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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Amsterdam Pirates wins opener Promotion/Relegation Play-Off vs. DSS; Game 2 halted by rain
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Amsterdam Pirates opened the best-of-three Golden League/Silver League Promotion/Relegation Play-Off against DSS on Saturday (October 12) with a 5-4 victory in eight innings.
The second game was halted halfway the sixth inning due to rain with DSS leading 4-1.
In the evening, it was announced by the league's office that the game will resume in the bottom of the sixth inning before the start of the possible third game on Sunday.
With today's games, the Season Finals continued at the site of Onze Gezellen, as the Haarlem-club is the host this year.
Last weekend, rain disturbed the Finals, which includes the Holland Series.
Only the first two games could be played on Saturday, then the third game rained out on Sunday.
The Championship Final was completed on Monday-evening (October 7) with Roef! winning 3-1 in eight innings in Game 3 to dethrone FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem and capture its first-ever Championship-title.
The Golden League/Silver League Promotion/Relegation Play-Off also was part of the Season Finals Weekend.
The games were scheduled to be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
However, due to rainouts and re-scheduling of games on the days preceeding the Season Finals, the first two games were moved to Sunday, as the participants were not known yet.
On Saturday, Amsterdam Pirates and DSS also faced each other in a make-up double-header.
Amsterdam opened with a 9-5 win, then DSS won the second game, 5-3.
On the same day, Quick Amersfoort and Twins Oosterhout also played an make-up game, which was won by Twins with an 8-1 score.
With this, Amsterdam Pirates finished in fourth place in the Golden League/Silver League Promotion/Relegation Series to advance to the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off.
But the scores also resulted in a tie between DSS and Twins.
As this was a relegation situation, according to the rules, they needed to play a tie-breaker.
While not part of the Season Finals, that game was scheduled for Sunday-morning.
The winner then would face Amsterdam Pirates in the afternoon-game.
But the rain disturbed the schedule.
The tie-breaker rained out, meaning the Play-Off opener was scrubbed.
Later in the day, third Holland Series-game also was cancelled.
DSS and Twins Oosterhout played their tie-breaker last Tuesday-evening (October 8) at the site of HCAW in Bussum.
DSS won 10-3 to advance to the Play-Off, while the loss meant relegation for Twins.
And that set up the best-of-three Play-Off, which was re-scheduled for this weekend.
Remarkable enough, while being part of the Season Finals, only two (instead of three) umpires were assigned.
Besides that, for some reason, no commissioner was assigned and there also was no representative of both the Protest Commission and the Game Affairs Deparment.
When the games would have been played a week earlier, the games would be led by a 3-man umpiring crew, while the other mentioned game-officials also would be on hand.
And these game-officials were surely needed today to take a decision, as the second game was halted halfway the sixth inning due to field-conditions after rain.
With that, it was not immediately clear what the status of the game was, whether or not this was now a valid game or was a suspended game that needed to be completed.
It was after several phone calls, that it was announced in the early evening that the game will resume on Sunday-afternoon in the bottom of the sixth to be followed by the Game 3, if needed.
The only officials today who also were assigned for the Season Finals Weekend were the two Official Scorers.
As is custom when a game rains out, officials (when available) move with the game to the make-up date, which is what the two scorers did.
Also on hand today again was Public Address Announcer Huub Nelissen, who also was behind the microphone a week ago.
(October 12)
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Game 1 - Amsterdam Pirates vs. DSS
In the opening game, Amsterdam Pirates collected nine basehits.
But also committed three errors, including one that could have been very costly and could have lost the game.
Amsterdam Pirates came from behind twice, then decided the game in the eighth inning.
As today's games were scheduled on a day after what would have been the season's end a week before, both teams missed some of their regular players due to working commitments or planned vacations.
For instance, Amsterdam Pirates Head Coach Erik Boland missed several players today, including two outfielders and pitcher Maja Kouwenhoven.
Since a few weeks, DSS already is missing some players.
For this weekend, Head Coach Norman Ames added former player Kim Scholtes to the team.
Amsterdam Pirates didn't start the game well and made two errors in the top of the first inning, enabling DSS to score twice.
Lead-off hitter Annemiek de Rover hit the ball into rightfield, where it was misplayed, resulting in her ending up on second base.
She then moved to third base on a wild pitch from American pitcher Rachel Henks.
With one out, De Rover score on a single by Sophie Bugter.
With two outs, Kim Scholtes walked, then a run was added when a grounder by Anna-Bè Bartels ended in a throwing error.
Hereafter, the bases got loaded when Wendy van Wijk was hit by a pitch, but the inning ended with a force out.
