Mister Baseball

by Christopher Dassy, head coach of the Namur Angels

Game Two Belgian Series: (2-0) Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers 14-7

The Greys were hosting the Pioneers this Saturday for game two of the Belgian Series, a key game for the visitors who dropped game one at home last week.

As expected, Dennis van Hoof was taking the mound for the Greys. The surprise, though, was to see Kenny Vandenbranden, get his second start of the Series for Hoboken.

Both pitchers cruised through the first two innings, then, things started to get out of control.

In the bottom of the third, Greys n° 8 hitter Vanthillo worked himself a leadoff walk. Roevens advanced him to second on a sacrifice bunt before Filip Vandermeiren struck out. A two-out walk to Mertens and a hit by pitch to Bryon Bell loaded the bases before Knollenburg brought the first run in on another walk. Rosiers then flied out to centerfielder DeLannoy as the Pioneers limited the damage.

In the top of the fourth, Van Hoof, in his turn, allowed a lead-off walk to De Quint. Geoffrey Kenis, who will reportedly retire next year, crushed a pitch over the left field fence to regain the lead (1-2) before Brett Diamond, the very next batter, went deep in the exact same spot (1-3).

In the bottom part of the inning, Wybo another “soon retired player” was getting the Greys right back into it on a lead-off homerun (2-3). Herssens continued his torrid post season with a double past the diving Brett Diamond down the left field foul line. Vanthillo followed with a single before Roevens popped out to second base.  Vandermeiren followed with a sac fly to left to tie the game at 3 with two outs.

A walk to Mertens and back to back hits from Bell and Knollenburg were putting the Greys on top (5-3). Rosiers then walked and that was going to be the end of the game for the young Vandenbranden who allowed five runs through 3 2/3 innings. DeQuint was called in relief as Sam D’Oliveira was taking the shortstops’ spot. A strikeout to Wybo, in his second at-bat of the inning ended a very long fourth.

The Pioneers didn’t surrender though. A leadoff walk to D’Oliveira, who then stole second base and a hit from DeLannoy were sending a clear message that they were going to fight hard to keep their chances alive (5-4).

DeLannoy stole second before Kenis got hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by pinch hitter Meseure. An infield hit by Timmermans was tying the game before Van Hoof could escape the inning with the bases loaded.

The pinch hitter Meseure was replacing Diamond in left field. Diamond hurt his shoulder on his diving effort an inning earlier and questions were raised on his ability to start on the mound on Sunday.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Greys were jumping on top once again on a lead-off walk to Herssens followed by a booted double play chance, a misplayed ball in left field and a wild pitch (6-5). DeQuint then walked Roevens before recording two outs on back to back strike out.

Another walk to Bell loaded the bases before Knollenburg drew his second bases loaded walk of the day (7-5). Rosiers struck out to end the inning.

Again, the Pioneers were going to work they way back. Ribbens led off the inning with a single and a stolen base. DeQuint helped himself with a RBI base hit (7-6). DeQuint then advanced on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Kenis walked and stole second while DeQuint scored the tying run on the throw.

In the bottom frame of the inning, things started t look better with a diving action from second baseman Ribbens to retire the leadoff batter, something that both teams struggled doing all day long.

Herssens was hit by a pitch before DeQuint got the second out of the inning on a pop out. After a walk to Roevens, the biggest momentum shift of the day was happening. A routine fly ball to left field was dropped and the Greys were able to regain the lead before the aggressive Vandermeiren was tagged out between the bases (9-7). The umpire declared the ninth Greys’ run valid and the Pioneers’ assistant coach got tossed as he was arguing that decision.

That was too much for the visiting team who didn’t get anything going in the next inning.

In the bottom frame of the seventh inning, after DeQuint retired easily Mertens and Bell, the Greys’ offense was going to kill the game. Consecutive hits from Knollenburg, Rosiers and Wybo loaded the bases. Herssens drove a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence for a grand slam (13-7).

Filip Vandermeiren hit a homerun in the eighth to cap the scoring for the defending champions (14-7) before being in the middle of a game-ending 5-6-3 double play.

The game was not what people expected from the top two teams in the country. None of the pitchers ever got into any kind of rhythm, showing signs of desperation at times about where the strike zone really was. Too many walks, leading to too many errors doomed the quality of the show for the pretty large crowd.

It was however an exciting contest and while the Pioneers certainly didn’t have anything going their way, the Greys are only one step away from another Belgian Championship.

Game Three Belgian Series: (0-3) Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys 1-6

And on Sunday, the Greys completed the sweep in the Belgian Series to win the fourth consecutive championship. They defeated the Pioneers 6-1 on the road. We hope to get more info on the game in the coming days.

Results:
Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys 0-5
Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers 14-7
Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys 1-6