(1-3) Konica Minolta Pioniers – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 4-2
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The reigning Dutch champion was eliminated in the semi-finals. The PIONIERS trailed 1-2 going into the ninth inning of game four against AMSTERDAM, but Mark-Jan Moorman hit a walk-off three-run homerun with no outs to erase the deficit and to send his team to the Holland Series. The championship best-of-five series will start on August 20 with KONICA MINOLTA traveling to DOOR NEPTUNUS.
The started well for the PIRATES, as Fausto Alvarez put them up in front in the top of the second with a two-run homerun. But unfortunately for L&D, it was the last time they would score in the contest. The PIONIERS cut the deficit in a half in the sixth, when Norbert Lokhorst scored on a two-out error by the third baseman after a caught steal attempt. In the ninth Glenn Romney and Ryan Murphy led off with singles, setting up Moorman’s dramatic ending. He also had the big hit with a walk-off RBI single in game two of the series.
Murphy went the distance on the mound, allowing just five hits, two runs and two walks, while striking out four. He was opposed by Adam Blackley for the first six-plus innings, who issued just one unearned run on three hits and three bb. He struck out ten. After two dominant innings by reliever Nick Stuifbergen, Pim Walsma blew the lead in the ninth and took the loss.
DOOR NEPTUNUS had swept the series against CORENDON KINHEIM last weekend and was able to await their opponent since then.
Results:
Semi-Finals:
Thursday, August 6:
DOOR Neptunus – Corendon Kinheim 7-4
L&D Amsterdam – Konica Minolta Pioniers 11-3
Saturday, August 8:
Corendon Kinheim – DOOR Neptunus 1-9
Konica Minolta Pioniers – L&D Amsterdam 2-1
Sunday, August 9:
DOOR Neptunus – Corendon Kinheim 3-1 (Neptunus wins Series 3-0)
L&D Amsterdam – Konica Minolta Pioniers 4-9
Saturday, August 15:
Konica Minolta Pioniers – L&D Amsterdam 4-2 (Pioniers win Series 3-1)