Besides looking back at 2008 in the Italian Baseball League, we’re also reviewing the year in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. A few weeks ago, we already did the same with the French Elite League and the German Baseball-Bundesliga.
Corendon Kinheim
After winning two consecutive championships in 2006 and 2007, CORENDON KINHEIM was surprised by a hot L&A AMSTERDAM team in the 2008 Holland Series and had to settle for runner up. The team from Haarlem finished first after the regular season in the Dutch Hoofdklasse with a 32-10 record, one game ahead of the second best DOOR NEPTUNUS.
In the semi-finals they were able to eliminate the KONICA MINOLTA PIONIERS in four games. In a rain-filled championship series KINHEIM was stunned by the PIRATES in three games, losing the decisive third match 0-12 in seven innings.
The European Cup was more satisfying for CORENDON, as they repeated their title from 2007 with five wins in five games at the tournament in Grosseto, Italy. Afterwards KINHEIM didn’t participate in the European Cup Final Four and nearly was punished for it by the Confederation of European Baseball.
What the stats say
KINHEIM scored a total of 245 runs (4th in league) during the 2008 season and allowed 134 (2nd). The offense batted .289 (4th) with a slugging percentage of .375 (4th). The defense committed 60 errors, which led to 38 unearned runs.
Patrick Beljaards, David Bergman and Robin Van Eis shouldered 34 of the 42 starts in 2008. Beljaards led the league with a perfect 11-0 record. He had an ERA of 2.44 and struck out 39 (13 walks) in 84 2/3 innings. The Dutch national team pitcher Bergman had an 8-1 record with an ERA of 1.42 and 47 K’s in 76 innings, while walking 27. Van Eis (5-4, ERA 3.42) had 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 52 2/3 innings. The acquisition of starter Cliff Foster (10.13 ERA in 10.2 IP) last winter didn’t went well. Closer Michiel Van Kampen had a nice season with eleven saves and an ERA of 0.90 in 24 games. He struck out 18 (six walks) in 30 innings. Southpaw Nick Veltkamp supported him in the bullpen with a 5-2 record and an ERA of 1.99 in 58 2/3 innings.
Center fielder Danny Rombley led the team with a .333 batting average (SLG .438). He scored a team-leading 35 runs and drove in 19. Corner infielder Vince Rooi (.297/.439) and catcher Tjerk Smeets (.329/.418) combined for 65 RBIs. Bryan Engelhardt (.294/.504) hit five of eleven homeruns of KINHEIM. He scored 25 runs and had 30 RBIs. Rene Cremer (.281/.341) had 34 runs on his belt. SEATTLE MARINER Gregory Halman batted .364 in eleven at-bats.
The club was not very active during the offseason so far. The former pitching coach Eelco Jansen takes over as head coach for the resigning Ben Thijssen. The former minor leaguer Rooi is one of two players, who is leaving besides Foster. Infielder Roel Koolen retires due to work-related reasons. The only new player on the team at the moment is Remco Draijer, who is coming from AMSTERDAM. It seems that they can hold on to the core of their strong team, which should indicate a repeat of their success from last year.
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ADO
Media Monks RCH
Mr. Cocker HCAW
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DOOR Neptunus