...Jefferson Muzo scores in the eighth inning... ...Catcher Lennart Koster awaits the ball... ...Umpire Marlo Remilia is ready for the call... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

Pioniers collected two basehits in the first inning, but didn't score then. In the next at bat, three hits and two walks were added to take a 2-0 lead off starter Martijn Nijhoff. In the first inning, Michael Duursma led off with a single, then Glenn Romney singled with one out. But the inning ended when next batter Dè Flanegin grounded into a double play. In the second inning, Mark-Jan Moorman and Edwin de Graaf singled with one out, followed by an RBI-double by Glennsig Polonius. Nijhoff then loaded the bases by walking Norbert Lokhorst and gave up a run when he also walked next batter Jefferson Muzo. More runs were avoided, as Nijhoff was supported with a double play on a grounder by Michael Duursma.

...New Neptunus-pitcher... ...Chris Ryan looks on... (Photo: Ron Wicklert www.eott.nl)

Neptunus stranded two runners in the first inning off starter Erik Jan Lind, who walked two batters with two outs. In the second inning, Martijn Meeuwis and Jeffrey Arends led off with singles, but a force out and a double play ended this scoring opportunity. Neptunus then scored its first run in the next at bat, but again left two runners. Melfried Comenencia led off with a walk, but was forced out on a grounder by Johnny Balentina, who then reached second base safely when an error was made on a force play-grounder by Benjamin Dille. An infield-hit by Raily Legito then loaded the bases. Next, Balentina scored on a sac-fly on foul territory by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, but another force play-grounder made an end to this at bat.

In the fifth inning, Neptunus tied the score on Lind's reliever Maxim Kerkmeer, who took over in this inning. The young lefthander saw lead-off batter Melfried Comenencia reach base when recently added infielder Jourick Blanco made an error on his grounder to third base. Hereafter, Kerkmeer gave up three consecutive singles to Johnny Balentina, Benjamin Dille and Raily Legito. The first two loaded the bases, the third, a check-swing blooper over second base, resulted in the tying run. But Neptunus was unable to add more runs, thanks to some good defense by Blanco. With the bases loaded, Blanco forced out Balentina at home on a grounder by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, then made an unassisted double play on a line drive by Lennart Koster to end the inning.

...Michael Duursma turns double play in 4th... ...inning after forcing out Jeffrey Arends... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

...Michael Duursma reaches second base, but... ...short stop Raily Legito eliminates the batter... ...in 6th inn.; 2B Benjamin Dille looks on... (Photo: Ron Wicklert - www.eott.nl)

In the next inning, Neptunus took a 4-2 lead. Martijn Meeuwis led off with a walk and Jeffrey Arends, who was 3-for-4, followed with a single. The two moved on a passed ball and scored on an one-out double by Jeroen Sluijter. Next batter Melfried Comenencia walked, but hereafter, the next eight batters were retired in order. In the seventh, Dave Draijer pitched a perfect inning, as did veteran Marc Steenhof in the eighth inning in his first appearance since 2002.

In the fourth inning, Kevin Heystek took over the pitching for Neptunus and allowed only two batters to reach base in the four innings he pitched. After retiring the first six batters he saw, he gave up a lead-off single to Michael Duursma in the sixth, but the three outs followed. In the seventh, he gave up an one-out double to Mark-Jan Moorman, this time followed by two groundouts.
Pioniers scored its second third run in the eighth inning off Jan Naterop. With one out, the lefthander walked Jefferson Muzo, who then stole second and third base and scored on a sac-fly by Michael Duursma.
(March 31)

ADO got two runners on base in the first inning, but was unable to open the score. With one out, Maikel Benner singled and Marvin Bleij walked. Next, Boudewijn van Elswijk flied to rightfield and the inning ended, as Bleij returned too late to first base and was doubled up.
In the home of the first, Almere struck. ADO-starter Quinten Tramm walked lead-off hitter Eugene Kingsale, who then stole second base. After Emeron Lourens flied out, Derrick Francisca reached base on a throwing error to put runners on first and third base. Bryan Engelhardt then followed with a 3-run homerun to give Almere an early and what prooved to be deciding lead.

ADO came back with a run in the second inning. Almere-starter Nick Veltkamp walked Harvey Monte, then gave up a single to Jason Halman. This basehit was followed by an error by centerfielder Eugene Kingsale, which enabled Monte to score and Halman to reach third base. But hereafter, two groundouts and a strikeout followed.
After stranding two runners in the third inning, Almere added a run in the fourth inning off new pitcher Berry van Driel. With one out, Ricky Daal doubled and scored on a 2-out single by Niels van Weert, who advanced to second base when the throw from leftfield went passed home. Van Weert moved to third base on a wild pitch, but stranded there, as Eugene Kingsale struckout to end the at bat.
After giving up the run in the second inning, Nick Veltkamp walked lead-off hitter Jaïr Roseburg in the third inning, but was then supported with a double play. In the fourth, he gave up a 2-out single to Jason Halman, but then struckout next batter Adrian Anthony for his fourth consecutive strikeout.

