(1-0) Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys 5-4 (10)
The PIONEERS won game one of the best-of-five Belgian Series on Saturday in Antwerp 5-4 against the GREYS in dramatic walk-off fashion. Matthias Group delivered the decisive RBI single in the bottom of the tenth to seal the victory.
The game started with a pitcher’s duel between TJ Antonacci (HOB) and Dennis van Hoof (MRG) and HOBOKEN led 1-0 after seven innings. After both teams had scored once in the eighth, reigning champion GREYS rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 4-2 lead.
But the PIONEERS answered quickly, as the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth reached. A sac bunt moved up the runners and with two outs and Dennis Ribbens tied the contest 4-4, setting up the thrilling finish in the tenth.
(0-2) Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers 4-7
One day later the PIONEERS won again to take a 2-0 lead in the series, this time by a final score of 7-4. At the home field of the PORT OF ANTWERP GREYS with pitchers Kenny van den Branden (HOB) and Adam Crabb (MRG) on the mound, HOBOKEN decided the outcome in the eighth.
With the score tied at 4-4, a squeeze bunt by Johnny Peerens brought the game-winning run over the plate. Back-to-back doubles by Steven de Lannoy and Dennis Ribbens plated two more runs in the frame. Dennis van Hoof had evened the score for the GREYS in the seventh with a two-run double.
Schedule:
Saturday, October 10th:
14:00 Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys
Sunday, October 11th:
14:00 Port of Antwerp Greys – Hoboken Pioneers*
Saturday, October 17th:
14:00 Hoboken Pioneers – Port of Antwerp Greys*
*if necessary