Dutch Playoffs: Neptunus sweeps, Pioniers take lead

(3-0) DOOR Neptunus – Corendon Kinheim 3-1

KIN 000 100 000  1  5 0
NEP 001 010 10X  3 11 0

NEPTUNUS completed the sweep over KINHEIM with a 3-1 win on Sunday evening, reaching the Holland Series for the first time since winning the title in the Dutch Hoofdklasse in 2005. Kevin Heijstek (W 1-0) allowed just one run on four hits and a walk in seven innings. DOOR had taken a 1-0 lead in the third on a sac fly by Benjamin Dille, but CORENDON came right back, erasing the deficit with a RBI single by Tjerk Smeets in the fourth. NEPTUNUS regained the lead in the fifth on a RBI single by Eugene Kingsale. They added another run in the seventh on a RBI fielder’s choice by Dille. Patrick Beljaards (L 0-1) conceded nine hits, three runs (2 ER) and a walk in 6 1/3 innings.

(1-2) L&D Amsterdam Pirates – Konica Minolta Pioniers 4-9

PIO 300 002 013  9 9 1
AMS 200 000 020  4 8 4

The defending champion L&D AMSTERDAM has its backs against the wall, after losing game three of the best-of-five series against the PIONIERS on Sunday. KONICA MINOLTA took a fast 3-2 lead in the first and bolstered the gap with six more runs in the last four frames. They’re now up 2-1 in the series. Mark-Jan Moorman drove in two. Joey Treurniet scored twice. Jefferson Muzo collected three hits. Sidney de Jong fought to avoid the loss for his PIRATES with two two-run homeruns. Shane Gnade (W 1-0) issued just four runs on eight hits and two bb in 7 1/3 innings. Frank van Heijst (L 0-1) surrendered five unearned runs on six hits and five walks. The defense of AMSTERDAM committed four errors.

Results:
Semi-Finals:
Thursday, August 6:
DOOR Neptunus – Corendon Kinheim 7-4
L&D Amsterdam – Konica Minolta Pioniers 11-3
Saturday, August 8:
Corendon Kinheim – DOOR Neptunus 1-9
Konica Minolta Pioniers – L&D Amsterdam 2-1
Sunday, August 9:
DOOR Neptunus – Corendon Kinheim 3-1 (Neptunus wins Series 3-0)
L&D Amsterdam – Konica Minolta Pioniers 4-9 (Pioniers lead Series 2-1)

Schedule:
Saturday, August 15:
14:00 Konica Minolta Pioniers – L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Sunday, August 16:
14:00 L&D Amsterdam Pirates – Konica Minolta Pioniers*
*if necessary