 HAARLEM (Neth.) - Despite unfavorable weather conditions, sometimes heavy winds and cold, Dutch champion Corendon Kinheim today played its first exhibition game of the season. The Haarlem-squad won 4-0 in a 7-inning game vs. Sparta/Feyenoord, which is the only team to have played already four games. Two other scheduled games for today were canceled, because of the weather. DOOR Neptunus was to play vs. ADO at Rotterdam, while Mr. Cocker HCAW was to visit L&D Amsterdam.
Kinheim initially was to have a trainingcamp in Turkey last week (like they did before last season), but earlier this year, it was decided to drop that this time. As a result, Kinheim had no games scheduled last weekend and therefore has its first game listed for today.
,,Initially, in the morning, it appeared to be a reasonable day'', said Kinheim's Head Coach Ben Thijssen, who won the Coach of the Year Award last season.
,,But there was a lot of wind and the conditions weren't that good. We decided to play anyhow and luckily, we were able to do so and no one got hurt, as that is playing in the back of your mind, under these conditions. For us, it was our first game, so we wanted to play when possible. As tomorrow's game already was canceled, we brought in several pitchers to give them some innings.''
Kinheim opened the score in the third inning off starter Rudy Seebus.
After leaving two runners in the first inning and seeing Sparta/Feyenoord turn a double play in the second, Kinheim got two quick outs in the third.
But then Danny Rombley doubled and scored when next batter René Cremer singled.
The second run was scored in the fourth at bat off new pitcher Ronald de Bont.
He gave up a lead-off single to newcomer Bryan Engelhardt, who last season played for Instant Holland Almere '90, which relegated.
A throwing error on a grounder by Tjerk Smeets brought Engelhardt to third base, who then scored on a 2-out single by Wouter Heemskerk.
In the fifth inning, Kinheim got the bases loaded with only one out, but failed to add a run, as Bryan Engelhardt struckout en Tjerk Smeets flied out.
Two runs were then scored in the sixth inning off Berry van Donselaar, who took over for Ronald de Bont.
Jeffrey Verbij (who was 2-for-3) led off with a single, then newcomer Jason Halman (ex-ADO) flied out, but Wouter Heemskerk reached base with a walk.
The two runners advanced on a wild pitch, before Denny Beljaards singled in the third Kinheim-run.
Next, Heemskerk scored on a grounder by Dirk van 't Klooster, who is recovering from an injury and was only used as a batter today.
Roel Koolen, another recovering player, played three innings defensively as a short stop, but didn't bat.
Sparta/Feyenoord got runners on base in each of the seven innings, but was unable to score, stranding eleven.
In the first inning, lead-off batter Ramphis Trinidad reached on a throwing error, then Harvey Monte singled with one out, but Kinheim-starter David Bergman then himself caught a pop-up and ended the inning with a groundout towards first base.
In the third inning, Cliff Foster took over for Bergman and saw Sparta/Feyenoord threaten again.
Foster, who also played for Almere '90 last season, started with walks for Imco Rudolph and Ramphis Trinidad, then saw Gino Henson hit a force play-grounder, but loaded the bases by walking Harvey Monte.
Foster was then supported with an inning-ending double play and was credited with the win, as Kinheim then scored its first run in the home half of the third inning.
Sparta/Feyenoord also got the bases loaded in the fourth inning off new pitcher Duko Jansen.
With two outs and Roderick Simon (fielder's choice) on first base, Sape Wagenaar singled and Shaldimar Daantji walked, but a grounder by Imco Rudolph ended the inning.
In the fifth inning, two batters reached base with two outs off Nick Veltkamp, who also came over from Almere '90.
In the next inning, the lefthander was supported with another double play.
In the seventh inning, when it also started to rain a little, closer Michiel van Kampen walked lead-off hitter Patrick Wabbijn, but then got three groundouts.
(March 22)
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