Amsterdam Pirates got a chance to do something back right away in its first at bat off of Venezuelan starter María Gómez Mendoza.
With two outs, the righthander got the bases loaded when Jeske Meewisse walked, Puck Verbrugge singled and Rachel Henks also walked.
But Gómez closed with a strikeout.
After an Amsterdam-runner stranded on second base in the second inning, the team scored its first run in the third at bat.
Ailleen Boland led off with a single, stole second base with one out, then scored on a single by Puck Verbrugge, who herself would be left behind on second base.
DSS got only one baserunner in the second and third inning, but added a run in the top of the fourth.
Wendy van Wijk led off with a single, then Dominique Burger was bit by a pitch.
An attempt for a sacrifice bunt by Sanna Wessel ended in a force out at third base, but with two outs, Burger scored on a single by Elise Ooms.
Two runners stranded when a flyout ended the at bat.
Amsterdam Pirates scored its second run in the bottom of the fourth.
Pia Stolk led off with a walk, then Resa ter Heegde singled.
The two advanced on a sacrifce bunt by Julia Westhoek and Stolk went on to score on a sacrifice fly by Jessie Rodermans.
DSS got an opportunity to take some more distance in the top of the fifth.
But after leaving two runners in the fourth, the team now stranded three.
Lead-off hitter Lorraine Kieft was hit by a pitch, which was not immediately given, as Home Plate Umpire Bob Gieskens stated that the batter didn't made an attempt to avoid being hit.
After consulting with his colleague, Kieft was awarded first base.
With one out, DSS got the bases loaded when Anna-Bè Bartels singled and Wendy van Wijk walked.
But hereafter, Kieft was forced out at the plate on a grounder by Dominique Burger, then pitcher Rachel Henks ended the threat with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the fifth, Amsterdam Pirates came alongside off of new pitcher Anna-Bè Bartels.
Jeske Meewisse led off with a single and moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Puck Verbrugge.
With two outs, Meewisse advanced on a passed ball, then scored on a following single by Iris Hooijer.
DSS re-took the lead in the top of the sixth on a rare play, which could have been very costly for Pirates.
With two outs, Sophie Bugter singled and moved to second base on a wild pitch.
With a 2-1 count on next batter Lorraine Kieft, Bugter took off towards third base on the next pitch.
The thrown ball was called a strike and catcher Puck Verbrugge then rolled the ball back to the pitching circle, thinking it was the third strike, which ended the at bat.
While doing so, she left the field and some of her teammates appeared to do the same.
Bugter, who had arrived at third base, took advantage of this situation, kept on running and scored, giving DSS a 4-3 lead.
The mistake was made as the scoreboard had shown a 2 strike count.
While this was a mental mistake, an error is credited to the catcher in a situation like this, according to the scoring rules.
For reaching third base, Bugter was credited with a stolen base.
Moments later, Bugter would have scored anyway, as Kieft singled after the mistake was realized and the inning continued.
But who knows whether or not Bugter had scored when the mistake had not been made, as Kieft then might have been retired.
Amsterdam Pirates recovered and was able to come back again, tying the score in the bottom of the seventh inning.
After her mental mistake, it was Puck Verbrugge who accounted for the comeback, as she led off with a single.
Her pinch-runner Nashota Vieane moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Henks, then scored the tying run when Iris Hooijer hit the ball into left/centerfield for a single.
The next two batters were retired, but Pirates had forced extra innings.
DSS again left three runners behind in the top of the eighth inning.
Tie-break runner Sanna Wessel moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Annemiek de Rover, but then was eliminated at the plate trying to score on a grounder towards third base by Elise Ooms.
With two outs, DSS got runners on first and third base when Sophie Bugter singled.
To set up a force play, next batter Lorraine Kieft was walked intentionally.
The at bat ended with a grounder from Kim Scholtes.
Pirates then struck in its eighth at bat.
First, tie-break runner Resa ter Heegde reached third base on a sacrifice bunt by Julia Westhoek.
She then scored the winning run on a nice squeeze-bunt by Jessie Rodemans.
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| Amsterdam Pirates - DSS 5-4 (8 inn.) |
| R | H | E |
| DSS | 200 | 101 | 00 | - | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Amsterdam Pirates | 001 | 110 | 11 | - | 5 | 9 | 3 |
| (one out when winning run was scored in the eighth inning) |
| pitchers DSS | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| María Gómez Mendoza | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
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| Anna-Bè Bartels, BS (1), L (0-1) | 3.1 | 2 | - | 5 | 3 | 1 |
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| pitcher Pirates | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Rachel Henks, W (1-0) | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
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Game 2 - DSS vs. Amsterdam Pirates
The second game was played under rainy conditions.
