Grand Slam
	Netherlands vs. China November 3, 2006

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2006 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch team shuts outs China
Nederlands | Box Score | Play-by-Play
GUANGZHOU (China) - The Dutch National Team shutout the national squad of China, 12-0, on Friday-evening in the first of two games between the two countries. Both teams will meet again on Saturday. The two games are part of the preparations for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup-tournament in Taiwan, which opens next week.
The game was played in the baseball stadium of the Olympic Training Centre in Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton), where the Chinese national baseball-team already is together for a week. There, they practice and play under guidance of former Major Leaguers Jim Lefebvre (manager) and Bruce Hurst (pitching coach). Despite some smog, which hangs over the city, the circumstances to play were fine, as it was 27 degrees Celsius. Some 50 spectators showed up to watch the game. On Thursday, the Dutch squad practiced after arriving in China on Wednesday-morning. After Saturday's game, two more daily practices will follow, before the team leaves for Taiwan.

The Dutch team collected 17 basehits off six different pitchers, including homeruns by Bryan Engelhardt, Danny Rombley and Kalian Sams. Short stop Raily Legito went 3-for-3 with a walk, but had to leave the game in the seventh inning after making a misstep when running towards first base when he singled. Besides the three homeruns, four doubles were registered, hit by Sharnol Adriana, Sidney de Jong, Percy Isenia and Tjerk Smeets. In the fifth inning, De Jong also had to leave the game after being hit on his leg.

The Dutch opened the score with two runs in the first inning. Eugene Kingsale and Dirk van 't Klooster led off with single, then Sharnol Adriana followed with an RBI-double. With one out, Van 't Klooster scored on a sac-fly by Sidney de Jong. A third run was added in the second inning. Raily Legito then led off with a single. With one out, the bases were loaded when Michael Duursma and Eugene Kingsale walked, followed by an RBI-single by Dirk van 't Klooster.
The Dutch team then didn't score in the next four innings. In the fifth, they got the bases loaded. With one out, Sidney de Jong doubled and Ivanon Coffie was hit by a pitch. Next, Raily Legito singled to load the bases. Next batter Percy Isenia then hit a foul ball of the leg of De Jong, after which Tjerk Smeets was brought in to pinch-run, but a double play ended the at bat.

The Dutch broke open the game with a 7-run rally in the seventh inning. With one out, Bryan Engelhardt homered, then Tjerk Smeets doubled and Ivanon Coffie walked. The bases were loaded after a single by Raily Legito, who was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Duursma (who re-entered the game). Percy Isenia then delivered a 2-run double, followed by a 2-out 2-run single by Kalian Sams and a 2-run homerun by Danny Rombley.
In the ninth inning, the lead was raised to 12-0 when Kalian Sams hit a 2-run homerun.

China came closest to a run in th fifth inning when they got the bases loaded off reliever Rob Cordemans. He gave up a lead-off single, which was followed by an error. With one out, a hit by pitch, stolen base and walk followed, but the inning ended with two pop-flies.

Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn used five pitchers in this game, who gave up only five basehits, including two off starter Diegomar Markwell, who threw the first three innings. Rob Cordemans pitched the next three innings, followed by Kenny Berkenbosch, Gregory Gustina and Michiel van Kampen, who all pitched one inning.
(November 3)

Complete Play-by-Play China vs. Netherlands (Game One)
Box Score China vs. Netherlands (Game One)