THE NETHERLANDS – DOOR Neptunus extended their season-high winning streak to nine games with two wins last weekend to reclaim the top spot in the Dutch Major League, while the Konica Minolta Pioniers captured their sixth win in a row to gain a share of the division lead.

Neptunus southpaw Diegomar Markwell fanned 10 and limited ADO to a pair of hits in a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Jeffrey Arends’ two-run double highlighted a three-run fourth and Markwell – who worked 6 1/3 innings – combined with relievers Berry van Driel and Dushan Ruzic on a three-hit shutout.

The Rotterdam club found itself in an 0-2 hole the following day against Mr. Cocker HCAW before rallying for three fifth-inning scores to claim a 4-2 win. Eugene Kingsale and Raily Legito both stroked RBI hits to give Neptunus (17-6-1) the lead for good.

KONICA MINOLTA GRABS SHARE OF LEAD

The Pioniers’ Ryan Murphy came out on top in a showdown with Sparta/Feyenoord ace Rob Cordemans to help Konica Minolta capture a 4-1 victory on Saturday. The 2008 Holland Series MVP racked up 10 strikeouts while allowing only four hits over seven shutout innings to notch the win.

Cordemans, who fanned nine in another effective outing that lasted 7 2/3 innings, was pinned with the loss.

Konica Minolta (17-6-1) capitalized on four defensive miscues by ADO and erupted for eight scores in a marathon fourth inning to roll to a 11-0 victory on Sunday. Jefferson Muzo paced the Pioniers at the plate with three RBIs while Mervin Gario drove in a pair of runs for the second consecutive game. Roger Kops worked six scoreless innings to earn the win.

KINHEIM BACK IN TITLE HUNT

The former Dutch champion followed a 4-3 win over L&D Amsterdam last Thursday with a 9-4 triumph over the reigning league title-holder on Saturday. However, the Haarlem club suffered a letdown on Sunday in a 7-4 upset loss to MediaMonks RCH.

Ferd van Stekelenburg and Czech outfielder Jakub Malik led the MediaMonks with three and two hits, respectively. Bryan Engelhardt enjoyed a 4-for-4 day at the plate for Kinheim (17-10).

PIRATES SUFFER THREE SETBACKS

L&D Amsterdam lost three straight games for the first time this season and dropped out of the top spot into second place behind Neptunus and Konica Minolta.

The Pirates losing skid started Thursday with a 4-3 setback to Kinheim, and continued on Saturday with a 9-4 loss to the 2006 and 2007 Dutch League champions. The following day, Sparta/Feyenoord dealt L&D Amsterdam (19-8) a 5-2 loss in a six-inning contest stopped early due to bad weather.

Photo courtesy of Henk Seppen/L&D Amsterdam Pirates

Tags: Netherlands