The Honkbalweek Haarlem 2018 started on Friday with two games. Already for the afternoon’s 1-0 win by Japan over Italy around 2,000 people were in the stands at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands. In the evening the Netherlands welcomed first-time ever participant Germany with a 6-0 shutout.
Italy 000 000 000 0 0 4 0 Japan 000 000 000 1 1 4 0
Scoring opportunities were rare in game one of the Honkbalweek Haarlem as Japan edged out Italy 1-0 on RBI bunt single Takashi Umino in the bottom of the tenth inning. Luis Lugo, Alex Bassani and Filippo Crepaldi pitched for Italy. Lugo struck out nine in five strong two-hit frames. The ceremonial first pitch prior to the game was thrown out by former Dutch and Curacao National Team pitcher Duco Jansen.
Netherlands 100 200 111 6 7 0 Germany 000 000 000 0 3 1
With German songs being played between innings and Soprane Belinda Vermeer singing a capella versions of the two national anthems, the Netherlands downed their European neighbors 6-0 in their first Honkbalweek Haarlem contest. Pitchers Orlando Yntema, Kevin Heijstek and Mike Bolsenbroek combined for a three-hit shutout. Germany used six hurlers in the contest. Dwayne Kemp hit a home run for the Dutch team. Gilmer Lampe drove in two.
Prior to the game new Netherlands manager Evert Jan’t Hoen was asked by the Haarlem Dagblad’s Monne Reitsma about his goals entering his first tournament in the driver seat. “As an assistant coach I was used to give my opinions to the manager and now I am ready to hear opinions from my assistants. I will explain my decisions to them and to the players. This Honkbalweek Haarlem and later Super Six in Hoofddorp will be occasions where players can take for their chance, but not at all cost, as I want to win this tournament. Further we want to qualify for Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. The road towards Tokyo has begun here. Winners mentality needs to be the spirit in my team. During Honkbalweek I will not have professional players available, but probably they can join the team during Super Six in Hoofddorp. In September we will compose a nice mix of national league players, US minor league players and emerging talents.”
Pim van Nes contributed to this article.