by Pim van Nes
On Friday October 12, for the second time a selection of merely Dutch baseball players will depart to Phoenix, Arizona to participate in MSBL/MABL World Series. Included are a player from Sweden, Niklas Sund (Leksand) and two from Germany, Yannis Theissen and Bart Roos (Bonn Capitals). Two years ago two Belgian players completed the Dutch group.
The trip in 2010 was the reaction from two Dutch players, Mitchell and Maikel Berghmans, who in 2008 had joined as individuals in that MSBL/MABL edition, thanks to Don George, MLB envoy coach. The Berghmans twins participating in the traditionally USA tournament provoked a lot of publicity in the States and they were interviewed by Hardball Magazine, resulting in an invitation to come back with a team from the Netherlands. Their appearance in 2010 turned out to be the first non-American team to participate in the tournament. More information about this tournament: http://www.dutchtigers.nl/msblmabl-world-series-phoenix/
In the Netherlands it was up to Frank Cramer to prepare their roster and trip for the 2012 edition, in direct collaboration with MSBL/MABL president Steve Sigler in the States. This year’s event happens to be the 25th Anniversary for the tournament, enabling Dutch Tigers to play 4 official 18+ Open National Division Wood Bat games in the Tempe Diablo and Hohokam Stadium. Their manager and assistant coach is Frank Cramer, head coach Leo Voogd, pitching coach Don George, Joop Groen and Jos Willems assistant coaches and Yolanda Soudant scorer. All games can be followed live on www.msblinternational.com
The 2012 Dutch Tigers roster:
| Player | Club | Primary | Secondary | |
| Mitchell Berghmans |  |
Eurostars | LHP | |
| Maikel Berghmans |  |
Eurostars | RHP | |
| Kjeld de Lincel |  |
Pioniers | LHP | |
| Henk van Heijningen |  |
Orioles | RHP | |
| Jurjen van Zijl |  |
UVV | RHP | |
| Bas Roctus |  |
Holy | RHP | |
| Thijs Degenkamp |  |
Eurostars | RHP | |
| Bart Janssen |  |
Eurostars | C | |
| Mourik Huijser |  |
Neptunus | C | |
| Niklas Sund |  |
Leksand | C | 1B |
| Michael Riekerk |  |
Sparta/Feijenoord | C | 3B |
| Roy Willems |  |
Eurostars | 1B | C |
| Max Bijster |  |
Eurostars | 2B | SS/3B |
| Aram van der Wal |  |
Eurostars | SS | 2B/3B |
| Anthony Vrolijk |  |
Sparta/Feijenoord | SS | 2B/3B |
| Dave Laclé |  |
Maastricht | 1B | DH |
| Angelo Ricardo |  |
Maastricht | 1B | 2B |
| Yannis Theissen |  |
Bonn Capitals | IF | P |
| Sven van der Sanden |  |
Kinheim | OF | |
| Nigel Lopes |  |
Maastricht | OF | |
| Rubinet Koko |  |
Eurostars | OF | |
| Bart Roos |  |
Bonn Capitals | OF | |
| Michael John Nisbet |  |
OF | 1B |