HCAW decided the game with a 5-run rally in the second inning. Rodney Michel led off with a single and Ralph Milliard walked. Martijn Meeuwis followed with a sac-bunt to move the runners, but a throwing error resulted in two runs and a runner on second base. After a groundout, Meeuwis advanced to third on a passed ball, then Pirates-starter Robert van der Pol walked Dimitri Leon. Gino Henson followed with a grounder on which Meeuwis scored the third run in the inning. Next, Ronald Jaarsma hit a 2-run homerun that lifted the lead to 5-0. For Jaarsma, this was only his fourth big league-homerun and first since he hit one on May 25, 2002 vs. Kinheim.

HCAW added a run in the third inning off new pitcher Bobbie van Duuren. Bas de Jong led off with a single. When Rodney Michel also singled, De Jong was able to reach third base when an error in rightfield was made. Moments later, De Jong scored on a sac-fly by Martijn Meeuwis.
Pirates scored its first run in the fourth inning when Tyson Arishenkoff led off with his second homerun of the season.

HCAW then put the game out of reach for the Amsterdam-squad by scoring nine runs in the home fourth. The first eight batters all reached base safely, before the first putout was registered in the at bat. With Dimitri Leon (single) and Gino Henson (walk) on base, Ronald Jaarsma hit an RBI-single, then a throwing error on a grounder by Sidney de Jong resulted in another run. A single by Bas de Jong brought home Jaarsma. Next, the bases were loaded when Rodney Michel also singled. Ralph Milliard then added another RBI-single. With the bases still loaded, Martijn Meeuwis highlighted the inning with a grand slam homerun. For Meeuwis, this was his first homerun as a player for HCAW and only his second in the big league. He hit his first one also against Pirates, which came on April 30, 2003 while playing for Twins. Pitcher Bobbie van Duuren, who was left throwing, then finally got two outs on a flyout and a groundout. But when Gino Henson and Ronald Jaarsma followed with a single, Van Duuren was replaced by Kevin Gerard, who gave up an RBI-single to Sidney de Jong, before the inning ended with a force play-grounder.
Trailing 15-1, Pirates managed to add one more run in the sixth inning off Nick Stuifbergen, who went the distance for HCAW. With one out, pinch-hitter Mark Kan reached on a throwing error, moved to third on a double by Fausto Álvarez Rizo and scored on a wild pitch.
(July 1)

ADO opened the score with two runs in the third inning on three back-to-back doubles with two outs. Berry van Driel hit the first double, which was followed by RBI-doubles by Harvey Monte and Kalian Sams. Next batter Percy Isenia then reached on an error, but was caught stealing to end the inning.
From the fifth inning on, ADO added a single run in four consecutive innings.
In the fifth at bat the score was lifted to 3-0. James Rutherford led off with a single, that was followed by an error in rightfield. Rutherford however was eliminated at third base on a grounder back to the pitcher by Shurty Tremus. Berry van Driel and Harvey Monte again delivered important basehits, as their singles enabled Tremus to score.
In the sixth, a run was scored with two runs. Sparta/Feyenoord-starter Elton Koeiman walked lead-off batter Maikel Benner, who later scored on a 2-out triple by Shurty Tremus.
In the seventh inning, Harvey Monte, who was 4-for-5, led off with his second double in the game and scored when Kalian Sams followed with a single.
The 6-0 score was reached in the eighth at bat off rookie Tim Roodenburg, who took over for Elton Koeiman. Quensley Bazoer led off with a single, moved on a grounder and scored on a throwing error.

Sparta/Feyenoord had only four basehits off Rob Cordemans, who pitched eight innings and struckout nine batters. The team left a runner in scoring position in the first and second inning, then was close to a run in the third. Ramphis Trinidad led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt by Dwayne Kemp and reached third base on a single by Sjoerd Hermans. Rutger veugelers then flied out to second baseman Berry van Driel on which Trinidad took off for home, but was thrown out there in a double play. Moments later, ADO scored twice in the home third to take the lead.
Robin van Doornspeek threw the ninth inning for ADO in his first appearance since June 5. In between, the closer sat down with an injury. The righthander retired the side, including a strikeout.
(July 1)

...Catcher Mark Duursma receives the ball just... ...in time to eliminate Johnny Balentina... ...Umpire Edwin van den Berk is ready... ...to make the close call... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

Neptunus took a 1-0 lead in the first at bat on two errors. First, Johnny Balentina was able to reach second base when his grounder was misplayed by second baseman Norbert Lokhorst. He moved to third when next batter Benjamin Dille singled and was able to score when an outfield-error followed. But that was to be all for Neptunus in the first five innings. Dille was caught stealing after a pick-off and in the third inning, Neptunus stranded three runners. In that at bat, Johnny Balentina and Benjamin Dille singled with one out, putting runners on second and third base. The bases were loaded by walking Raily Legito intentionally. The set-up was successful, as Balentina was forced out in a very close play at home on a grounder by Yuji Nerei. The Japanese outfielder grounded to first baseman Dč Flanegin. He threw the ball to catcher Mark Duursma, who received it barely in time, before Balentina touched home plate, resulting in an out-call by Home Plate Umpire Edwin van den Berk. A flyout by Lennart Koster ended the inning.

