by Pim van Nes
Tomorrow at 14.00 hrs the last play-off game starts for each of the four Hoofdklasse clubs of Netherlands baseball. In Rotterdam Curacao Neptunus will meet L&D Amsterdam Pirates and in Hoofddorp the third club still in the race Corendon Kinheim will square off with home team Vaessen Pioniers.
If Kinheim wins on Sunday, it is sure of a spot in Holland Series, as doing so it will level the play-off season result of the loser of the game in Rotterdam. Irrespective which of the two clubs will be defeated in Rotterdam, as Kinheim beat them each 2 times in 3 games.
If Kinheim does not win in Hoofddorp, both clubs simultaneously playing in Rotterdam will proceed to Holland Series. The game result in Familie Stadium will award home advantage in Holland Series to the winner: the first two home games and if necessary the last two home games in these best of seven games.
Neptunus in pole position.
Saturday afternoon in Amsterdam, Diegomar Markwell brought his club Neptunus in pole position for last game in the play-offs. Having trailed behind Pirates in regular season and in post season so far, Neptunus beat home team Pirates for the second time in two consecutive play-off days: 1-3. In the first 4 innings home starter Kevin Heijstek looked better as he conceded only 1 hit, while visiting Markwell was hit 5 times, including 2 by Rashid Gerard.
The looks of the game changed when Neptunus lead-off Christian Diaz doubled in the fifth frame and scored 0-1 on a sacrifice fly by Rien Vernooij. Although Pirates tied the score in the bottom of the same inning (lead-off batter Linoy Croes was driven in by Kenny Berkenbosch), Neptunus managed to add a run in each of the next two innings. Markwell in the last four innings denied home plate to Pirates line-up, even when they singled twice in the seventh.
Both starting pitchers completed their game: Markwell as winner with 124 pitches, allowing 9 singles and striking out 6. Heijstek had to take the loss with 94 pitches, allowing a double and 7 singles and striking out 5.
In Haarlem, Kinheim needed to come back from 0-2 behind versus Pioniers in order to score the winning run in the 10th inning: 3-2.
Play-off season ranking after 8 out of 9 games: 1. Neptunus 7 wins incl 2 bonus wins, 2. Pirates 7 wins incl 3 bonus wins, 3. Kinheim 6 wins incl 1 bonus win, 4. Pioniers 2 wins incl zero bonus wins.
Photo by Robert Bos