The Honkbal Hoofdklasse playoffs in the Netherlands are underway, and the top four teams from the season are competing to see who will head to the Holland Series and qualify for the European Cup. The top four stage started today, with Curaçao Neptunus hosting the Amsterdam Pirates and HCAW hosting Kinheim.
Curaçao Neptunus 7 – Amsterdam Pirates 3
Top-seeded Neptunus took on the second-seeded and defending champion Pirates in the first matchup, with Neptunus ace Tom de Blok taking the mound against Nelmerson Angela of the Pirates. Neither team scored until the third inning, when Kenny Berkenbosch hit a ground-rule double off of de Blok to score Mervin Gario, making it 1-0.
In the bottom of the third, Neptunus responded via a Tyriq Kemp RBI single to center, tying the game 1-1. They kept the momentum going, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Sheadion Jamanika and a balk from Angela.
Amsterdam tied it 3-3 in the top of the sixth, but Neptunus blew the game open in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Dirksen, Darnel Collins, and Christian Diaz each brought in an RBI, while Darryl Collins drew a walk that allowed Jamanika to score on a wild pitch. A quick response of four runs made it 7-3 after six innings. The Neptunus bullpen held off the Pirates for the remainder of the game, giving Neptunus the win with a final score of 7-3.
DSS/Kinheim 6 – HCAW 3
12-10-2 Kinheim started hot, scoring four runs in the first inning. Sem Kuijper had a two RBI single and Ibrahin Redan followed him with another RBI single. Jesse Van Den Berg had a sacrifice fly to center, making it 4-0 in the first. HCAW got one run back in the bottom of the third, but both offenses were mostly stagnant until the bottom of the sixth inning.
Trailing 3-1, Jeandro Tromp cut into the lead with an RBI triple.
In the bottom of the seventh, Zico Atmopawiro hit his second single of the day, making it 4-3 and bringing HCAW within one run.
Feeling the pressure, Kinheim put multiple runners on base, and a Redan sacrifice fly brought in one run to take the lead. Amarensio Franka stole home in the next at-bat to make it 6-3 going into the ninth.
In the ninth for Kinheim on the mound was Mike Groen. He pitched the seventh and eighth and needed three outs to earn the save. He walked the leadoff batter, Jeandro Tromp, but then retired three straight batters to give Kinheim the win 6-3.
Both matchups, Kinheim vs. HCAW and Amsterdam vs. Curaçao, will take place on Aug. 17 as the Honkbal Hoofdklasse playoffs continue.