In the fifth inning, Veltkamp walked three batters, but ADO scored only one run. Michel Korzeniewski led off with a single, then moved on a sac-bunt by Dimitri Leon. After Jaïr Roseburg walked, Maikel Benner flied out to leftfield, but enabled the two runners to advance to second and third base. The bases were then loaded when Veltkamp walked Marvin Bleij. Next, Korzeniewski scored on a passed ball, before the bases were loaded again when Veltkamp also walked Boudewijn van Elswijk. A grounder by Harvey Monte ended this scoring opportunity for ADO. Van Elswijk was ADO's last runner in the game, as the last 13 batters were retired in order by Erik Remmerswaal (three innings) and Jerry Breek (one inning).
Almere also didn't add more runs off rookie pitchers Jeoffrey de Groot and Gary Da Costa, who both are currently on the roster of ADO's First Division-team and made their first appearance in the exhibition season for the big league-team, which is still looking for extra arms. In the fifth inning, De Groot took over the pitching and retired the side. In the sixth, he gave up a lead-off single to Randy Daal, which was followed by a double by Giovannie Samboe, but then three outs followed. Da Costa pitched the last three innings and retired all nine batters he faced.
(March 31)

After three scoreless innings, Pirates opened the score in the fourth inning. With one out, Kenny Berkenbosch reached on an error, then stole second base and advanced on a throwing error by the catcher. Moments later, Berkenbosch scored the first run as next batter Bas de Jong doubled.
Two innings before, Berkenbosch led off and then reached base when veteran pitcher Mark Giroldi walked him. But then, he was doubled off first base when Bas de Jong flied out to rightfielder Dennis Blom.

Pirates-starter Tom Stuifbergen allowed only one batter to reach base in the four innings he threw. In the second, he walked Mark van de Mijll Dekker with two outs, but then retired the next seven batters in a row. For Stuifbergen, this was his last appearance, as he will leave for Florida next week to start extended Spring Training and prepare for his first professional season in the Minnesota Twins-organization.
Alcmaria came alongside on Stuifbergen's successor Raban Schalm, who took over in the fifth inning. Martin de Boer then led off with a single, moved on a grounder and scored on a 2-out single by Rob van de Kamer.

In the sixth, Pirates regained the lead by scoring twice off reliever Jorian Klarenbeek. After Kenny Berkenbosch lined out to third, Bas de Jong singled and Roy Harteveld walked. The two runners advanced on a grounder by Ferd van Stekelenburg, then both scored on a single by Joey Berkenbosch, who himself was thrown out at second base, trying to make it a double.

Alcmaria narrowed the deficit to 3-2 in the home of the sixth. Michael Pluijmers reached second base on a throwing error, then scored when another throwing error followed on a grounder by next batter Onno Jansen. But then a double play and a groundout ended the at bat.

In the seventh inning, the last of this game, Pirates added two unearned runs to make it 5-2. With one out, Björn Henrichs reached on an error, then Zaír Koeiman singled. The two runners moved on a grounder by Sidney de Jong, before scoring on a single by Kenny Berkenbosch.
(March 31)

The hosting club opened the score with a run in the first inning off starter Thomas Morang. Steffen Vos led off with a single, moved on a grounder and reached third base safely on an error in an attempt to throw him out after a grounder by Roy Kamoen. Vos then scored on a grounder by Mark Schonenberg.
The lead was shortlived, as RCH reacted with three (unearned) runs, with two outs, in the second at bat. With one out, Jeroen Bakker and Kevin Gerard singled, then Robbert Vogel reached on an error to load the bases. A force out at home followed on a grounder by Michel Croes, then the inning could have been over, but an error was made on a force play-grounder by Lex Leijenaar, which produced the tying run. Nick Heij followed with a 2-run single to give RCH a 3-1 lead.

De Hazenkamp got one run back in the home of the second when they got the bases loaded. Dylan Kamoen reached on an error, Mark Flink walked and Erik van Zomeren singled. Second baseman Kevin Gerard then made an error on a grounder by Bas Timmer, which appeared to give De Hazenkamp the tying runs. Kamoen scored, but Flink was thrown out at home on a nice throw by rightfielder Lex Leijenaar. Hazenkamp still had two runners on base, but a pop-fly and a grounder ended the at bat.

After a scoreless inning, RCH took charge of the game with a 4-run rally in the fourth inning, which again included three unearned runs. Kevin Gerard led off with a walk and was safe on an error that followed on a grounder by Robbert Vogel. After the two runners advanced on a sac-bunt by Michel Croes, the two scored on a single by Lex Leijenaar, who himself advanced on an error in leftfield. With two outs, Leijenaar scored on a single by Sevard Seferina, who made his debut in an RCH-uniform. The Antillian catcher arrived a few days earlier and was 2-for-4 in his first game for RCH. Seferina later scored on a single by Churandy La Cruz to make it 7-2.
RCH added three (earned) runs in the fifth inning. With two outs, Robbert Vogel and Lex Leijenaar (who both walked) scored on a double by Nick Heij, who had four RBI's and himself would score moments later on a single by Floris Morang.
De Hazenkamp was unable to add more runs after the second inning and reached base only three more times.
(March 31)

