The top four teams after the regular season in the Belgian First Division started into the playoffs, which will determine the two participants of the Belgian Series until the end of September. Regular season winner PIONEERS overcame a 0-3 deficit on Saturday against BRASSCHAAT to win 5-3. Kenny van den Branden issued just three hits in four innings of scoreless relief, while striking out eight. In the second match on Sunday HOBOKEN prevailed by a final score of 8-1. T.J. Antonacci went the distance and allowed just one run on seven hits and two bb for the win. Steven de Lannoy collected four hits in five at-bats.
In the second two-game series this weekend between NAMUR and the GREYS (more on these games later this week), the two teams battled to win one game each. On Saturday the GREYS scored five runs in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead, but blew the lead in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings. After the ANGELS couldn’t convert a bases-loaded situation in the top of the tenth, PORT OF ANTWERP came through in the bottom of the frame, winning 7-6 on a no-out walk-off hit. NAMUR left a total of 17 men stranded in the game. On Sunday Brian Hurld went the distance in a 6-5 victory for the ANGELS. Todd Emr drove in winning run Jason Holowaty in the bottom of the eighth with a double.
Results Belgian Playoffs Week 1:
Saturday, August 22
Hoboken Pioneers – Brasschaat Braves 5-3
Port of Antwerp Greys – Namur Angels 7-6 (10)
Sunday, August 23
Brasschaat Braves – Hoboken Pioneers 1-8
Namur Angels – Port of Antwerp Greys 6-5