Initially it appeared that there might be no game today, as it started to rain pretty heavily about an hour before game time, after it already had rained in the morning. The ground crew worked hard to make the field playable and succeeded in that. After the umpire crew had inspected the field and the weather dried up, it was decided to postpone the game for 45 minutes. And at that moment, the field was in good shape again.
HCAW-starter Patrick de Lange gave up only three hits in the six-plus innings he threw, but nevertheless he finished the game as the losing pitcher. The veteran righthander retired the first ten batters in a row and took a No-Hitter into the fifth inning. In the fourth, the HCAW-infield committed two errors, that gave ADO a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, De Lange gave up two back-to-back doubles that doubled ADO's lead. Trailing 2-0, HCAW was able to come back to a 3-2 lead, but in the seventh inning, De Lange gave up a 2-run homerun for a renewed ADO-lead it didn't relinquish anymore.

In the fourth inning, Maikel Benner became the first runner for ADO after the first ten batters were retired. With one out, short stop Dimitri Leon committed an error on a grounder by Benner, who then advanced on a grounder by Harvey Monte. Next, third baseman Bart Gabriëls made a throwing error after a grounder by Percy Isenia, that gave ADO its first run.
In the fifth inning, Marvin Bleij and Berry van Driel hit back-to-back doubles with one out that resulted in a 2-0 lead. After Van Driel's double, HCAW-rightfielder Nick Makkinje injured himself and had to leave the game. Later, the rookie was diagnosed with a torn hamstring and will be out for a few weeks. Makkinje was replaced by Sidney de Jong, who took over at first base and set three other defensive changes into motions. Initially, De Jong was in the starting line-up, but about 15 minutes before game time, HCAW's starting line-up was changed twice. De Jong has a slight injury and opted not to play. But because of Makkinje's injury and HCAW's small roster, De Jong entered the game after all.

HCAW left a runner at third base in the third inning when Bart Gabriëls tripled with one out, but nothing happened after that. The only time, the HCAW-batters got good contact off Japanese starter Akira Okamoto was in the fifth and sixth inning, when they hit six basehits. By the way, HCAW outhit ADO, 13-6.
In the fifth inning, with one out, it was Sidney de Jong, who had just entered the game, who singled and advanced to second base on an error by rightfielder Kalian Sams. De Jong moved on a single by Dimitri Leon, then scored on a single by Ronald Jaarsma.
In the sixth inning, HCAW scored twice to take a 3-2 lead. With one out, Bas de Jong doubled and Gino Henson singled. The two runners scored when Nick Fridsma also doubled. Fridsma reached third base after a failed pick-off attempt by the catcher, but a strikeout and a grounder ended the at bat.

ADO reacted with two runs in the seventh inning. Patrick de Lange walked lead-off hitter James Rutherford, then Kalian Sams followed with a 2-run homerun to make it 4-3. Sams was in the line-up, because ADO appealed a suspension he was handed after an incident last weekend in a game against Konica Minolta Pioniers. Sams got a 6-game suspension, but because ADO appealed, the outfielder was eligible to play this weekend, as he probably also will be in the coming 3-game series that starts on Thursday. After giving up the homerun, De Lange was relieved by Kenny Berkenbosch. In all previous played games, Berkenbosch was in the batting order playing in the outfield or at first base, as he bats well this season, but as he was in relief today, he focused on pitching and wasn't batting. Berkenbosch gave up singles to Marvin Bleij and Berry van Driel, but then a strikeout was followed by a line out-double play.
ADO added an insurance run in the eighth inning. With two outs, Percy Isenia walked and moved on an infield-hit by James Rutherford. Next, Kenny Berkenbosch made a throwing error on a comeback-grounder by Kalian Sams, that enabled Isenia to score.
In the home eighth, Bas de Jong led off by a line drive back to pitcher Akira Okamoto, who reacted quickly and caught the ball. Okamoto then also retired next batter Gino Henson on a comeback-grounder for his sixth assist in the game, but then gave up singles to Nick Fridsma and Sidney de Jong. okamoto followed by striking out Dimitri Leon to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, closer Robin van Doornspeek took over for Okamoto, but gave up a lead-off infield-hit to Ronald Jaarsma, who was 3-for-5. Jaarsma was then forced out at second base after Martijn Meeuwis bunted. Next, Van Doornspeek struckout Bart Gabriëls and Rodney Michel (the fourth time he struckout) to end the game and earn his fourth save.
(May 21)