HCAW decided the game with a 4-run rally in the first inning, then added only one more run in the next five at bats. Sparks-starter Mike Krooder gave up four consecutive basehits, before the first out was registered. Ralph Milliard led off with a single and moved to third when Shurty Tremus also singled. Tremus was replaced by pinch-runner Juriën Overman out of precaution, as he stretched a muscle while running towards first base. Next, Milliard scored on a single by Ronald Jaarsma. The bases were loaded when Gino Henson reached on a bunt-single. Sergio Koelemij then grounded out, but Overman scored. An error on a grounder by Sidney Ensermo gave HCAW another run. The fourth run was scored when Ensermo broke for second and a throwing error followed, enabling Henson to score.

HCAW made it 5-0 in the next at bat. Ralph Milliard again led off with a single and this time Juriën Overman followed with a single. After Ronald Jaarsma was called out on an infield-fly, the bases got loaded when an error was made on a force play-grounder by Gino Henson. Milliard then scored on a sac-fly by Sergio Koelemij, but HCAW stranded two runners, as next batter Sidney Ensermo flied out.
In the remaining four innings, HCAW did not score. In the third, Bart Gabriëls led off with a single and went on to reach third base, while another runner stranded in the fourth inning. In the fifth, HCAW reached base four times, but didn't score. Siemen Korff led off with a walk, but was doubled up on first base after returning too late on a flyout to centerfield by Ralph Milliard. Juriën Overman then walked and advanced on an error on a grounder by Ronald Jaarsma, but another force play-grounder ended the at bat.

Sparks left the bases loaded two times. They got two runners on with one out in the first inning, but HCAW then turned a double play. In the next at bat, Bervin Hurkmans led off with a double off starter Joey Eijpe. After a groundout, the bases got loaded when Eijpe walked Mathijs van Dusschoten and Tjade Bouma. Eijpe then struckout the next batter and got out of the inning after a groundout.
In the third, he walked another batter with one out, but he then was forced out, after which Eijpe picked off the runner on first base to end the inning. Eijpe's control problems continued in the fourth at bat, as the lefthander walked three of the first four batters he faced. Bervin Hurkmans led off with a walk, but was forced out on a grounder by Bram v.d. Linden. Hereafter, Eijpe walked Mathijs van Dusschoten and Tjade Bouma and was relieved by Rutger Zwaal. He was greeted with an RBI-single by Lennart Stut, but then struckout the next two batters to end the inning.
In the last two innings, Zwaal walked the first batter, then retired the next six in a row.
(March 31)

Last year, HCAW also had problems with the hosting club. De Hazenkamp then hit three homeruns in the fourth inning to take a 7-1 lead, but HCAW went on to win 11-8. Today, the runproduction was limited to only one, which was scored in the fourth inning.
In the first three innings, HCAW reached base three times. In the first at bat, Bart Gabriëls walked with two outs, but stranded on first base. In the second, Ralph Milliard, who now batted in the number six slot, doubled and next batter Juriën Overman singled to put runners on first and third. But then Ronald Jaarsma flied out to rightfield, after which Overman was doubled up on first base after returning too late.

In the fourth inning, HCAW scored the lone run with two outs. Siemen Korff then walked, stole second and scored on a single by Ralph Milliard, who was 3-for-3 and had three of his team's five hits.
The fifth HCAW-basehit was an infield-hit on a slow roller towards third base by Rutger Zwaal. The pitcher was batting ninth and was the designated hitter as HCAW had ran out of players for this game. The team traveled to Nijmegen with a small group of players. But as Shurty Tremus got hurt in the opener and Gino Henson had to leave after the first game due to other commitments, only pitchers were available to take the DH-spot.
HCAW got more runners in the remainder of the game, but was unable to score. In the sixth, Sidney Ensermo walked, but was caught stealing, then Sebastiaan Olgers reached second base on a throwing error, but stranded there. In the seventh, Ralph Milliard again singled and stole both second and third base, but two strikeouts and a grounder ended the at bat.

De Hazenkamp also got scoring chances and came close to the opening run in the first at bat. Lead-off hitter Roy Kamoen hit the first delivery of pitcher Mark Kolner over the head of leftfielder Ronald Jaarsma for a double, then Wesley Kamoen walked with one out, but an infield-fly and a strikeout ended the early scoring opportunity. Starting with the infield-fly, Kolner retired ten batters in a row, before walking David Dalderup with one out in the fourth inning. Dylan Kamoen then singled, but a flyout ended the inning.
In the fifth, Erik van Zomeren walked and was thrown out on second base by the centerfielder, as he was halfway en route to second base on a fly to short centerfield by Roy Kamoen, which might be caught. That didn't happen, but Van Zomeren was forced out on second base.
In the sixth inning, pinch-hitter Steffen Vos led off with a bunt-single off new pitcher Joep de Wit, but then three outs followed. In the seventh, De Wit struckout the first two batters, then gave up two singles, but ended the inning himself on a comeback-grounder.
(March 31)