Almere scored its first runs right away in the first inning and it was a former Pirate, who made it possible. Pirates' rookie righthander Jan-Willem Geerts started well by striking out Shaldimar Daantji, who last year played in the outfield with Pirates. But then, he gave up a single to Niels van Weert (who then stole second) and hit Ferd van Stekelenburg with a pitch. After Bryan Engelhardt flied out, it was Sidney Ensermo who hit a 2-run double to give Almere a 2-0 lead. Last season, Ensermo made his big league-debut with Pirates.

Pirates answered with three unearned runs in the home second. Lefthander starter Nick Veltkamp had no problems in the first inning, but now he gave up a lead-off single to Boudewijn van Elswijk and walked Fausto Alvarez. A grounder by Mark Kan was then misplayed by second baseman Niels van Weert to load the bases. After Derrick Francisca flied out, the Almere-infield committed another error. The grounder by Ralph Lagas ended in a force play throwing error by short stop Randy Daal and gave Pirates two runs. For Daal, it was a change to a new position, as he was the prime second baseman for Kinheim last season. With Kan on third and Lagas on first, a double-steal situation enabled Kan to score the third run in the inning and gave Pirates a 3-2 lead. But with Lagas on second base, the inning ended when Remco Draijer struckout.

Almere came alongside in the third inning. Robbert van der Pol, another rookie, took over the pitching, but had problems finding his control. Van der Pol, who last year pitched for First Divisionist Sparks Haarlem, walked three batters in this inning. With runners on first and third base and two outs, Jeffrey de Vrieze singled in a run to tie the score. Last season, De Vrieze's professional career with the Florida Marlins-organization ended when he was released.

Almere broke open the game with a 4-run rally in the fourth inning. Jason Halman, who also played for Pirates last season, led off with a single and stole second. With one out, Van der Pol hit Niels van Weert and Ferd van Stekelenburg with a pitch to load the bases. Bryan Engelhardt followed with a 2-run double and resulted in a pitching change. Raban Schalm took over and inherited a runner on second and third base. They would later score when a double play-grounder ended in a fielder's choice, followed by a throwing error by second baseman Derrick Francisca when he tried to complete a double play. In the last three innings of this 7-inning game Schalm, Mark Kan and Maarten Mulder gave up no more runs and retired eight of the last nine batters.

Pirates added a run in the fifth inning on two errors. After Forstin Coenraad and Manuel Dame pitched a perfect inning (third and fourth), Derrick Isenia took over the pitching in the fifth. Isenia, who last season pitched for First Divisionist Storks, walked lead-off batter Ralph Lagas, who reached second base when Randy Daal made an error on a force play-grounder by Remco Draijer. Another (force play) error loaded the bases and Lagas then scored on another force play-grounder, this time by Roderick Simon. The inning ended with a double play.

Pirates is playing twice vs. Konica Minolta Pioniers next weekend. Saturday at Amsterdam, Sunday in Hoofddorp.
Almere is playing in a 3-team series on Saturday in Apeldoorn with First Divisionists Robbers Robur '58 and Gryphons. Almere has no game scheduled for Sunday.
(March 19)

The game marked the debut of Czech national team-pitcher Leoš Kubát, who pitched the first two innings for Neptunus. The righthander gave up one basehit and one earned run, but also struckout two batters. Kubát is with the team for a trial period that ends on March 29, when he will return back to the Czech capital of Prague. But around that date it will be decided if the national team-pitcher will return to Rotterdam to play for Neptunus in the regular season.
In the first inning, Kubát walked Sänder Messemaker, who advanced to second base on a sac-bunt by Randy Giorgiadis. Messemaker, a Dutch player, who played in the Dutch big league with Twins, then scored on a single by Denny Williams.

After two scoreless inning, Brasschaat added two runs in the fourth inning off Jan Naterop, who had taken over from Kubát in the third inning. Naterop walked Denny Williams, who then scored on a double by Johnny Peerens. Next, Christian Ruggenberg (another Dutchman who played for Twins in the past) fouled out and former Neptunian Kevin Knollenburg struckout. But then Ken Hoirelbeke singled to rightfield on which Peerens ran towards home. Rightfielder Jurriaan Korff made a perfect throw towards home, but there rookie catcher Lennart Koster, who had just taken over behind the plate, couldn't get the ball under control, enabling Peerens to score.
In the fifth inning, Brasschaat increased its lead to 4-0. With one out, Sänder Messemaker tripled in the far corner of rightfield near the foulpole and scored on a grounder by Randy Giorgiadis.

Neptunus was held scoreless for five innings by starter Koen De Clerck, who (despite the low temperatures) threw all these five innings in his first outdoor-outing of the season and threw 70 pitches. The Rotterdam-club had five basehits in this period, but was unable to move the runners around, as the batters hit the ball straight to the Belgian defensive players.
But in the sixth inning, Neptunus finally was able to score a run. With one out, Raily Legito singled and stole second. In the first inning, Legito already had driven the ball deep to centerfield, but flied out. In the third inning, he doubled. Legito advanced to third base on a grounder by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, then scored on a single by Jurriaan Korff, who has made a good impression in his first two games with Neptunus.

Rookie Rogier Vleugels, who last season pitched for First Divisionist Sparta/Feyenoord-2, threw the last two innings for Neptunus. The righthander struckout two and gave up one hit, but held Brasschaat scoreless. Vleugels will pitch for Neptunus' First Division-team DOOR Tridents this season, but has the potention of throwing in the big league team also.

Next weekend, Neptunus will meet Corendon Kinheim twice. Saturday in Rotterdam, Sunday in Haarlem.
(March 19)

Thank you for visiting this site. See you soon!

Mail suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl