At the Estadio José Antonio Huelga in Sancti Spíritus, the Opening Ceremony of the event was followed by the game between Cuba and the Dutch, which was the only one scheduled on Sunday.
In front of 3500 spectactors, Cuba collected eleven basehits off four Dutch pitchers and scored six runs (only one earned) in the first three innings off starter Paul Cornelissen, who was relieved in the third inning by Tom Stuifbergen, who gave up one Cuban run in the next 2 2/3 inning. Maxim Kerkmeer and Dennis Burgersdijk completed the game for the Dutch team and gave up three runs each.
Trailing 7-0, the Dutch team scored its first run in the sixth off starter Alberto Soto, then added two in the eighth off closer Aroldis Chapman. Leonys Martin homered for Cuba in the second inning.

The Dutch team had six basehits. Ferd van Stekelenburg was the leading Dutch hitter in this game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also scored once.
Tony Wilffert, Roy Harteveld, Bart Sabel and Sidney Ensermo all went 1-for-3. Dwayne Kemp and Rien Vernooy scored the other Dutch runs, while Erik van Dorp added an RBI.

Manager Eric de Bruin played with the following batting order:
Tony Wilffert (SS), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 0-for-4), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-3), Ferd van Stekelenburg (RF), Roy Harteveld (1B), Bart Sabel (C), Sidney Ensermo (3B), Zair Koeiman (LF, 0-for-4) and Calvin Martinus (CF, 0-for-3). Erik van Dorp replaced Sabel during the game.
(September 17)

...Olav Steijger... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

At the Estadio José Ramón Cepero in Ciego de Avila, Olav Steijger was the 1B Umpire in the game between Italy and Spain in Pool B. Steijger worked the game with three Cuban colleagues. Italy won the game, 12-2 in 6 1/2 inning.
Olav Steijger is one of 26 umpires in this event.

Harry Wedemeijer was assigned to two games on Monday, both also in Ciego de Avila. Wedemeijer was one of the three scorers for the Italy vs. Spain game, then later scored the match-up between the USA and Chinese Taipei, which the Asians won 4-1.
Harry Wedemeijer is one of four international scorers in this event. The others are Moira Dempsey (South Africa), Anna Maria Paini and Erika Sojat (both Italy). There are also 12 Cuban scorers in this tournament.

The Dutch National Junior Team will play its second game on Tuesday and meets Australia in Pool A. In the original schedule, this game was to be played in Sancti Spíritus, where the Dutch also played the opener vs. Cuba. However, the game vs. Australia is now listed for the Estadio Augusto Cesar Sandino in Villa Clara.

Monday's Scores:
Pool A: Australia vs. South Africa 9-2; Korea vs. Panama 13-2 (6 1/2).
Pool B: Italy vs. Spain 12-2 (6 1/2); Mexico vs. Canada 6-10; USA vs. Chinese Taipei 1-4.
(September 18)

Kevin Miner almost went the distance for the national squad. The righthander, who made his Dutch big league-debut this season with Amsterdam Pirates, threw a strong game and struckout three batters in 8 1/3 inning, while giving up only four basehits. Joey Eijpe took over the pitching in the ninth and earned a save. Eijpe also made his big league-debut this season, while pitching for Mr. Cocker HCAW. Eijpe gave up one basehit and struckout one.

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on doubles by Stefan Welch and Chris House, but the Dutch team came alongside in the third inning. Calvin Martinus then led off with a walk and Tony Wilffert singled. The two advanced on a sac-bunt by Dwayne Kemp. With Rien Vernooy batting, Martinus was able to score the tying run on a passed ball.

The Dutch decided the game in the eighth inning when they got the bases loaded. Rien Vernooy was hit by a pitch and Ferd van Stekelenburg walked. Roy Harteveld then struckout, but next batter Bart Sabel also walked to load the bases. Next, Sidney Ensermo popped out on an infield-fly. With the bases loaded, Zaďr Koeiman, who also plays for Pirates and made his big league-debut late in the season, hit a baseclearing, 2-out, 3-run single to give the Dutch team a 4-1 lead.

The batting order was as follows:
Tony Willfert (SS, 1-for-4), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 0-for-4), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-4), Ferd van Stekelenburg (RF, 1-for-2), Roy Harteveld (1B, 0-for-4), Bart Sabel (C, 1-for-2), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 0-for-3), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 1-for-3), Calvin Martinus (CF, 0-for-3).

Dutch Umpire Olav Steijger was 2B Umpire on Monday in the game between Canada and Spain. In that game, Dutch Scorer Harry Wedemeijer was one of the three Official Scorers. Canada won the game, 12-4.
(September 19)

In Estadio Augusto Cesar Sandino in Villa Clara, South Africa rallied for four runs in the first inning off starter Kevin Heijstek. It forced Manager Eric de Bruin to make a quick pitching change. The righthander, who throws for DOOR Neptunus, was relieved by Ramon Romeijn, who ended the inning. Romeijn, who is a pitcher for Omron Pioniers (First Division), was replaced by Joey Eijpe in the fourth inning. The Mr. Cocker HCAW-pitcher completed the game and threw 5 2/3 inning. Eijpe pitched very well and gave up only three more basehits to South Africans, who had 12 in the entire game.

Trailing 4-0, the Dutch team answered with a rally of its own in the home first, scoring five runs. Tony Wilffert led off with a walk, then Dwayne Kemp and Rien Vernooy singled to load the bases. Back-to-back doubles by Ferd van Stekelenburg and Roy Harteveld then resulted in four runs to tie the score. After Bart Sabel walked, two outs followed, but then the bases were loaded again when Calvin Martinus singled. A walk for Tony Wilffert with the bases loaded in his second at bat in the inning gave the Dutch team a 5-4 lead.

South Africe came alongside in the second at bat, but in the third, the Dutch team scored twice and re-took the lead. Both teams added a run in the fourth inning. Trailing 8-6, South Africa narrowed the deficit with a run in the fifth. The last three runs were produced by Calvin Martinus, who had two RBI's, and Tony Wilffert, who was credited with his second RBI in the game. The Dutch team had 14 basehits, including three by Martinus, who was the leading hitter, going 3-for-4. All Dutch players had at least one basehit.

The batting order and results were as follows:
Tony Wilffert (SS, 2-for-3), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 2-for-5), Rien Vernooy (DH, 1-for-5), Ferd van Stekelenburg (RF-CF, 1-for-4), Roy Harteveld (1B, 2-for-5), Bart Sabel (C, 1-for-3), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 1-for-4), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 1-for-3), Calvin Martinus (CF-RF, 3-for-4).
(September 20)

Panama took a 1-0 lead in the third inning off Tom Stuifbergen, who would remain in the game and went the distance. The Amsterdam Pirates-righthander gave up only five basehits, walked none and struckout eleven batters!
Panamanian starter Antonio Cuan dominated for almost the entire game, as he gave up his first basehit in the eighth inning. With Sidney Ensermo on base, it was Zaďr Koeiman, who broke the No-Hitter in the eighth with the first Dutch basehit. Then, two consecutive batters were hit by a pitch, with the one for Tony Wilffert resulting in the tying run.

In the ninth inning, Roy Harteveld led off by reaching first base on an error, but was forced out on a grounder by Bart Sabel. Sidney Ensermo followed with a single, then Zaďr Koeiman hit a 3-run homerun to make it 4-1 on only the third Dutch basehit in the game.

Dutch Umpire Olav Steijger on Thursday was behind the plate in the game between Italy and USA, which was won by the latter, 18-1 in seven innings. Dutchman Harry Wedemeijer was one of the Official Scorers in this game.

The Dutch batting order and results in the Panama-game was as follows:
Tony Willfert (SS, 0-for-4), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 0-for-3), Ferd van Stekelenburg (CF, 0-for-3), Roy Harteveld (1B, 0-for-4), Bart Sabel (C, 0-for-4), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 1-for-2), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 2-for-4), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-3), Calvin Martinus (CF, 0-for-3).
(September 21)

In the game against the Koreans, the Dutch team had only four basehits, including two by Sidney Ensermo. The infielder of Instant Holland Almere '90 also scored the lone Dutch run when he homered in the eighth inning.
Four Dutch pitchers gave up 13 basehits. Korea rallied for three runs in the third inning when starter Paul Cornelissen had to be replaced by Maxim Kerkmeer. Korea added four runs in the fifth at bat, in which Kevin Heijstek took over for Kerkmeer. Heijstek started the game in rightfield, as regular outfielder Calvin Martinus didn't play today. Heijstek was relieved in the sixth inning by Dennis Burgersdijk, who pitched the remaining 3 2/3 inning and gave up two additional runs in the eighth inning.

