DOOR Neptunus and L&D Amsterdam will square off in the Holland Series to determine the 2010 champion in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, starting on Saturday afternoon in Rotterdam. For just the second time in history the series will be over seven games.
DOOR Neptunus is entering the Honkbal finals as the favorite after winning 39 of 42 games during the regular season, including five of six against the Pirates. They are also the defending champion and look to get into sole possession of the all-time lead, as they are currently tied with the no longer existing Haarlem Nicols with twelve titles.
The club from Rotterdam moved through the semi-finals with three shutouts over the Konica Minolta Pioniers and hasn’t allowed a run in their last seven games dating back to the regular season. Starting pitchers Leon Markwell, Leon Boyd and Kevin Heijstek plus a bullpen with Dushan Ruzic, Jorian van Acker and Berry van Driel can do such things. Their biggest enemy is probably the long break since clinching a spot in the Holland Series.
L&D Amsterdam had to fight a little bit more to reach the championship series. Finishing the regular season in third place the Pirates had a 25-17 record, but entered the playoffs with wins in seven of their last eight games. In a hard-fought semi-final series with Corendon Kinheim they prevailed in four games. Starting pitchers Rob Cordemans and Ben Grover as well as reliever Al Morales led the pitching staff of the Dutch champion from 2008.
While there is clearly a depth difference on the pitching side of the game between these two teams, there shouldn’t be one at the plate. Neptunus relies on Raily Legito, Eugene Kingsale, Danny Rombley and Dwayne Kemp to produce enough run support, while Amsterdam counters with Sidney and Bas de Jong, Kenny Berkenbosch and Vince Rooi. All eight were teammates in July with the Dutch national team. Now they are on opposing sides.
Schedule Holland Series:
Saturday, September 4:
14:00 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Sunday, September 5:
13:15 L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus (live at NOS)
Thursday, September 9:
19:45 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Saturday, September 11:
14:00 L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus
Sunday, September 12:
14:00 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates*
Saturday, September 18:
14:00 L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus*
Sunday, September 19:
14:00 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates*
*if necessary