Kinheim first in Holland Series, Neptunus needs game 5

by Pim van Nes

David Bergman today was the sovereign director on the mound of Toolenberg sportpark, home of the Pioniers in Hoofddorp where defending champion Kinheim won its third game in the best-of-five for a place in the Holland Series. Scattered hits in the first and fourth innings and two in the fifth conceded by Bergman did not harm the defense of the visiting team. He kept the best offensive team of the regular season hitless in five of his eight innings, striking out five Pioniers batters. When his first walk was allowed to leadoff hitter Glenn Romney, he was relieved by pitchers coach Eelco Jansen in the ninth inning. Bergman left a 3-0 advantage to his substitute Michiel van Kampen who needed just three pitches for three outs.

Kinheim scored once in the third inning and twice in the sixth on starting Pioniers pitcher Roger Kops. With his second hit in the game, Danny Rombley doubled in the third sending home Jeffrey Verbij: 1-0. Also with his second hit in the game, Vince Rooi homered in the sixth: 2-0. When next batter Roel Koolen produced the back-to-back hit for Kinheim, Kops was replaced by Robin van Doornspeek, who struck-out DH Jason Halman but conceded a single by Jeffrey Verbij for the third RBI for the visitors scored by Koolen.

The latter committed two defensive errors, however to no avail for almost silent Pioniers in still summering Netherlands. The only home hits were produced by infielders Jourick Blanco and Mervin Gario, outfielder Glenn Romney and catcher Jeffrey de Vrieze. The box score was dominated by Kinheim: three hits by Danny Rombley, two hits by Vince Rooi and two hits by Jeffrey Verbij. Seven Kinheim hits were conceded by starter Kops in 5 1/3 innings, three by Van Doornspeek in two innings and one by Maarten Mulder in 1 2/3 innings.

In Amsterdam the other series were brought forward to game five tomorrow in Rotterdam. Visiting Neptunus was defeated 11-1 in eight innings by the L&D Pirates in the Netherlands capital. As from the fourth inning, Amsterdam scored in every inning on starter Leon Boyd and his five relief pitchers. Neptunus played without defensive errors, but was beaten by a three-run homerun, a triple and five doubles. Boyd conceded nine hits and left his team 3-1 trailing in the fifth inning. Winning pitcher for Amsterdam was Jos de Jong, who worked five innings giving up just two hits. Game five is scheduled for tomorrow at 14:00 CET in the sunny Familie Stadium in Rotterdam, decisive for the second spot in Holland Series.

Results:
Corendon Kinheim – Konica Minolta Pioniers 3-9
DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 11-1
Recap Day 1
Konica Minolta Pioniers – Corendon Kinheim 2-3
L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus 5-2
Recap Day 2
Corendon Kinheim – Konica Minolta Pioniers 14-11
DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 5-3
Recap Day 3
Konica Minolta Pioniers – Corendon Kinheim 0-3 (Kinheim wins series 3-1)
L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus 11-1 (8) (Series tied 2-2)

Sunday September 28:
14:00 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates

Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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