The Dutch batting order and results were:
Tony Wilffert (SS, 0-for-4), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 1-for-4), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 2-for-3), Ferd van Stekelenburg (CF, 0-for-3), Roy Harteveld (1B, 0-for-4), Bart Sabel (C-LF, 1-for-2), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 0-for-1), (Eric van Dorp (C, 0-for-2)), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-1), (Joey Eijpe (RF, 0-for-1)), Kevin Heijstek (RF-P, 0-for-2), (Dennis Burgersdijk (P, 0-for-2)).

Dutch officials Olav Steijger and Harry Wedemeijer on Friday worked one of the best and interesting games of the event between Chinese Taipei and Mexico.
Olav was the 3B Umpire and Harry one of the Official Scorers in this game, which was won by Mexico, 5-3, after 13 innings. Mexico took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Asians came alongside by scoring runs in the sixth and seventh inning. After five scoreless innings, Mexico scored three runs in the top of the 13th inning. Taipei then added only one more run in the home part.
(September 22)

The game against the Mexicans was rainshortened and was stopped in the top of the eighth inning. As a result, the Dutch didn't got the chance to come alongside or even win. Starting pitcher Kevin Miner gave up runs in the second and third inning. Trailing 2-0, the Dutch answered with three runs in the fourth at bat. Ferd van Stekelenburg was then batted across the plate by Roy Harteveld, while Bart Sabel and Zaďr Koeiman both scored on errors.

However, in the home fourth, Mexico came back and also scored three runs, including two on a homerun by José Torres, off Miner to re-take the lead, 5-3. Ramon Romeijn started the seventh inning, but was replaced after walking a batter by Joey Eijpe, who finished the at bat. With the Dutch team batting and two outs in the eighth inning, the game was stopped by rain and didn't resume.
The Dutch team left ten runners behind and outhit Mexico, 7-5.

Two scheduled games on Sunday were moved to Monday because of the rain, meaning four games scheduled for Monday also had to be moved to Tuesday. Two years ago, when the Champions were held in Chinese Taipei, rain also interrupted the Play-Offs.

The Dutch batting order and results were:
Tony Wilffert (SS, 0-for-3), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 1-for-4), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 2-for-4), Ferd van Stekelenburg (CF, 2-for-3), Bart Sabel (C, 0-for-3), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 2-for-4), Roy Harteveld (1B, 0-for-3), Calvin Martinus (RF, 0-for-4), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-4).
(September 24)

The Dutch team had eight basehits off two Cuban pitchers. Starter Alberto Soto dominated and struckout eleven batters in seven innings.
Dwayne Kemp (Sparta/Feyenoord), Roy Harteveld and Rien Vernooy (both DOOR Tridents) all had two hits.

Cuba had 16 basehits, including 13 off Dutch starter Kevin Heijstek, who threw six innings and also gave up five runs. Maxim Kerkmeer (2/3 inning) and Dennis Burgersdijk (2 1/3 inning) succeeded Heijstek.

The Dutch batting order and results:
Tony Wilffert (SS, 1-for-5), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 2-for-4), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 0-for-3), Ferd van Stekelenburg (CF, 1-for-4), Bart Sabel (C, 0-for-3), (Eric van Dorp (C, 0-for-0)), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 0-for-4), Roy Harteveld (1B, 2-for-4), Calvin Martinus (CF, 0-for-4), Rien Vernooy (DH, 2-for-4).
(September 25)

After arriving in Havana, Harry and Olav went by bus to Ciego de Avila, some 300 kilometers. Because the drive went through a swamp-area, everyone had to leave the bus halfway, as a desinfecting substance was blown inside to kill eventual swamp musketoos. ,,That gave us a delay of about 30 minutes, because that's what it took for the smell to leave the bus...'', Harry said. ,,All scorers are speaking fluently Spanish, just as our interpreter. I'm trying to translate for Moira and the South African umpire, as far as the speedy Spanish is understandable for me. But with hands and feet you're getting far.''