The game was scoreless for four innings, but then Kinheim scored twice in the fifth at bat. Kinheim already had two runners on base in the first inning when René Cremer and Dirk van 't Klooster singled with one out, but the latter was caught stealing and next batter Jeffrey Verbij struckout. Verbij batted in fourth place in the batting order, taking the spot of Tjerk Smeets. The regular catcher today wasn't with the team, as he is abroad for his work, as he also will be next Thursday. In the third inning, Kinheim stranded two runners.
Pioniers started even better in its first at bat. Michael Duursma, Norbert Lokhorst and Mark Duursma all singled off starter David Bergman to start the inning. But then Glenn Romney struckout and Dè Flanegin grounded into a double play. Starting with the strikeout, Bergman retired eleven batters in a row. One of them was Michael Duursma, who argued balls and strikes and was ejected by Home Plate Umpire Winfried Berkvens.
In the fifth inning, Kinheim opened the score. With one out, Floris Morang singled. With two outs, Danny Rombley and René Cremer also singled, loading the bases, followed by a 2-run single by Dirk van 't Klooster.
A third run was added in the sixth inning when Roel Koolen doubled and Wouter Heemskerk singled with one out. Floris Morang followed with an RBI-single, then Heemskerk tried to score on a single by Danny Rombley, but was thrown out at home.

Pioniers did something back in the seventh inning, after also leaving a runner on third base in the fifth and sixth inning. In the seventh, Dè Flanegin reached on an error and advanced on a one-out double by Mark-Jan Moorman. David Bergman was then relieved by Jimmy van der Veldt, who walked Marcel Venema to load the bases. Flanegin scored on a grounder by Jefferson Muzo, but again two runners were left behind.
Kinheim got the run, and an extra one, back in the next at bat. Roel Koolen singled and scored on a double by Wouter Heemskerk, which marked the end of starter Richard Orman. He was relieved by Tommy van Limburg, who walked Floris Morang. After a foul-out, the bases were loaded when Danny Rombley reached on an infield-hit, then René Cremer walked to bring in a run. After this, Van Limburg was relieved by Daniël Overbeek. But then, Dirk van 't Klooster grounded into a force out, resulting in Morang being retired at home and a flyout ended the inning.
Duko Jansen and Michiel van Kampen pitched the eighth and ninth inning to complete the game for Kinheim.
(May 21)

...Dwayne Kemp ends up short and is tagged out... ...by 3B Jeroen Sluijter in ninth inning... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

Neptunus took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a 2-out homerun by Raily Legito, but after this Sparta/Feyenoord controled the game for the next five innings. First, the team came alongside in the home first when Leoš Kubát had (another) shaky start and control problems. With one out, he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter, but then struckout Jeffrey Sprott. However, Kubát next delivery ended in a passe ball and gave Sparta/Feyenoord the tying run. Kubát then also hit Jeroen Hermans with a pitch to re-load the bases, but this time the inning ended when Orson Slaats also struckout.
Kubát's control problems continued in the next inning when he walked the first batters he faced which started a 6-run rally. Gregory Gustina came in to relief the Czech righthander. The first batter he faced, Nick Eppinga, grounded towards short for a possible double play, but second baseman Benjamin Dille mishandled the throw from short stop Raily Legito and gave Sparta/Feyenoord the lead. Sjoerd Hermans followed with an RBI-single, then a grounder by Rutger Veugelers resulted in a force out at home. Eppinga then scored when Jeffrey Sprott also hit a force play-grounder that eliminated Veugelers. Sparta/Feyenoord then increased its lead to 7-1 when Jeroen Hermans hit a 3-run homerun.

Neptunus got only one run back in the third inning when Japanese starter Satoru Fujii also continued with his control problems and increased his league-leading walk-total. He walked Jeffrey Arends and Jeroen Sluijter, then followed with a strikeout and a grounder, but loaded the bases with a walk for Raily Legito. An infield-hit by Yuji Nerei gave Neptunus a run, but they left the bases loaded when Jurriaan Korff flied out.

