Baseball
	European Championships 2005

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2005 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch win vs. Italy
Nederlands | Box Score | Play-by-Play
CHOCEN (Czech Republic) - The Dutch national team also won its second game of the European Championships, as it won 4-1 vs. European archrival Italy on Saturday-evening. This was the 107th game between both countries and the 64th Dutch win.

Both teams hit the ball and reached base frequently in the first five innings, but couldn't come through, as starting pitchers Diegomar Markwell (Netherlands) and Riccardo De Santis (Italy) kept each other in balance and were supported by fine defense. But it was De Santis himself, who gave the Dutch its first run in the second inning. Ivanon Coffie led off with a single and Sidney de Jong walked. Then, Harvey Monte grounded back to De Santis for what might even have been a double play grounder, but the Italian pitcher threw the ball over his second baseman into the outfield, enabling Coffie to score the opening run. Next, Percy Isenia did hit into a double play and a pop-fly ended the at bat.
De Santis recovered, but gave up singles to Sidney de Jong and Harvey Monte in the fourth inning with two outs. The two stranded however, as next batter Percy Isenia flied out.
In the sixth inning, the Dutch team decided the game. Dirk van 't Klooster led off with a single down the third base line and advanced to third on a double by Raily Legito. Ivanon Coffie followed with a 3-run homerun to centerfield, which marked the end of De Santis. Carlos Richetti took over, walked Sidney de Jong, but was later helped with a double play and wouldn't give up more runs.

The Italians had runners on first and third in the second inning. Jairo Ramos Gizzi led off with a single and Seth La Fera singled with two outs, but a force play-grounder ended the inning. In the third, they left a runner at second base.
In the sixth inning, Max De Biase, one of the new players in the Italian squad, doubled with two outs, but also was left behind as Diegomar Markwell struckout next batter Mario Chiarini.
The Dutch defense made no errors and made some fine plays. Centerfielder Dirk van 't Klooster had a great evening, as he made eight catchers, including an over-the-shoulder-catch on a fly by pinch-hitter Gabriele Ermini in the seventh inning.

Markwell left after seven innings, in which he gave up only five basehits. Nick Stuifbergen took over to make his national team-debut. With one out, he gave up a single to James Buccheri, but then Jairo Ramos Gizzi grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the ninth inning, Stuifbergen gave up a lead-off homerun to Max De Biase and was relieved. After Manager Robert Eenhoorn talked to Stuifbergen and catcher Sidney de Jong on the mount, he appeared to give the signal for a righthanded reliever to the bullpen, but it took a while before a new pitcher entered the field. But it was lefthander Gregory Gustina, who took over and also made his debut. After a groundout, he walked Seth La Fera, after which Eenhoorn came out again to bring in righthanded closer Dave Draijer, who got pinch-hitter Robert Fontana to fly out and saw Giovanni Pantaleoni ground into a force play to end the game.

A few minutes after the game was completed and the ground crew put the tarpet on the field, it started to rain heavily. Today again was overclouded and it had rained briefly in the morning, but all scheduled games could be played. However, more rain is expected for Sunday and Monday, which might result in more changes in the game schedule. For the coming days, some game times and even playing sites have been changed to put in make up games.
(July 9)