The next day Harry had to leave early for Sancti Spíritus for a meeting with the official scorers and the opening game between Cuba and the Netherlands. After the fifth inning, the umpires got coffee and water from two girls in stockings and short skirts. ,,Olav is looking forward to his games'', Harry said last week.

Harry: ,,The hotel is reasonable, bed, shower, airco, you don't need more. But the food is very lobsided, lots of eggs, chicken and rice. Bu we'll get over that. We are in the center of the town. On the central square it is pretty crowded. Olav and I sat there for about an hour to look around. It's some kind of a Ramblas, but then without the cafees, just sit somewhere with a loudspeaker that airs music. We walk a lot.''

Harry has to score two games one day, then one the next day. He changes that routine with Moira Dempsey from South Africa. ,,The Cuban scorers also change in the same matter, so we have specific crews.''

A few days ago, Harry was at Olav's first game behind the plate. Harry: ,,An 18-1 win by the USA against Italy. After six batters, the Italian pitcher was gone and the game was played. But it took almost three hours before it really was over. 35 to 40 degrees, a more than three liters water (and a cup of coffee) for Olav, airco and a half liter of water for me, some 20 subsitutes and 7 Italian pitchers later, we saw each other again. It looked like a little league-game. The problem is that the teams have only 18 players on their roster, but they have to play five games in a row. They don't do this on the senior-level.''

On Thursday, Olav and Harry travel back to Havana for the journey home.
(September 25)

On Sunday, the Dutch team lost 5-3 to Mexico and was therefore eliminated for the medal round, while Korea shutout Chinese Taipei, 1-0. In the evening, Cuba was dethroned after losing 4-0 to the USA, but the fourth game in the Play-Offs was canceled by rain. This game, between Canada and Panama was re-scheduled for Monday and was won by Canada, 5-3.
The Dutch team on Monday was shutout 8-0 by Cuba and therefore will play for seventh and eighth place. But because the game between Canada and Panama was moved to Monday, the next game for those teams had to be moved also and were scheduled for Tuesday. This meant that the game for seventh place was transfered from Tuesday to Wednesday, which is the last day of the event.

The game against Cuba started an hour later than scheduled on Monday, because the Dutch team requested a written statement of an appeal they filed earlier. During the opening game last week against Cuba, the Dutch filed a protest as it claimed that an unapproved bat was used by a Cuban player. The action of that player was reversed, but later the bat showed up on another list with approved bats. The Dutch also filed a protest in the game against Mexico, also because of an unapproved bat. This time, the action remained, but the bat was taken out of the game. The Dutch team appealed that decision, but was informed during the night that the decision was correct. A written confirmation of this judgement was requested, resulting in the game between the Dutch and Cuba to start an hour later.

On Monday-evening, the USA qualified for the Final by winning 8-2 vs. Mexico, which will play for the bronze medal. Their opponents came from the game between Korea and Canada, which was being played on Tuesday-evening. Korea became the second finalist by winning 6-1.
Earlier on Tuesday, Panama met Chinese Taipei and was shutout 9-0, meaning they will be the opponent of the Dutch team for seventh place. On Tuesday, the first decision fell, as Spain win 3-1 vs. South Africa, meaning the Spanish squad finished in eleventh place.
Later in the day, Australia won big vs. Italy, 12-2, to claim ninth place. Dutch Umpire Olav Steijger was on second base in this game, his first in three days! Dutchman Harry Wedemeijer was one of the official scorer, as he was the lone international scorer that stayed behind in Ciego de Avila for the game in Moron, after South African scorer Moira Dempsey transfered to Sancti Spíritus for the medal round. Olav and Harry will move to Sancti Spíritus on Wednesday-morning. ,,But we don't know yet where we will stay'', Harry said. The two start their journey home on Thursday.
(September 26)

Because of the rain on Sunday, some game were moved ahead one day, including the game by the Dutch team today. All originally scheduled games for Tuesday and Wednesday were to be played in Estadio José Antonio Huelga in Sancti Spíritus. On Tuesday, two games were played in Morón, where other games were played earlier. But today, the Dutch game was played in Estadio Martires de Cabaiguan, also in Sancti Spíritus and this was the lone game of the tournament to be played there.

