by Pim van Nes and Kotaro Nagata
Before, during and after the last Hoofdklasse post season game 2016 yesterday, Glaskoning Twins hosted Japan Day in their Slottebosse Toren stadium in Oosterhout. Club chairman Geert Snellen and Euro League Baseball president Wim van den Hurk welcomed Japan Ambassador Hiroshi Inomata, who had been invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the last game with starting pitcher Keiji Uezono on the Twins mound. The former NPB pitcher threw 62 pitches versus 18 HCAW batters in 5 innings with 3 hits and no runs. Three Twins relievers completed the 9-0 shut-out and the Japanese festivities, which had started two hours before play-ball with hundreds of Japanese residents in the Netherlands. Other VIP guests in the stadium were Korea Ambassador Jonghyun Choe and Oosterhout mayor Stefan Huisman. Lucky winner of ANA return flight to Japan was number 370, drawn by game winning pitcher Uezono.
After Keiji Uezono and Twins won the game, the former NPB pitcher graciously signed autographs and took photos with Japanese fans. Keiji said “It was only 4 months, but it was very nice experience and opportunity to live in Oosterhout and play with Twins Honkbal. A lot of fans came to the stadium and I took the mound in front of them at our last game in 2016. I can’t thank you enough.”
Photo by Chris Kabout