from Switzerland, Carrousel from Russia, SK Joudrs Praha from the Czech Republic and the National Team of Germany.
Big league-teams De Glaskoning Twins and Cityside Apartments Quick Amersfoort are two of the six participating teams in the baseball-tournament in Enschede.
Besides these two and host Tex Town Tigers (First Division), the other participants are Alcmaria Victrix from the second highest league ('Overgangsklasse'), Barracudas from Switzerland and Borgerhout Squirrels from Belgium.
In Haarlem, at the site of Onze Gezellen, the Haarlem Series will be organized.
For the fourth time, there will be a baseball-tournament and for the third time, a softball-edition.
Golden League-team Terrasvogels is one of the four participating teams in the softball-tournament.
They are joined by Silver League-teams Amsterdam Pirates, Hoofddorp Pioniers and host Onze Gezellen.
In the baseball-tournament big league-team DSS is one of the five participants.
The four other teams all play in the 'Overgangsklasse', being Kinheim, Sparks Haarlem, Wassenaar and host Onze Gezellen.
It was planned to open both tournaments on Friday-evening, but the schedules have been adjusted due to sad circumstances.
Last Sunday, Caroline Walgien, the wife of Onze Gezellen Softball Coach Rob Walgien passed away at age 55.
The memorial service will take place late Friday-afternoon.
Out of respect, the opening games on Friday were removed from the schedule and a new 2-day schedule was made for Saturday and Sunday.
In Heemstede, the 2-day fourth edition of the Ringvaart Tournament will be organized by RCH-Pinguïns on Saturday and Sunday.
This year, the event had its strongest field of participants in its history, as three big league-teams were to participate, who all finished in the top-4 last season.
They were L&D Amsterdam Pirates, which reached the Holland Series, HCAW and Hoofddorp Pioniers.
Host RCH-Pinguïns plays in the 'Overgangsklasse'.
Unfortunately, Amsterdam Pirates informed the organization on Wednesday that it has to withdraw from participation.
Due to the cold weather conditions of the past weeks and the fact that its home-site is not yet playable due to construction work, Amsterdam Pirates has played only exhibition game so far.
That was done last Saturday in Oosterhout.
Because of this, the team is not yet ready to play a total of four games in one weekend.
The game-schedule has been adjusted and now has three games on both Saturday and Sunday.
In The Hague, the third edition of the international North Sea Cup will be organized by Silicon Storks, which this year will make its comeback in the baseball-big league.
Also participating in this baseball-event on Saturday and Sunday are reigning champion Curaçao Neptunus, which last year also won the European Champions Cup.
Completing the field of participants are Mortsel Stars from Belgium and Rouen Huskies from France.
The French team will participate for the first time.
In Amersfoort, Quick Amersfoort is the host of the eighth edition of the annual Keistad Tournament, which includes baseball, softball women and softball men.
Participating in the one-day baseball-tournament (Saturday) are The Flags and the second teams of Storks and host Quick Amersfoort.
In the international 2-day softball-tournament (Saturday/Sunday), three teams from the Silver League will participate: Centrals, UVV and host Quick Amersfoort.
They will be joined by Caribe and the Belgian squad of Royal Greys.
In the international men softball-tournament, which also will be played on Saturday and Sunday, the participants are Brasschaat Braves from Belgium, Painbusters Most from the Czech Republic and the Dutch teams of Catch-Adegeest, Spikes and host and reigning Dutch champion Quick Amersfoort.
In Dordrecht, the international 2-day Rob Noorlander Tournament (baseball) will be organized by The Hawks on Sunday and Monday.
The participating teams are 'Overgangsklasse'-teams HCAW 2, De Glaskoning Twins 2 and host The Hawks.
Completing the quartet is Brasschaat Braves from Belgium.
In Capelle a/d IJssel, there also will be an international 2-day baseball-tournament on Sunday and Monday, organized by Euro Stars.
The hosting club will be joined by Orioles, De Hazenkamp and the Belgian squad of Hoboken Pioneers.
Orioles and Euro Stars both play in the second highest league ('Overgangsklasse').
Last weekend, De Hazenkamp hosted its annual Jan van de Vegte Memorial Tournament, which was won by big league-team Hoofddorp Pioniers.
In Rosmalen, Gryphons will organize the Brabant Cup at its complex for both baseball and softball.
Participating in these tournaments are teams that play in lower leagues.
Participating in the 2-day baseball-tournament (Saturday/Sunday) are Braves, Domstad Dodgers, Mokum Hawks, Red Caps, Schiedam, TIW-Survivors and host Gryphons.
Six teams will participate in the one-day softball-tournament on Sunday.
Host Gryphons will then be joined by Catch, Ducks, Islanders, Red Caps and Roef!
Besides these tournaments, there will be three other international games on Sunday and Monday to be played by two teams from the 'Overgangsklasse'.
On Sunday, in Hoofddorp, starting at 1 PM, Omron Pioniers will play against Paris Guardians from France.
On Monday, the French team will play a double-header in Amsterdam against Amsterdam Pirates 2, starting at 11 AM.
On Sunday, Twins will organize an international 3-team, 3-game softbal-series at its complex in Oosterhout.
Participating in this series are Hoboken Pioneers from Belgium, First Divisionist Hilversum Hurricanes and host Twins 2.
A 3-team, 3-game series for both baseball and softball will be organized by Cromtigers on its site in Assendelft on Sunday.
With these games, Cromtigers opens its home-season.
Participating in the baseball-tournament are three teams from the First Division, being Boekaniers, The Herons and host Cromtigers.
In the 3-game softball-series, host Cromtigers will be joined by teams from DSS and Onze Gezellen.
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Busy Easter-weekend ahead for baseball and softball
ENSCHEDE / HEEMSTEDE / HAARLEM / THE HAGUE / AMERSFOORT / DORDRECHT / CAPELLE a/d IJSSEL / ROSMALEN / HOOFDDORP / AMSTERDAM / OOSTERHOUT / ASSENDELFT (Neth.) -
The upcoming Easter-weekend has a busy schedule in the exhibition seasons for both baseball and softball.
Many teams who play in different leagues will play exhibitions games.
Besides that, there are nine baseball-tournaments, six women softball-tournaments and one men softball-tournament scheduled.
During these tournaments, a total of 60 baseball-games, 56 women softball-games and 10 men softball-teams are scheduled!
Included herein are three 3-team, one-day mini-tournaments.
Also, there wil be three more international baseball-games to be played in Hoofddorp and Amsterdam.