After the heroics of the Netherlands at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the Dutch Hoofdklasse opens the 2013 season this Thursday. Defending champion Corendon Kinheim takes on the Vaessen Pioniers, the ADO Lakers square off with L&D Amsterdam, Mr. Cocker HCAW faces UVV and DOOR Neptunus welcomes the promoted Mampaey The Hawks into the league. Games on Thursday start at 7.30pm, on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm.
Corendon Kinheim
It was a strange run to the championship in the Hoofdklasse, which included a coaching change midway after a 0-3 start into the playoffs. But in the end Kinheim was able to beat rival DOOR Neptunus in the Holland Series to claim another Dutch title. Jeffrey Arends (from DOOR Neptunus) and Leon Boyd (formerly DOOR Neptunus, coming from Canada) were the main acquisitions during the winter. David Bergman, Nick Veltkamp and Boyd are the expected starting pitcher even though Boyd isn’t scheduled to arrive till May. Luke Sommer is gone.
L&D Amsterdam Pirates
L&D Amsterdam won the regular season last year following their championship season in 2011. However in the playoffs they missed out on the Holland Series, but still will be able to represent the Netherlands in the European Cup. They will have a new coaching staff with former catcher Sidney de Jong and current players Percy Isenia and Rob Cordemans. Their biggest signings during the winter were Kevin Heijstek (DOOR Neptunus) and Michael Duursma (Vaessen Pioniers). Cordemans, Heijstek and Jos de Jong are their probable starting pitchers.
DOOR Neptunus
DOOR Neptunus also made a coaching change following the 2011 season. Evert-Jan’t Hoen takes over, assisted by former player Jeroen Sluijter and Jan Collins. Several players left including Heijstek, Arends, Dushan Ruzic and Bobby Carrington. Their biggest acquisition is the signing of Orlando Yntema (from UVV). Yntema, Diegomar Markwell and Tim Roodenburg are the likely starters.
Vaessen Pioniers
The Vaessen Pioniers could be on the verge of becoming a dominant club in the Netherlands with the new baseball facility in Hoofddorp scheduled to open next spring. Until then they are still playoff bound as in previous years. Vince Rooi (from L&D Amsterdam), Danny Rombley (from UVV), Phil Ortez (ADO Lakers) and Josh Rickards (formerly Reggio Emilia/ITA) reinforce the roster. Michael Duursma, Joey Evans (back in US) and Jourick Blanco (back in Aruba) are key players, which have left. Rickards, Tim Miner and Mika de Lincel are announced as starting pitchers to start the season.
Mr. Cocker HCAW
Mr. Cocker HCAW is another team, which change their head coach this offseason. Ivan Rodriguez took over at the helm, leading a young roster which is not thinking of the playoffs right now, hoping to build a solid team in the next two years. 11 players left throughout the winter, including Kyle Putnam. Kody Hightower was announced to stay. Ivan Granados and Jesus Latte were late additions to the team. Otherwise HCAW added a couple of young promising players like Dillon True. Granados, Kaj Timmermans and Sander Helmendach are their starters.
UVV
UVV worked hard these past two seasons, but in both occasions missed the playoffs even though having high expectations. They revamped their roster once again with 14 players coming and 12 going and also have a new head coach with Ferenc Jongejan. Dennis Burgersdijk (from Mr. Cocker HCAW) and Mike Bazuin (from DOOR Neptunus) are probably the biggest names on the arrival list. Yntema (DOOR Neptunus), Rombley (Vaessen Pioniers), Shurty Tremus, Kyle Ward (L&D Amsterdam) and Derek Tarapacki are gone among others. Jurjen van Zijl, Duko Jansen and Burgersdijk should be first choice for the starting pitching role.
ADO Lakers
The ADO Lakers, who lost last year’s main sponsor, showed improved performances last season, but still were at least one step away from playoff contention. Dave Daniels is just one of three head coaches of last year’s opening day to keep his job. It is going to be a difficult year with Thomas Macy (US), Ortez (Vaessen Pioniers) and Evan Porter (US) no longer on the team. Notable signings didn’t happen and barring eventual last-minute acquisitions of a couple of foreign players, the ADO Lakers will once again settle for the playdowns at the end of the year.
Mampaey The Hawks
Mampaey The Hawks succeed the Sparta/Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Hoofdklasse. As usual the new team faces major challenges in promoting to a strong league. They picked up a couple of players who however didn’t have key roles in their former teams. Only a couple of players have experience in the top level of Dutch baseball. At least they were able to keep most of last year’s players, which were good enough to win the second division in the Netherlands.