An initial drizzle developed in heavier rain and halfway the sixth inning (after two earlier delays), the umpires decided that the field had become unplayable and ended the game.
After DSS-pitcher Anna-Bè Bartels had retired the side in the top of the first inning (DSS was the home-team in this game), she was supported with a run in the bottom half of the at bat.
With two outs, Sophie Bugter walked.
Moments later, she stole second base and moved to third base when a throwing error followed.
Hereafter, Lorraine Kieft reached base when she was hit by a pitch..
Bugter then scored on a wild pitch from Amsterdam-pitcher Mandy van der Maas.
Kieft's temporary runner Elise Ooms moved to second base on the wild pitch, then advanced to third base when another throwing error followed.
But she stranded on third base, as pop-fly ended the at bat.
Bartels again retired three consecutive batters in the top of the second inning.
This time, DSS scored three runs with two outs in its second at bat on only one basehit, but it was a productive hit.
Dominique Burger led off with a walk, then Wendy van Wijk was hit by a pitch.
The two moved on a sacrifice bunt by Kim Scholtes.
With two outs, a force play was set up by walking Annemiek de Rover intentionally and to try to eliminate young batter Elise Ooms.
However, a wild pitch enabled Burger the score, then Ooms followed with a 2-run triple into deep left/centerfield to put DSS ahead, 4-0.
In the remainder of the game, DSS would get only two more baserunners, but Amsterdam Pirates was unable to turn the game around in its favor.
After a 7-minute rain-delay, Pia Stolk led off the top of the third for Pirates with a single, but with one out, she was eliminated in a double play.
Pirates then got its first runner in scoring position in the fourth.
With one out, Ailleen Boland reached on a bad-hop infield-hit and moved to second base on a grounder by Jeske Meewisse, but was left behind when Puck Verbrugge lined out to rightfield.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the second rain-delay followed.
After an 8-minute interruption, Sanna Wessel singled for DSS, but stranded on first base.
In the top of the sixth inning, Amsterdam Pirates was able to score a run.
Kelly Koeman led off with a single and moved on a grounder by Jessie Rodermans.
She then advanced to third base on a wild pitch, which also resulted in batter Ailleen Boland slipping in the batter's box while getting out of the way.
With two outs, Koeman scored on another wild pitch.
It now had become clear that everyone was bothered by the rain.
The umpires again halted the game and inspected the field.
After some three minutes, they called both Head Coaches with them and signaled that the game was halted definitively.
But then, the questions were asked.
Was this a valid game or had it to be completed the next day?
As there were no officials on the field to take this decision, some phone calls were made.
After both teams already had left the field, some 45 minutes later, the announcement was made that the game had to resume on Sunday-afternoon.
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| DSS - Amsterdam Pirates (suspended, rain, bottom 6th) |
| R | H | E |
| Amsterdam Pirates | 000 | 001 | | - | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| DSS | 130 | 00X | | - | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| (game halted halfway 6th inning due to field-conditions after rain) |
| pitcher Pirates | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Mandy van der Maas (pitcher-of-record) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
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| pitcher DSS | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Anna-Bè Bartels (pitcher-of-record) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
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Umpires: HP-Bianca Dweelaard, 1B-Bob Gieskens.
Official Scorer-Marco Stoovelaar.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Karin Pieneman.
Public Address Announcer-Huub Nelissen.
Scoreboard Operators-Rob Walgien, Jan Kroft (Onze Gezellen).
Starting Time-4:17 PM.
Time Played-1:13 hrs.
Site-Van der Aart Sportpark, Haarlem (site Onze Gezellen).
Game Notes:
 Season Finals 2019.
Game 2 Golden League/Silver League Promotion/Relegation Play-Off.
7-minute rain-delay before the start of the 3rd inning with DSS leading 4-0.
8-minute rain-delay in bottom 4th inning with DSS leading 4-0, 2 outs and no baserunners.
3-minute rain-delay before the start of the bottom 6th inning with DSS leading 4-1.
Game then suspended due to field-conditions before the start of the 6th inning with DSS leading 4-1.
Game to be completed on Sunday, October 13, before the start of Game 3, if needed.
Amsterdam Pirates leads Play-Off, 1-0.
Weather conditions at game time: Cloudy, 10,8° C (51,4° F); wind direction west-northwest;
wind speed 24 kmh (14,9 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 89%. |
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Copyright © 1997-2019 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.
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