Mister Baseball

by Pim van Nes

He has been a long time favorite for manager Robert Eenhoorn, who always reserves an airplane and a dug-out seat for the now 38 years old first base man of Rojos de Aguila in Vera Cruz (Mexican Triple A). Sharnol Adriana compensates his national team boss also in the Olympic Games, where the first three games got lost without any run scored by the Netherlands.

In game one versus Taiwan (5-0) Adriana hits the first Dutch single in a four-hitter, in game two versus USA (7-0) he produces the only hit off strong Stephen Strasburg, in game three versus Japan (6-0) he is the first Dutch player to reach base and finally in game four Adriana breaks the fourth base ban with the team’s first hit versus China being a homerun for the first Dutch run in 30 Olympic innings.

Finally his good example is followed by younger players from amateur baseball league Hoofdklasse in the Netherlands. The first Dutch run in the fourth inning was only to tie the score 1-1, as the Netherlands again were trailing 1-0 versus home playing China. Amsterdam Pirates catcher Sidney de Jong homered with two on in the fifth inning and he was backed by Kinheim Haarlem outfielder Bryan Engelhardt with a solo homerun.

Next to the three homeruns, the Netherlands offense also delivered three doubles thanks to Danny Rombley, Michael Duursma and again Sharnol Adriana. The latter’s homerun was the first batted in, the other five in the 6-4 victory were batted in by De Jong (3), De Caster (1) and Engelhardt (1).

Winning pitcher Leon Boyd worked during six innings, striking out and conceding two earned runs off six hits. Rob Cordemans as middle reliever struck out four in 2 1/3 innings conceding two earned runs and the game was saved for the Netherlands by David Bergman with one hit and no run in 2/3 inning.

Before Adriana’s homerun the Olympic tournament for the Europeans looked very disappointing, by not only trailing and losing three and a half games, but especially by an extensive low production at bat, which started already in the Haarlem Honkbal Week with players from national Hoofdklasse clubs only. With the help from pro players on loan from American Minor Leagues a good reinforcement was expected, but also during preparatory games in Korea and China batting averages remained low, except the 8-3 win in the last game versus Canada.

The very same Canada belongs to the last three opponents for the Netherlands. Unless plans have changed, on Tuesday Leon Boyd (1-0) is scheduled to be starting pitcher for his mother’s country in the key game versus his father’s country Canada. Since the first Dutch win in game four, Eenhoorn’s selection is one of four national teams each one game behind two playoff positions: Netherlands, Taiwan, Canada and China have one victory each, one less than Japan and USA and three less than unbeaten Cuba and Korea on present standings after four games all.

A small advantage for the Netherlands in the last three games of the round robin is that the other two opponents unofficially are certain of a playoff position. On Monday the Netherlands will face Cuba and on Wednesday Korea. In last year’s World Cup tournament the Netherlands upset all playoff previews by beating Cuba in the last round robin game, although all earlier games had been won by the multi champions. This year again the mainly amateurs squad from the smallest participating country needs another miracle, but the door to the playoffs is still open thanks to Adriana’s eyes, arms and inspiration.

Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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