Panama took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then the Dutch team came alongside in the fourth inning when Tony Wilffert (Omron Pioniers) scored on a double by Dwayne Kemp (Sparta/Feyenoord). But in the home fourth, Dutch starter Tom Stuifbergen (Amsterdam Pirates) gave up three runs, the two more in the fifth inning, which gave Panama a 6-1 lead. In the fifth, Stuifbergen was relieved by Paul Cornelissen, who pitches for MULO and gave up no more runs, despite giving up four basehits in the 1 2/3 inning he pitched. Ramon Romeijn (Omron Pioniers) pitched the seventh and eighth inning for the Dutch and gave up one more run, after Ferd van Stekelenburg (Instant Holland Almere '90) had homered in the top of the eighth.

The Dutch team had six basehits, including two by both Tony Wilffert and Bart Sabel, who both played for First Divisionist Omron Pioniers. The Dutch defense committed four errors, while the Panamanian defense turned three double plays and made no errors.
Dutch pitcher Tom Stuifbergen won the award for the pitcher with the best won-loss percentage.

The Dutch batting order and results:
Tony Wilffert (SS, 2-for-4), Dwayne Kemp (2B, 1-for-4), Sidney Ensermo (3B, 0-for-2), Ferd van Stekelenburg (CF, 1-for-3), Bart Sabel (C, 2-for-4), Zaďr Koeiman (LF, 0-for-4), Roy Harteveld (1B, 0-for-2), (Kevin Heijstek (PH, 0-for-0, walk)), Calvin Martinus (RF, 0-for-3), Rien Vernooy (DH, 0-for-3).

The other decisions on the final day of the event:

Chinese Taipei won 2-1 vs. Cuba in 12 innings to finish in fifth place, meaning the former world champion ended up in sixth position. Taipei took an 1-0 lead in the second, before Cuba tied the score in the eighth on a wild pitch. Taipei-pitcher Kai-Wen Cheng threw all 12 innings and gave up eight hits.

Canada defeated Mexico, 6-2, to win the bronze medal. Canada scored twice in the first inning, but Mexico then scored in the fourth and tied the score in the sixth when Angel Martinez led off with a homerun. A double by Kyle Gilligan gave Canada a 3-2 lead in the home sixth, then three runs were added in the eighth, including two on a single by Brett Lawrie. With the win, Canada won its fifth Junior-medal and first since 1997 when it also won bronze.

Korea came from behind to win the final and the gold medal, defeating the USA 4-3 in a game that last three hours and 47 minutes and was attended by only 300 spectators. The Asians initially took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but then the USA came alongside in the next at bat. In the sixth inning, the Americans scored to take 3-2 lead when Daniel Elorriaga scored his second run of the game. But in the home of the eighth, Korea, which had only three basehits at the time, tied the score again, 3-3, then scored the winning run in the home ninth with two outs.
Two years ago, when the event was held in Chinese Taipei, the USA and Korea also met on the final day, but then played for the bronze medal. Korea won that game, 10-5. This was the first final for the Americans since they won the silver medal in 2000 in Edmonton (Canada). Back then, Korea also was the opponent.
This was Korea's second title and first since 2000. The last American title dates from 1999.

Dutch scorer Harry Wedemeijer was one of the two Official Scorers in the final game. Dutch Umpire Olav Steijger had no assignment on Wednesday and had only six games in the entire tournament. His Italian colleague Lorenzo Bastignello on the other hand had four games (!) in the last three days, including the semi-final on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was on second base in both the game for fifth place and the bronze medal game.

The next Junior World Championships will be played in 2008 when Edmonton (Canada) will host the event. That tournament probably will be played in July with the games to be played in Telus Field and John Fry Park. Edmonton has hosted international baseball tournaments before, including the 1981 and 1985 Intercontinental Cup, the 1990 World Cup, 1995 American Olympic Qualifier, 2000 World Junior Championships and 2005 Women World Cup.
Canada also has filed a bid to host the 2010 edition of the tournament. When awarded that event will be played in Thunder Bay. The International BAseball Federation (IBAF) will announce the 2010 site in November.
(September 27)

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