The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) selected 28 players to join the Dutch National Team on its Spring Training trip to Florida. The squad of new head coach Brian Farley is going to participate in the St. Petersburg International Baseball, which started on Monday with an 8-7 win by Penn State over the Korean team of the Seoul Nexen Heroes.
The Dutch National Team is going to play six games in the tournament between March 1 and 13, including matchups against Canada, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies. Check out the Facebook page of the St. Petersburg International Baseball for a live stream and more information.
Four players are new on the roster. Pitcher Kevin Miner (Mr. Cocker HCAW) and infielders Roeland Henrique Jr. (L&D Amsterdam), Michael Pluijmers (Mr. Cocker HCAW) and Rien Vernooij (Neptunus) are expected to make their national team debut during the trip. Additionally Nick Veltkamp, Jurjen van Zijl, Bas Nooij, Jeffrey Arends, Michael Duursma, Vince Rooi and Dirk van’t Klooster will return after missing the Intercontinental Cup last October.
Dutch Roster in Florida:
Pitchers: David Bergman (Corendon Kinheim), Leon Boyd (no 2011 team yet), Rob Cordemans (L&D Amsterdam), Berry van Driel (Neptunus), Kevin Heijstek (Neptunus), Diegomar Markwell (Neptunus), Kevin Miner (Mr. Cocker HCAW), Nick Stuifbergen (Corendon Kinheim), Nick Veltkamp (Corendon Kinheim), Orlando Yntema (UVV), Jurjen van Zijl (UVV)
Catchers: Jason Halman (Corendon Kinheim), Sidney de Jong (L&D Amsterdam) Bas Nooij (L&D Amsterdam)
Infielders: Jeffrey Arends (Neptunus), Michael Duursma (Pioniers), Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim), Roeland Henrique Jr. (L&D Amsterdam), Dwayne Kemp (Neptunus), Raily Legito (Neptunus), Michael Pluijmers (Mr. Cocker HCAW), Vince Rooi (L&D Amsterdam) en Rien Vernooij (Neptunus)
Outfielders: Shaldimar Daantji (Neptunus), Bas de Jong (L&D Amsterdam), Eugene Kingsale (Neptunus), Dirk van ‘t Klooster (Corendon Kinheim), Danny Rombley (UVV)
Coaching Staff: Manager Brian Farley, Pitching Coach Steve Janssen, Assistant Coaches, Wim Martinus, Tjerk Smeets, Ben Thijssen