Baseball
	European Championships 2005

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2005 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch again European Champion!
Nederlands | Box Score | Play-by-Play
PRAGUE (Czech Republic) - With a convincing 15-0 shutout vs. Italy, the Dutch team re-claimed the European title on Sunday in the final of the European Championships.
It was the fourth consecutive and 19th overall title for the Dutch, who had 19 basehits, including homeruns by Sidney de Jong (grand slam), Ivanon Coffie (his eighth) and Percy Isenia.
Coffie won three individual awards, including MVP and was one of five players being named to the All Star team.

Initially, it appeared that Italy was to be the team that would open the score in this game. After a one-two-three first inning, rookie Maximiliano De Biase (who homered against the Dutch in their preliminary game) tripled into the rightfield corner with one out in the second inning, but was left behind at third base. Dutch pitcher Patrick Beljaards, who started on only two days rest, struckout next batter Mario Chiarini, then the inning ended when Giovanni Pantaleoni grounded out.

In the third inning, Beljaards walked Seth La Fera (former player of Neptunus), then a bunt by Frank Candela followed. While it was misplayed, it was ruled a bunt-single and gave Italy runners on first and second. Again, Beljaards and the Dutch defense didn't panic. Beljaards struckout Davide Dallospedale and James Buccheri flied out.

In the fourth inning, the Italians loaded the bases, but again failed to score. Venezuelan-born Jairo Ramos Gizzi led off with a single and was bunted to second. After a flyout, Giovanni Pantaleoni reached on an infield-hit, then Luca Bischeri walked to load the bases. Again, Beljaards pitched strongly and struckout Seth La Fera.

The Dutch team also got runners on base in the first three innings. In the first, Raily Legito doubled with one out and Ivanon Coffie had on 3-0 count when he was walked intentionally with two outs. Rookie pitcher Anthony Billisi (born in Brooklyn, New York) then struckout Harvey Monte to end the at bat. In the second, the Dutch team had runners on first and second with two outs when a force play-grounder ended the inning. In the third, Sidney de Jong singled with one out, but was left behind.

But in the home fourth, the Dutch opened the score. And that run probably decided the game at that moment. Percy Isenia first led off with a single, but was doubled up at first after Dirk van 't Klooster's bunt failed and was caught by pitcher Billisi. But after the two quick outs, Italy gave up an unearned run, that turned the game into Dutch favor. Evert-Jan 't Hoen then reached on a fielding error. Next, a grounder by Danny Rombley also was misplayed, but was ruled an infield-hit. Michael Duursma then hit the ball into the air and appeared to be catchable for experienced second baseman Davide Dallospedale. However, he let the ball fall behind him and in front of the incoming rightfielder for a basehit, which enabled 't Hoen to score. Italy never recovered from this and reached base only once in the next three innings, which were to be last, as the Dutch team scored 14 runs in the next two innings to finish the game with a 10-run difference.

In the fifth inning, the Dutch team rallied for five runs on five hits. Mattia Salsi, who relieved Billisi after Duursma's hit, gave up a lead-off double to Sidney de Jong, which was followed by a single from Ivanon Coffie. After Salsi struckout Harvey Monte, he was relieved by Riccardo De Santis, an experienced pitcher, who this season has a leading role with Italian champion Grosseto. But this time, De Santis couldn't convince, as he gave up three consecutive basehits, resulting in four runs. He was greeted with an RBI-single by Percy Isenia, then gave up a single to Dirk van 't Klooster that loaded the bases. Next, Evert-Jan 't Hoen cleared the bases with a 3-run double. De Santis was relieved by Carlos Richetti, who hit next batter Danny Rombley with a pitch and walked Michael Duursma. After a foul out, he also walked Sidney de Jong to bring Ivanon Coffie to the plate. The former Major Leaguer hit a towering foul ball into deep rightfield and barely missed a grand slam homerun. Moments later, he flied out to end the inning.

