by Pim van Nes
Today in Rotterdam DOOR Neptunus and Corendon Kinheim open a three-game series (All Thursday games in the Hoofdklasse were postponed to Friday evening due to rain), ranked at top of Hoofdklasse each with one loss only. However, since this week Kinheim is known as having played one game less. Their 7-4 win against the L&D Amsterdam Pirates was ruled out due to a decision by KNBSB protest commission on a Pirates protest against a stop call by an umpire during the respective game, according to Honkbalsite.com.
The Pirates and Corendon have to re-start that game in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded, one out and the score tied at 2-2. If Kinheim wins again, they are back at the top together with Neptunus. If Pirates manage to win yet, they are back at second spot together with Kinheim.
But first Neptunus is Kinheim’s next opponent, which will meet a top three club for the first time this season, whilst the other two met before in a series of three. Neptunus has new coaches, one with a good experience with lower teams in Neptunus organisation: manager Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen. Third base coach is former infield player and captain Jeroen Sluijter. Kinheim started this season with Hans Lemmink as manager. Last year he was coach with manager Eelco Jansen, who was fired by the club during the playoffs. Kinheim will arrive in Rotterdam with a player and a coach, who were fired by Neptunus last year: first baseman Jeffrey Arends and coach Wim Martinus.
Present standing Hoofdklasse: 1. Neptunus 14-1, 2. Kinheim 13-1, 3. Pirates 12-2, 4. UVV 7-8, 5. Pioniers 5-10, 6. Hawks 4-11, 7. HCAW 3-12, 8. ADO 1-14.
This weekend: Neptunus-Kinheim, ADO-Pioniers, HCAW-Pirates, UVV-Hawks.