by Pim van Nes
In their games three of the semi finals of the Netherlands playoffs, Corendon Kinheim and DOOR Neptunus have taken the lead in each series. Kinheim for the first time by winning their second consecutive game versus Konica Minolta Pioniers (14-11) and Neptunus by winning the second of their home games versus L&D Amsterdam: 5-3. At this key moment the two multiple continental champions have conquered match points: every next game won by either Kinheim or Neptunus means clinching a spot in the Holland Series. Coming Saturday the numbers one and two of the final standings of regular season will play road games four versus Pioniers in Hoofddorp and versus Pirates in Amsterdam. If necessary games five will be played as home games of the two favorites.
The major role within DOOR Neptunus in this afternoon’s game three versus L&D Amsterdam was for Australian relief pitcher Dushan Rusic, who managed to stop Amsterdam closing in from trailing 3-1 to 3-3. Neptunus had scored in each of the first three innings and Amsterdam reacted in the second inning: 3-1. Usually Rusic, earlier this year Double A player in the American Minor Leagues, is called to rescue his team as a closer in the last two innings. Today, however, he had to relieve starting pitcher Kevin Heijstek already after 4 1/3 innings and at the end he turned out to have lasted even one third inning longer than the starter. At 3-2 he inherited two runners on the bases, had to give up a sacrifice fly by Sidney de Jong and a for him an unearned run by Wesley Connor, but closed the inning with a strikeout against the Cuban designated hitter Fausto Alvarez.
Rusic continued striking out another two in the seventh inning and hitting batters in three of the remaining four innings, but the other batters hit his pitches only once. Amsterdam shortstop Marvin Bleij tied this score with Rusic with a leadoff single in the eighth inning as an answer to Rusic’s opening HBP in the fifth on Bleij’s body. Bleij then advanced to second base upon Rusic’s third HBP towards Sidney de Jong, but the Amsterdam attack on the 4-3 lead by Neptunus stranded in three flyouts on a row for Fausto Alvarez, Bas de Jong and Kenny Berkenbosch. Yesterday’s MVP Zair Koeiman (3 hits in 4 at-bats) reached base twice today, every time thanks to Rusic’s HBP’s. In this manner Koeiman opened the last Amsterdam attack on the 5-3 lead by Neptunus in the ninth inning, but Rusic provoked the double play that closed the inning and the game. Three strikeouts, no walks, one hit and no runs made him the winner of the key game for Neptunus.
Eugene Kingsale opened game three for Neptunus with his triple as leadoff in the first inning and he also opened the score 1-0, when he was batted in immediately by Benjamin Dille. In the second inning batters eight and nine Lennart Koster and Jeroen Sluijter doubled and singled to advance Derick Francisca to 2-0. Apparently inspired by the bottom of the lineup, Raily Legito and Sharnol Adriana combined in doubles producing the 3-1 lead for Neptunus in the third inning. The sixth inning was opened by Derick Francisca with a walk of first relief pitcher Kevin Miner and he scored the 4-3 on a single by Eugene Kingsale off second reliever Raban Schalm. The third time Francisca reached base was with a double off third reliever Nick Stuifbergen in the eighth inning. Once at second, he was replaced by pinch runner Andy Leer who advanced to third on a single by Martijn Meeuwis and scored 5-3 on a sacrifice fly by Lennart Koster.
Thursday September 18:
Corendon Kinheim – Konica Minolta Pioniers 3-9
DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 11-1
Saturday September 20:
Konica Minolta Pioniers – Corendon Kinheim 2-3
L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus 5-2
Sunday September 21:
Corendon Kinheim – Konica Minolta Pioniers 14-11
DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates 5-3
(Kinheim and Neptunus each lead the series 2-1)
Saturday September 27:
14:00 Konica Minolta Pioniers – Corendon Kinheim
14:00 L&D Amsterdam Pirates – DOOR Neptunus
Sunday September 28:
14:00 Corendon Kinheim – Konica Minolta Pioniers*
14:00 DOOR Neptunus – L&D Amsterdam Pirates*
*if necessary
Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
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www.sporttribune.nl
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