The 6-0 lead wasn't enough for the Dutch, which added a 9-run rally in the next at bat. Three Italian pitchers gave up seven hits, including three homeruns. The Dutch team put on an offensive show, much to the delight of the more than 3000 enthousiastic spectators. The inning started when Harvey Monte led off with a double. Sandy Patrone came on to relief Richetti, but also was hit hard. Percy Isenia hit an RBI-single, followed by an RBI-double by Dirk van 't Klooster. After a groundout, Danny Rombley singled and Michael Duursma walked to load the bases. Raily Legito then grounded to short stop Seth La Fera, who had a chance to force out the runner at second, but this was ruled an infield-hit and gave the Dutch another run. Next batter Sidney de Jong then followed with a huge grand slam homerun off the roof of the clubhouse in leftfield to increase the Dutch lead from 9-0 to 13-0. It marked the end of Patrone, who was relieved by American-born Peter Nyari. But he also couldn't stop the hot Dutch bats. Ivanon Coffie drove the ball into deep rightfield for his eighth homerun of the tournament and underscore his outstanding form in the event. After Harvey Monte flied out, Percy Isenia (who went 4-for-5) added another homerun. The dominating Dutch power frustrated the Italians, as Nyari threw the next pitch inside to next batter Dirk van 't Klooster, which emptied the dug-outs. Words were exchanged, but the umpire crew got both teams back inside. After an Italian remark, the players again poured onto the field. Home Plate Umpire Dana Beszcszynski called Managers Robert Eenhoorn (Netherlands) and Giampiero Faraone with him. The two kept arguing with each other, but in the end the game was resumed. It was an incident that just belongs to a game between the two European archrivals. Eh, Van 't Klooster grounded out to end the inning, but the Dutch had taken a 15-0 lead.

In the seventh inning, three Italian pinch-hitter tried to get on base, but failed. In the previous inning, Robin van Doornspeek had taken over the pitching for Patrick Beljaards with one out and walked Maximiliano De Biase, but then a groundout and a fine catch by rightfielder Harvey Monte followed. In the seventh, the first two pinch-hitters grounded out, after which Gregory Gustina was called to the mount to finish the game. He faced Igor Schiavetti, who lined the ball to second baseman Michael Duursma for the final out of the game and this Championship.
The Dutch again had the best team in Europe!

,,I've never seen a dominating team as this time'', Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn reacted afterwards on comparing this tournament to previous Championships. ,,Everything worked, defense, pitching and offense, the mix was correct throughout the tournament.''

The Dutch team collected 19 basehits in this game, the Italians had only four. All nine Dutch starters had at least one basehit and scored at least one run, while seven players had at least one RBI.

Throughout the nine games played, the Dutch defense committed only two errors, while their opponents made 14. Offensively, the Dutch had 96 basehits and scored 83 runs. The opponents had 42 basehits and scored only seven runs.
In the Preliminary Round (five games), the Dutch team scored 36 runs and gave up 6. In the Final Phase (four games), the Dutch team even improved, scoring 47 runs, while giving up only one.

Eenhoorn himself was part of the Dutch team that handed Italy a 16-1 loss during the 1987 Championships in Barcelona (Spain) when the final was played in a best-of-five format, but the 15-0 win was the biggest shutout win in an European Championship Final ever.

,,You should hit a grand slam homerun late in the game with a small run difference, but this also gives a great feeling'', Sidney de Jong said on hitting his grand slam in the sixth inning.

,,I didn't threw much pitches last Friday against France. Just about 30. It just felt as like pitching in the bullpen, so I had no problems. Besides that, in a game like this you're going for it'', pitcher Patrick Beljaards said on pitching on two days rest.

,,When they throw me a fastball, I will hit it'', powerhitter Ivanon Coffie said on hitting eight homeruns. Some say Coffie was the difference between this and previous tournaments. ,,You cannot do it alone. This is a team sport, so we did this all together, as a team.''

(July 17)

Complete Results and Award Winners European Championship