by Pim van Nes
Four players of Corendon Kinheim and three of the Minolta Pioniers have been suspended until further notice by Dutch federation KNBSB because of their bench clearing brawl on the sunny afternoon of May 18. The seven players were reported by the umpires of the Pioniers’ home game in Hoofddorp versus visiting champion Kinheim.
The mass fight around second base, the hot corner of the infield that Sunday, resulted from the third incident of an attempt to reach second base. Two attempts by Kinheim had broken up a Pioniers’ double play and the third incident was just the third out in the bottom of the sixth inning. The second incident had caused hospitalization of Pioniers shortstop Mervin Gario. The third did not seem so bad, but a few seconds later all Kinheim defenders rushed into second base, immediately followed by all Pioniers players clearing their dugout bench.
Next Saturday morning KNBSB internal penalty committee presided by Mr. Leo van den Boomgaard will hear all seven players during a session in the federation office in Nieuwegein. After the hearings the committee will decide in each of the seven cases. The seven players already missed the regular games of last Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and the four Kinheim players will miss also their home game versus DOOR Neptunus next Thursday. The fast procedure on the first working day after the game is based on a new regulation by KNBSB on request of all Hoofdklasse clubs last year.
Despite of the suspended players’ absence both Kinheim and the Pioniers beat their opponents twice last weekend. This season’s revelation Sparta/Feyenoord played two close games versus Kinheim but was defeated 3-1 in Rotterdam and 3-2 in Haarlem. Strong pitching in Rotterdam by starters Rob Cordemans (coming back from injury with zero runs on just one hit in five innings) and Patrick Beljaards (zero runs on nine hits in eight innings). There was also much balance in the return game on Sunday, with starters Nick Veltkamp and Rudy Seebus, each allowing two runs in seven innings. In both games the difference was made on the relief pitchers.
Even more remarkable was the strong reaction by the Pioniers on the incidents game and the two losses versus Kinheim. In Hoofddorp the Pioniers hosted new leader Neptunus on Saturday and on Sunday they visited Neptunus in Rotterdam. Neptunus had built up a winning streak of eight games and taken over first position in Hoofdklasse since the decision to adjudge the defeat of the incidents game to then leading Pioniers. Despite of the absence of the three suspended players, the Pioniers confirmed their good shape and strong mind this season, beating Neptunus 4-2 and 6-3 and leaving them on third place in the new standings behind new leader Kinheim and new runner-up Pioniers.
Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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