By Pim van Nes
Old Stars were shining at noon last Sunday, when former players of Netherlands national team faced former players of UVV Utrecht in a friendly game attended by a few hundreds of fans and KNBSB officials. After a 5-4 lead in the first inning, the Orange selection, coached by Karel Crouwel, took a longer distance during the following frames. After 6 innings the score of 18-6 in runs and in hits was called the game without errors.
Biggest star in UVV’s Paperclip stadium in Vleuten was former Major Leaguer Rikkert Faneyte (http://www.rikkertfaneyte.nl/), who split his top years 1993 thru 1996 as outfielder with San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers. His most world stunning appearance, however, was in Sydney Australia where in 2000 Olympic game between Netherlands and Cuba, Faneyte was called from outfield to the mound to save the Netherlands win, which resulted in the first ever Olympic loss for multi-champion Cuba.
In the Netherlands Old Stars line-up last Sunday, Faneyte was batter number 4 and he took position 8 in defence. His team mates in batting order were Jurjan Koenen (third base), Eric de Bruin (first base), Mike Crouwel (short stop), Tom Nanne (left field), Mark Giroldi (second base), Frank Koene (catcher) and Ron Giroldi (right field). Pitchers were Swen Huijer and Rene Rijst, who at bat were replaced by designated hitters Nick Stuifbergen, Jerry Breek and Rene Rijst.
Best known Old Star at UVV side was former Chicago Cubs AAA pitcher Ferenc Jongejan (2001 thru 2004), until the end of the 2016 season head-coach for UVV. Last Sunday he took the mound again in relief for starter Hans Bos and succeeded by Leo Geerlings and Rob van Montfoort. His team mates in batting order were Patrick Baars (position 8), Cyrille Tiwon (4), Hans Bos (1), Allard Bosman (7), Austin Weymouth (6), Rudy Dirksen (5), Hans Konings (2), Onno Rip (3, relieved by Jongejan) and Leo Geerlings (9, relieved by Ernst Rijnbergen).
With thanks to Rienette Hamers – Van Zetten
Photo by Alfred Cop