...Jeffrey Sprott (14) is greeted by teammates... ...after game-winning homerun in ninth inning... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

Sparta/Feyenoord reacted with three runs of their own on four consecutive basehits. With two outs, Nick Eppinga doubled and scored on a single by Sjoerd Hermans. The latter then scored all the way from first base when Rutger Veugelers also doubled. A single by Jeffrey Sprott made it 10-2.

In the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, Sparta/Feyenoord didn't score off Gustina and relievers Herman Gaarman and Jan Naterop. Satoru Fujii also silenced the Neptunian offense in the fourth and fifth inning, but then Neptunus started to comeback in the sixth at bat with a 5-run rally. Yuji Nerei and Jurriaan Korff led off with back-to-back doubles to produce a run, then an error and a walk loaded the bases. With one out, Jeroen Sluijter singled in two runs. With two outs, Benjamin Dille did the same to narrow the deficit to 10-7.
In the seventh inning, Satoru Fujii returned to the mound, but gave up four more hits after walking the lead-off batter. The righthander started with a walk for fellow Japanese Yuji Nerei, then gave up singles to Jurriaan Korff and Evert-Jan 't Hoen to load the bases. An infield-hit by Sape Wagenaar and a one-out single by Jeroen Sluijter (3-for-4, three RBI's) gave Neptunus two more runs to make it 10-9 and resulted in a pitching change. Elton Koeiman took over and saw Johnny Balentina's grounder end in a runscoring error that tied the score. A double play ended the inning, but it suddenly was a complete new ballgame.

In the home seventh, Sparta/Feyenoord failed to re-take the lead when Dwayne Kemp led off with a double, but then was caught stealing, followed by two strikeouts. In the eighth, Jan Naterop started with a strikeout, but then Jeffrey Sprott homered to give Sparta/Feyenoord the lead again, 11-10.
In the ninth inning, Neptunus appeared to come back again. With one out, Elton Koeiman hit Jeffrey Arends with a pitch, then gave up a single to Jeroen Sluijter. Next, Johnny Balentina also singled, but when Arends tried to score on this basehit, he was thrown out at home by centerfielder Rutger Veugelers. Benjamin Dille then grounded out to end the inning and the game.
(May 21)

Almere opened the score in the first inning when Randy Daal doubled with one out, stole third base and scored when Ivanon Coffie followed with a grounder. Pirates got alongside immediately in its first at bat. Derick Francisca and Roderick Simon led off with singles and moved when a pick-off to second base ended in an error. After a strikeout, Francisca scored the tying run on a sac-fly by Ralph Lagas.
In the second inning, Pirates took a 3-1 lead by scoring twice. Almere-starter René Rijst hit lead-off hitter Boudewijn van Elswijk with a pitch, then gave up a single to Björn Henrichs, after which both runners advanced when centerfielder Shaldimar Daantji added an error. After a strikeout, Bas Nooij produced a runscoring grounder, then Derick Francisca singled in another run.
In the third inning, Pirates took definitive charge of the game with a 7-run rally. With two outs, Kevin Gerard (fielder's choice) was on first base. René Rijst then loaded the bases on a single by Boudewijn van Elswijk and a walk for Björn Henrichs. The veteran then hit next batter Bobbie van Duuren with a pitch to bring in the first run of the inning. Next, Bas Nooij hit a 2-run double, followed by an RBI-single by Derick Francisca. This was Francisca's third hit in three innings and ninth consecutive in nine official at bats since May 14. Roderick Simon then added a 2-run double and advanced on a throwing error. René Rijst was then finally replaced by Martin Kuipers, who gave up an RBI-single to Tyson Arishenkoff, who also had led off the inning with a single, but was then thrown out after a grounder.

Trailing 10-1, Almere did something back in the fourth inning when Bryan Engelhardt homered. In the fifth, they got two runners on base with two outs, but then Pirates-starter Kevin Miner retired six of next seven batters and got help form a double play in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, Miner was relieved by Robin Franken, who gave up Almere's third run when Ivanon Coffie homered with two outs in this at bat. He then retired the side in the ninth.
Almere's reliever Martin Kuipers gave up no runs in the last five innings of the game, despite giving up six basehits. During his period on the mound, Kuipers allowed only two runners to reach second base, but Pirates had taken a comfortable lead in the first three innings and that was enough to secure its second win of the season. Pirates collected 15 basehits, including three by Derick Francisca and Tyson Arishenkoff.
(May 21)

Thank you for visiting this site. See you soon!

Mail suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl