US Ambassador in The Hague Timothy Broas (right) with KNBSB commercial agent Paddy Roomer (left)

by Pim van Nes

To everybody’s surprise last Thursday, relief pitcher Loek van Mil, regular closer for new European champion club Curacao Neptunus, appeared on the mound for his team in their first play-off game versus Vaessen Pioniers.

A week ago, the 2m15 tall pitcher had a ticket ready to fly back on Friday to his MLB club Minnesota Twins in order to be added to the pitching staff of Triple A afiliate at Rochester. Van Mil was supposed to pitch his last inning the evening before his flight, but the last innings were postponed to Saturday afternoon due to rain fall in the 8th inning.

Last week Saturday morning it was announced Van Mil had changed his ticket to a flight on Sunday, in order he could help his Rotterdam club in the two afternoon games versus play-off opponent Corendon Kinheim. The regular closer started the first game in the 8th inning and could not prevent the inherited runner from scoring and he turned out to be the losing pitcher in the 2-3 defeat in his home stadium. Also the second play-off game the very same afternoon tossed to a home loss: 5-7.

Though outsiders believed Loek van Mil to fly to Red Wings in Rochester last Sunday, he was called to the mound to stop Vaessen Pioniers attack in the 8th inning last Thursday. First relief pitcher Kevin Kelly left two runners on bases, no outs and the score tied at 3-3. Both runners scored and the inning and the game finished at a stunning home defeat 3-6.

To-day Curacao Neptunus faced Vaessen Pioniers in their second play-off game. Lefthanded starter Diegomar Markwell brought a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but then Dirk-Jan Moorman promoted the first hit into a solo homerun, cancelling both the no-hitter and the shut-out for winning home team Neptunus: 7-1. Markwell completed the game as winning pitcher and Van Mil stayed in the dug-out.

When Mister-Baseball.com asked Neptunus technical director Paul van den Oever about the availability of his ex- and future Minnesota Twins pitcher a week after his first planned departure, he answered that the player’s passport is reported lost by US Embassy in the Hague, where it was delivered for visa handling required for foreign professional baseball players in United States. Neptunus director added to his information that the club is happy with the extended stay of its reputed closer during post season.