In a packed Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem (more than 2000 spectators), Kinheim could have broken open the game right away in the first inning off starter Conrad Orman, but failed to do so. Danny Rombley led off with a single, but was forced out on a grounder by René Cremer. Kinheim then loaded he bases when Dirk van 't Klooster singled and Tjerk Smeets walked. But then, with the bases loaded and only one out, next batter Edward Illidge went after the first pitch of Orman and grounded into a double play, ending the inning. Instead of putting Pioniers under pressure, Kinheim now left two runners and had no runs. It will always be the question how important this first inning would have been for the remainder of the game when Kinheim would have scored. On the other hand, Pioniers played a very good game, hitting at the right moment and turning four double plays.

Kinheim did open the score in the third at bat. With one out, Danny Rombley doubled and then scored when René Cremer followed with a single.
Pioniers came alongside in the fourth inning. Mark Duursma led off with a single, followd by a double by Glenn Romney. Duursma then scored on a sac-fly by Dè Flanegin. Edwin de Graaf later also singled with two outs, but Pioniers stranded two runners.
In the home fouth, Kinheim re-took the lead. Edward Illidge then led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch and a grounder by Roel Koolen. He then scored on a sac-fly by Vince Rooi, who played in his first game defensively for Kinheim at third base. In the Play-Offs, Rooi was used as the Designated Hitter.

But from the fifth inning on it was Pioniers all the way. The Hoofddorp-team scored nine runs in the last five innings of the game. In the fifth, Kinheim-starter David Bergman, who wasn't throwing his best game of the season, gave up three baseshits, which led to a 3-2 lead for Pioniers. With one out, Norbert Lokhorst singled, then Mark Duursma doubled with two outs. Lokhorst and Duursma then scored on a single by Glenn Romney to give Pioniers a 3-2 lead. After this, they never relinquished the lead, but only increased it.
Pioniers added a run in the sixth inning. Glennsig Polonius reached on an error, then scored on a 2-out single by Lars Koehorst.
In the meantime, Pioniers turned double plays in the fifth and sixth inning, bringing their total to four.

The game was the decided in the seventh inning, when Pioniers rallied for three runs to take a 7-2 lead. David Bergman walked lead-off hitter Michael Duursma and was relieved by Duko Jansen, but he also was unable to turn things around and was greeted by a single from Mark Duursma. The Duursma-brothers then advanced on a double-steal which was followed by an error, resulting in a run. Jansen then walked Glenn Romney, followed by an RBI-single by Dè Flanegin. The bases were then loaded when Glennsig Polonius reached on an error. After having faced only four batters, Jansen was relieved by Jimmy van der Veldt. After two flyouts, another run was scored when Van der Veldt walked Lars Koehorst with the bases loaded.

In the home seventh, Pionier-starter Conrad Orman gave up a single to Denny beljaards with two outs and was replaced Erik Jan Lind. This was the lone possibility for Pioniers to use Orman, as he will return to the USA on Friday to start playing in the Instructional League in the Baltimore Orioles-organisation.

Pioniers scored another run in the eighth inning. Michael Duursma walked and stole second, then scored on two following grounders. After Dè Flanegin then singled, Thomas Morang became Kinheim's fourth pitcher and would complete the game.

In the home eighth, Kinheim would load the bases again with one out, but again didn't score. René Cremer was hit by a pitch, then Dirk van 't Klooster singled. After a flyout, Edward Illidge also walked, but Erik Jan Lind then struckout Roel Koolen and the inning ended when Vince Rooi popped out.

Pioniers increased its lead to 10-2 by scoring twice in the ninth inning. Important runs, as these might be the difference in the game, as Kinheim would come back with three runs in the home ninth. Edwin de Graaf walked and Marcel Venema singled, then two flyouts followed. The two runners then advanced on a wild pitch and both scored when Michael Duursma followed with a double.

In the home ninth, closer Dave Draijer took the mound for Pioniers, but was hit hard and gave up four hits and three runs with two outs. He first struckout Wouter Heemskerk, but then Denny Beljaards reached on an infield-hit, who moved on a grounder by Danny Rombley. Beljaards then scored on a single by René Cremer, which was followed by an RBI-double by Dirk van 't Klooster (who was 4-for-5) and an RBI-single by Tjerk Smeets. Edward Illidge then also singled, but a flyout by Roel Koolen ended the game.

Tonight marked the first time David Bergman was credited with a loss since June 4, when Kinheim was shutout 8-0 by ADO. Bergman was 12-1 in the regular season, then added a win during the Play-Offs.
(September 21)

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