The Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) announced in a press release on Monday evening that national team head coach Rod Delmonico and pitching coach Jim Stoeckel will not return to the Netherlands next year. Both were signed by predecessor and current technical director Robert Eenhoorn last winter.
The two Americans helped the squad to an impressive performance at the 2009 World Baseball Classic in March, upsetting the Dominican National Team twice. Later this year at the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup in Europe in September the team finished in sixth place under the guidance of Delmonico and Stoeckel.
The press release mentions the fact that the 51-year-old Delmonico wants to stay closer to his family as reason for the resignation. The 57-year-old Stoeckel works for the Cincinnati Reds, which leaves him occupied.
Eenhoorn now needs to find new coaches, which will lead the Dutch national team during the Haarlem Baseball Week and the European Championships in Germany next summer.