...Yuji Nerei homers in seventh inning... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

Neptunus was the victim of a double play in the fourth inning, then Johnny Balentina was involved in another crucial out in the fifth inning. With one out, Balentina singled and stole second base. Next, Benjamin Dille was hit by a pitch and Raily Legito flied out to leftfield. Balentina advanced to third base on the flyout, but was called out by Field Umpire Winfried Berkvens after an appeal, as he had left too soon from second base.

But in the sixth inning, Neptunus started to break open the score by scoring twice. Yuji Nerei singled and moved on sac-bunt by Lennart Koster, then advanced to third base on an infield-hit by Evert-Jan 't Hoen. The bases were loaded when Melfried Comenencia walked. Jeffrey Arends followed with a 2-run single that gave Neptunus a 3-0 lead. Pionier-starter Richard Orman then recovered and struckout Jeroen Sluijter and Johnny Balentina. The strikeout on Sluijter was Orman's 1000th in his long career.

In the next inning, three runs were added. With one out, Raily Legito singled. Yuji Nerei then followed with a 2-run homerun, his second fourbagger of the season. It marked the end for Richard Orman, who was relieved by Tommy van Limburg. But the new pitcher loaded the bases by walking Lennart Koster, giving up a single to Evert-Jan 't Hoen and also walking Melfried Comenencia. However, all three runners were left behind, as two groundouts followed.

Trailing 6-0, Pioniers scored its lone run in the ninth inning. Norbert Lokhorst led off with a double, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a one-out single by Jefferson Muzo.
In the first inning, Pioniers left a runner on third base. Michael Duursma led off the game with a double off starter Diegomar Markwell and advanced on a sac-bunt by Edwin de Graaf, but a flyout and a grounder left him on third base. Duursma was to be the only runner that reached third base in the eight innings that Markwell pitched. The lefthander allowed seven basehits and walked two batters, but only two of these nine runners would move into scoring position. Markwell became the first pitcher of the season with nine victories. Jan Naterop pitched the ninth inning for Neptunus and gave up the run to Pioniers.
(July 1)

Kinheim set the tone for the evening with two runs in the first inning. Danny Rombley led off the game with a single and advanced to third base when René Cremer followed with another single. Cremer was forced out at second base on a grounder by Dirk van 't Klooster, but in the meantime Rombley scored the opening run. Van 't Klooster then stole second base and scored on a 2-out double by Edward Illidge. Next, Roel Koolen singled on which Illidge tried to score, but he was thrown out at the plate on a fine throw by rookie-leftfielder Ferd van Stekelenburg, who played in that position as Eugene Kingsale is still out with an injury.
Kinheim added a run in the second inning. Wouter Heemskerk was on first base (fielder's choice) when Denny Beljaards grounded to second baseman Randy Daal. He threw to short stop Ivanon Coffie for the force out at second, then Beljaards was thrown out at first for an apparent double play. However, Heemskerk was called safe at second base by rookie umpire Efraim Silvania and he even was able to reach third base. Moments later, Heemskerk scored on a single by Danny Rombley. René Cremer also singled, but Kinheim left two runners, as a flyout followed.

In the fourth inning, Kinheim made it 4-0 when Wouter Heemskerk scored again. The third baseman led off with a single and advanced when Denny Beljaards walked. Next, Danny Rombley flied out to leftfield. Heemskerk and Beljaards both advanced after the flyout, but the latter was then called out as he went out his running line too far after overrunning second base. In the meantine, Heemskerk scored.
In the next five innings, Kinheim was unable to add more runs, as Almere turned two double plays. In between, Kinheim left two runners in the eighth inning.

The first two runs proved to be enough for Kinheim, as starting pitcher David Bergman threw another fine game. The righthander threw seven innings, gave up only five hits and struckout seven batters. The only time Almere came close to a run was in the third inning when they got the bases loaded. With one out, Frank van Leeuwen and Niels van Weert singled, then Randy Daal walked. But next batter Wesley Bernardus grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the at bat.
Jimmy van der Veldt pitched the last two innings for Kinheim, but didn't encounter any problems in completing the game.
(July 1)

Thank you for visiting this site. See you soon!

Mail suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl