NETHERLANDS – The L&D Amsterdam Pirates took two of three games against cellar-dwelling Media Monks RCH last weekend to stay atop the Dutch Major League, while Konica Minolta beat Mr. Cocker HCAW twice to hold on to the second spot.

Nick Stuifbergen (2-1) and two relievers limited the MediaMonks to just three hits in a 10-0 win in the series opener on Thursday. Australian southpaw Adam Blackley (4-0) fanned 11 in six shutout innings in a 6-0 win on Saturday. However, RCH foiled the sweep the following day.

MediaMonks starter Chris Mowday (1-4) allowed three hits and one run in a complete-game gem that included eight strikeouts in a 9-1 triumph over the league-leading Pirates.

RYAN MURPHY PITCHES KONICA MINOLTA PAST HCAW
The Pioniers trounced Mr. Cocker 11-1 last Thursday behind a strong effort by Ryan Murphy who racked up nine strikeouts in six innings. But, HCAW evened the series with an 8-3 win on Saturday as former Solingen Alligators lefty Andre Hughes (2-1) picked up the win.

In the re-scheduled rubber match on Tuesday due to bad weather on Sunday, Murphy (4-0) struck out nine – again – in six scoreless innings to lead Konica Minolta to an easy 10-0 victory.

CORENDON KINHEIM WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME
Former Dutch champion Corendon Kinheim swept the three-game set against ADO to push their wining streak to five games.

National team right-hander David Bergman (2-4) registered eight strikeouts in a 4-1 win Thursday to set the tone for the series. In the second game on Saturday, Kinheim second baseman René Cremer delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth with a key RBI triple.

Kinheim used the long ball to wrap-up the sweep in a 14-6 win Sunday as Danny Rombley, Tjerk Smeets and Bryan Engelhardt smacked home runs for the Haarlem-based club.

SPARTA/FEYENOORD SURPRISES DOOR NEPTUNUS
In a battle for the bragging rights in Rotterdam, Sparta/Feyenoord dealt DOOR Neptunus a pair of losses to win the series, two games to one.

In a well-pitched Game One on Thursday, a pair of national team hurlers – Rob Cordemans and Diegomar Markwell – butted heads in a low-scoring affair. Rodney Michel’s RBI single proved to be the difference as Sparta/Feyenoord edged Neptunus 1-0.

On Saturday, Eldrion Regina’s bases-loaded triple highlighted an early six-run barrage to lead Sparta/Feyenoord to a 7-4 victory. In the series finale the next day, Neptunus blew open the game with a six-run fourth en route to a 11-1 win.

HONOR ROLL

Tjerk Smeets, Corendon Kinheim
Was 3-for-5 with home run and four RBIs in 14-6 win over ADO.

Jurjen van Zijl, DOOR Neptunus
Struck out six and allowed one run in five innings to beat Sparta/Feyenoord 11-1.

Chris Mowday, MediaMonks RCH
Allowed one run and fanned eight in a complete-game, three-hitter against Amsterdam.

Jorian van Acker, DOOR Neptunus
Pitched four shutout relief innings in 7-4 loss to Sparta/Feyenoord.

Patrick Beljaards, Corendon Kinheim
Tossed eight innings of one-run ball with two hits in 3-2 win over ADO.

Adam Blackley, L&D Amsterdam
Tossed six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in 6-0 win against MediaMonks RCH.

David Bergman, Corendon Kinheim
Allowed one run on four hits over eight innings in 4-1 win against ADO.

Fausto Alvarez Rizo, L&D Amsterdam
Went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in 10-0 win over MediaMonks RCH.

Nick Stuifbergen, L&D Amsterdam
Allowed three hits over 5 2/3 shutout innings in victory against MediaMonks RCH.

Rob Cordemans, Sparta/Feyenoord
Pitched seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory against DOOR Neptunus.

Diegomar Markwell, DOOR Neptunus
Tossed two-hit ball over eight shutout innings in 1-0 loss to Sparta/Feyenoord.

Mervin Gario, Konica Minolta Pioniers
Was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in 10-0 win over Mr. Cocker HCAW.

PITCHING LEADERS
0.39 – Rob Cordemans, Sparta/Feyenoord
0.79 – Patrick Beljaards, Kinheim
0.90 – Adam Blackley, Amsterdam
0.97 – Ryan Murphy, Konica Minolta
1.26 – Jorian van Acker, Neptunus
1.35 – Pim Walsma, Amsterdam
1.35 – Dushan Ruzic, Neptunus
1.87 – Gregory Gustina, Sparta/Feyenoord
1.88 – Roger Kops, Konica Minolta

HITTING LEADERS
.442 – Aeden McQueary, ADO
.408 – Danny Rombley, Kinheim
.397 – Zaïr Koeiman, Amsterdam
.383 – René Verbrugge, ADO
.367 – Glenn Romney, Konica Minolta
.362 – Björn Henrichs, Amsterdam
.355 – Eugène Kingsale, Neptunus
.352 – Ryan Murphy, Konica Minolta
.349 – Sidney de Jong, Amsterdam
.348 – Fausto Alvarez Rizo, Amsterdam

STANDINGS

Photo courtesy of Henk Seppen/L&D Amsterdam Pirates

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Tags: Netherlands