by Pim van Nes

A walk-off home run by Bryan Engelhardt driving in three runs for defending champion Corendon Kinheim highlighted the first round of this year’s play-off season for Dutch Hoofdklasse. Vaessen Pioniers from Hoofddorp, finished third in regular season, scored twice in the second inning and was one run ahead in the ninth inning. Their reputed closer Bayron Cornelissen however could not stop the all or nothing attempt by the home team: 5-3 for Kinheim. For Pioniers Kevin Dirksen had homered for one go ahead run, also in the ninth inning: 2-3. Kinheim closer Arshwin Asjes then looked like the losing pitcher of the game, but turned out the winner after the second homerun of the game.

Also DOOR Neptunus playing home in Rotterdam as regular season winner in last week’s series versus last challenger L&D Amsterdam Pirates, had been trailing since the top of the second inning of their game one, again against Pirates. Amsterdam starter Rob Cordemans defended well their two or one runs gap till deep into the seventh inning. He had struck-out one batter in each of the first four frames, two in the fifth, needed his infielders in the sixth to reduce the damage of a three hits attack by the home team to one run (2-3) and came back in the seventh with strikeouts for the first two box opponents.

Cordemans had thrown 113 pitches and expected the third out call by the first base umpire, who saw Kenny Berkenbosch’s foot leaving his first base but the umpire missed the defender’s tag on running Adrian Anthony. The inning was not ended, but continued with 2-3, one runner for Neptunus and a new pitcher for Pirates: Kevin Heijstek. The former Neptunus ace faced the numbers two and three of the home batting lineup. Giannison Boekhoudt singled and Raily Legito doubled for two runs, bringing the one run ahead gap to home advantage for the first time. And for the last time, as Brendan Wise and Berry van Driel combined in two hitless innings: 4-3.

Home team starter Diegomar Markwell got the win of the game, although he was trailing 2-3 when he had thrown his last pitch: a fly to midfield by Percey Isenia in the top of the seventh. He also threw 113 pitches, struck out three, walked six and conceded only four hits. The no-decision for Cordemans was illustrated by eight strikeouts, one walk and nine hits. All three Pirates runs were produced by their number nine batter Rachid Gerard, who batted in Isenia and Bas Nooij in the second inning and as runner between first and second base he caused confusion and an error by Neptunus defense in the sixth enabling Nooij to score again from third base.

Business as usual in Rotterdam. After the last three of 42 games in regular season, the stadium hosted the same two teams as last week Thursday and Saturday. However, yesterday was the start of the real strong competition for only the by far best four clubs of Hoofdklasse. However, business as usual, not only in the game with number one ultimately beating number four, but also before the play-offs number one game, seemingly just game 43 in season 2013. No flags, no fans, no ceremonial first pitch. At play ball time the attendance was just over 100, merely the same persons as every one or two weekly games in regular season. According to the official game report the attendance rose to about 250 during the first few innings.

No ceremonial first pitch for the playoff game number one, although several potential candidates had shown up in the Familie Stadium. Such as Hans Zoethoutmaar, deputy director of Rotterdam Topsport, a municipal organisation in Rotterdam supporting and promoting the City of Sports, its athletes and its sport clubs, such as Neptunus since many years. Such as Hamilton Richardson, former top player for Rotterdam club Sparta, which with him promoted baseball in Rotterdam 50 years ago, and 65 times player for Netherlands national team. Such as Charley Urbanus, former top player from Amsterdam and coach for both Neptunus and Pirates. Such as Steve Janssen, former coach for both Rotterdam clubs Neptunus and Sparta/Feyenoord and presently skipper for the Netherlands national team. Such as father Cees or Eric de Bruin, each at their age player and coach in Rotterdam and for Dutch national teams.

The opening was down to earth, but at the end home players and crowd jumped up to celebrate the close wins in Rotterdam and Haarlem. On Saturday 14.00 hrs game two between Corendon Kinheim and Vaessen Pioniers Hoofddorp in Pim Mulier Stadium at Haarlem and game two between DOOR Neptunus and L&D Amsterdam Pirates in Familie Stadium at Rotterdam. On Sunday 14.00 hrs games three in Hoofddorp and Amsterdam.