by Christophe Dassy, head coach of the Namur Angels
The hunt for the Belgian title is set to begin on October 4th in Hoboken (Antwerp) in a best-of-five Series.
This year’s edition will feature the two heavyweight teams of the Belgian Elite league, Hoboken Pioneers and the Port of Antwerp Greys (aka Royal Greys) in what should be a very exciting match-up. September 21st made it even more meaningful since the Greys secured a spot for the future Belgian champion for the European Cup A-Pool in 2009.
Labeled as the favorite prior to the start of the competition, the Pioneers have done very little to prove the Belgian baseball insiders wrong. They scored more runs and allowed less runs than any team, posting a 19-1 record in the playoff round, earning them the home field advantage.
They will, however, have to find ways to keep the magic going without TJ Antonacci, their ace, Sven Timmermans, their starting third baseman (injured) and Thomas DeWolf who left earlier this month to attend the NY Mets Training Academy in the Dominican Republic.
On the other hand, the Greys have started the season with some question marks in the pitching department and at shortstop. They quickly answered it by acquiring Dan Howard, a dominating right-hander from Tennessee and Bryon Bell, an atypical heavy-hitting 6-5 shortstop from Ontario.
They posted a 16-4 record in the Elite-6-League (playoffs) and ranked second in both runs scored and runs allowed.
Both teams faced each other six times this season and the Pioneers got the best of it, winning four of the contests. The Greys, though, know how to win when it counts and have the “big game experience” that their opponents may be lacking.
Keys to the game:
- How deep will starters be able to go? Hoboken starters Vandenbranden and Diamond as well as Greys’ Van Hoof and Howard can usually eat up innings. Whoever fails to do so, will seriously reduce the chances of his club in the contest.
- While both teams have strong lineups, the ability to silence Pioneers’ DeLannoy and De Quint and Greys’ Rosiers and Bell will be a determining factor.
The 2008 Belgian Series promises to be intense. The Pioneers haven’t won the championship in 27 years and they will be eager to end that drought while the Greys will be looking forward to capture their fourth straight title.
Schedule:
Saturday, October 4
14:00 Hoboken Pioneers – Royal Greys
Sunday, October 5
14:00 Royal Greys – Hoboken Pioneers
Saturday, October 11
14:00 Hoboken Pioneers – Royal Greys
Sunday, October 12
14:00 Royal Greys – Hoboken Pioneers
Saturday, October 18
14:00 Hoboken Pioneers – Royal Greys