by Pim van Nes
As from Friday 20 thru Sunday 22 April, Hoofdklasse club HCAW hosted 36th edition of the last pre season tournament. This event is named after KNBSB Hall of Famer Charles Pierre Urbanus (Rotterdam 27 June 1914 – Utrecht 6 August 1980). Urbanus played short stop for Hoofdklasse club OVVO in Amsterdam, clinching 6 national championships, and 12 seasons for Netherlands national team. He belonged to the national team winning their first European championship in Rome 1956. As a coach he later worked for Netherlands national team during 19 years, including 11 years as manager (1966 – 1976). Charles Urbanus was the elder brother of pitcher Han Urbanus, who is father for present club manager Charles and grandfather for player Nick Urbanus, both with L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
Hometeam HCAW in Rob Hoffmann Valley stadium surprised in Game 1 national runner-up 2017 L&D Amsterdam with a 5-3 victory and on Saturday booked a regular win over Hoofddorp Pioniers 5-1 in Game 4 of the tournament. Game 2 started at 11.00 hrs facing two European contenders Curacao Neptunus from Rotterdam and L&D Amsterdam Pirates. Starting pitchers were Diegomar Markwell and Robin Schel each for 4 innings in the maximum 7 innings game. They were relieved for 2 innings each as tournament time rule called the game over after 105 minutes. Amsterdam opened the score in the bottom of the first inning on a double by Nick Urbanus, but Rotterdam replied in the top of the second with Shaldimar Daantji, who doubled and scored on a single by Gregory Muller: 1-1. Both teams added to the scores in the third (2-4) and Neptunus only repeated this result in the sixth: 2-6 thanks to two perfect innings by Loek van Mil.
Results:
20/4: HCAW Bussum – L&D Amsterdam 5-3
21/4: L&D Amsterdam – Neptunus Rotterdam 2-6
21/4: Neptunus Rotterdam – Hoofddorp Pioniers 4-3
21/4: Hoofddorp Pioniers – HCAW Bussum 1-5
22/4: L&D Amsterdam – Hoofddorp Pioniers 3-0
22/4: HCAW Bussum – Neptunus Rotterdam 3-0
Final standing:
1. HCAW Bussum 1.000 (3-0),
2. Neptunus Rotterdam .667 (2-1),
3. L&D Amsterdam .333 (1-2),
4. Hoofddorp Pioniers .000 (0-3).
Live-streaming was provided by 360sportsintelligence.com.
Opening Day Hoofdklasse:
Thursday 26 April at 19.30 hrs:
- Rotterdam: Curacao Neptunus – Hoofddorp Pioniers
- Haarlem : DSS – L&D Amsterdam Pirates
- Rosmalen : Glaskoning Twins – Sillicon Storks
- Amersfoort: Quick Amersfoort – HCAW