Not only in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and France starts the 2010 season, but also in Belgium. The Hoboken Pioneers ended the reign of the Port of Antwerp Greys last fall and won the championship. Seven teams enter the competition instead of eight, as the appeal process of the Borgerhout Squirrels didn’t end before March. Besides them the Brussels Kangaroos have left the league. New on board is K. Deurne Spartans.
| Time | Home | Visitor | Field | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates and Times are subject to change! In case of doubt check with the responsible national federation! | ||||||
| Saturday, April 10 2010 | ||||||
| 15:30 | The Merchtem Cats | Namur Angels | The Merchtem Cats |  |
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| 15:30 | Brasschaat Braves | K. Mortsel Stars | Brasschaat Braves | |
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| 15:30 | K. Deurne Spartans | Port of Antwerp Greys | K. Deurne Spartans | |
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| Sunday, April 11 2010 | ||||||
| 15:30 | Port of Antwerp Greys | K. Deurne Spartans | Royal Greys | |
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| 15:30 | K. Mortsel Stars | Brasschaat Braves | K. Mortsel Stars | |
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| 15:30 | Namur Angels | The Merchtem Cats | Namur Angels | |
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The Hoboken Pioneers won their first championship since 1970 with Steven de Lannoy leading the offense and Terence Antonacci the pitching staff. Both will be back. Their big acquisition this winter was shortstop Randy Giorgiadis, who came from Brasschaat. Hoboken also was supposed to pick up Sam D’Oliveira, but he is currently not listed on their roster. Antonacci and Kenny Van den Branden will anchor the pitching staff. The Pioneers are off during the first weekend.
The Port of Antwerp Greys hope to get back on the throne after losing the Belgian Series for the first time since 2004. Filip van der Meiren and Gert Rosiers retired following the 2009 season. Also not coming back are Sam and Roy D’Oliveira. They will go into 2010 with a young team, which will be led by Ronald Snijders and their new import pitcher from Australia Kevin McLeod. Southpaw McLeod, who replaces Adam Crab, will form the starting rotation with Dennis van Hoof. Especially on offense the Greys will miss Van der Meiren and Rosiers, as the duo led the club in all major categories.
The Brasschaat Braves nearly eliminated the Greys during the playoff phase and missed out on the championship series. During the offseason they lost their best player with Randy Giorgiadis and replaced him with Valerio Alberto. They have a new head coach and added some players from the Antwerp Eagles. There are also rumors that they have signed two Japanese players to reinforce the roster for 2010.
The Namur Angels had a great start into the 2009 season, before settling for fourth in the final standings. The team of head coach Chris Dassy lost Juny Gressman and Philip van Woensel and added the American Gracjan Kraszewski from Arrows Ostrava for the first three months of the season. Additionally Theodore De Bellefroid, Remi Gillet and Cedric Desmedt come over from the Kangaroos. Jerome Sana and Ronny Heymans led a young roster, which has at least twelve players born in 1989 or later.
We haven’t heard much from the other three clubs in the Belgian First Division. The Mortsel Stars missed out on the playoffs, but easily avoided relegation to finish in fifth place in the final standings. The Merchtem Cats picked up sixth place in the standings and have added Ethan Guevin in an otherwise quite winter. K. Deurne Spartans lost just one of 26 games last season to qualify for the elite league. They picked up Leonid Munoz Hernandez and Aridane Perez Gonzalez from Beveren and Rafael Duran Garcia from Brussels. But usually new teams always have a tough first year after their promotion.
Belgian Baseball Champions of last Decade:
- 2000 Mortsel Stars
- 2001 Brasschaat Braves
- 2002 Brasschaat Braves
- 2003 Brasschaat Braves
- 2004 Brasschaat Braves
- 2005 Royal Greys
- 2006 Royal Greys
- 2007 Royal Greys
- 2008 Port of Antwerp Greys
- 2009 Hoboken Pioneers
Photo: © Frédéric de Laminne, www.event-pics.be
