 HEEMSTEDE (Neth.) - DOOR Neptunus collected 15 basehits, had two big rallies and opened the 2008 season with a big 15-1 victory at MediaMonks RCH, which produced only five hits.
...Alderman Sjaak Struijf...
...throws first pitch...
(Photo: Ron Wicklert
www.eott.nl) |
Before the game started, the season was opened with the throwing of the ceremonial first pitch by Sjaak Struijf, the Alderman for Culture, Sports and Recreation of the Municipality of Heemstede. Moments later, Mexican starter Al Morales Gomes took the mound for RCH and made his big league-debut. In 2006, Morales was both pitcher and coach with RCH, which the captured the First Division-title to promote to the big league. Last season, the Mexican didn't play for the Heemstede-squad. After a quick first out, the righthander saw the next six batters all reach base, resulting in a 5-0 lead. With one out, Benjamin Dille doubled, then Morales loaded the bases by walking Raily Legito and Lennart Koster. Next, Martijn Meeuwis, who was 5-for-5 and had four RBI's, hit a 2-run double, followed by a 3-run homerun by Andy Leer, which was the first homerun of the 2008 big league-season and the first of six to be hit on this Opening Day. Derick Francisca, who came over to Neptunus from Amsterdam Pirates three days earlier, then hit a triple in his first Neptunian at bat, but stranded at third base, as Morales followed with two strikeouts. One run was added in the second inning. With two outs, Raily Legito singled, advanced to third on a single by Lennart Koster and scored on a single by Martijn Meeuwis.
...Andy Leer: 3-run Homerun, 5 RBI's...
(Photo: Ron Wicklert
www.eott.nl) |
The next big rally followed in the fourth inning when the Rotterdam-squad scored seven runs. Seven of the first eight batters all reached base safely. Al Morales Gomes started with a walk for Eugene Kingsale, then hit next batter Benjamin Dille with a pitch and was relieved by Martin Kuipers. He was greeted with an RBI-single by Raily Legito, then struckout Lennart Koster, but Martijn Meeuwis and Andy Leer (2-run) followed with RBI-singles. After Derick Francisca walked, Jeroen Sluijter singled in another run and brought in new pitcher Joran Klarenbeek, who made his big league-debut. He started with a strikeout, but then Eugene Kingsale hit a 2-run single to increase the lead to 13-0.
Neptunus scored its last two runs in the seventh inning off new pitcher Rick Pluijmers, who also made his debut on the highest level and last season was the teammate of Klarenbeek with First Divisionist Alcmaria Victrix. Another former player from this club from Alkmaar, who made his debut with RCH and in the big league was second baseman Michael Pluijmers. With one out in the seventh, Benjamin Dille reached on an error, then scored when Raily Legito followed with a 2-run homerun.
Eight of the Neptunus-starters collected one or more basehits. The lone exception was rookie Mike Bazuin, who struckout four times. As mentioned, Martijn Meeuwis led the team with five basehits. Last Thursday, Meeuwis was named Team MVP of the 2007 season, while Leon Boyd, today's starter, was named Neptunus' Best Pitcher of last year.
RCH stranded seven runners and scored its lone run in the sixth inning. With two outs, Kevin Heijstek walked Ferd van Stekelenburg, who then advanced when an error was made on a force play-grounder by Robin Longhurst. Heijstek loaded the bases by walking Maarten Bos, then gave up an RBI-single to Lex Leijenaar, but a force play ended the at bat. Heijstek took over the pitching in the fifth for starter Leon Boyd and was credited with the win.
(April 12)
Box Score
...Neptunus-starter Leon Boyd...
(Photo: Ron Wicklert
www.eott.nl) |
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