Cuba has been announced as the fourth team at the 2013 World Port Tournament.

Cuba will join Curacao, Chinese Taipei, and host Netherlands in the 2013 edition of the tournament. The tournament will be played in Rotterdam from June 30 to July 7.

The bi-annual tournament also released the schedule with Cuba and Curacao kicking it off on Sunday June 30.

2013 WPT Schedule:

Sunday June 30
2:00 pm – Cuba vs Curacao
7:30 pm – Netherlands vs Chinese Taipei

Monday July 1
2:00 pm – Chinese Taipei vs Curacao
7:30 pm – Cuba vs Netherlands

Tuesday July 2
7:30 pm – Curacao vs Netherlands

Wednesday July 3
2:00 pm – Curacao vs Chinese Taipei
7:30 pm – Netherlands vs Cuba

Thursday July 4
7:30 pm – Chinese Taipei vs Cuba

Friday July 5
2:00 pm – Chinese Taipei vs Cuba
7:30 pm – Netherlands vs Curacao

Saturday July 6
2:00 pm – Curacao vs Cuba
7:30 pm – Chinese Taipei vs Netherlands

Sunday July 7
2:00 pm Final

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands – The 2013 edition of the World Port Tournament will only feature four teams. The bi-annual international baseball tournament will feature host Netherlands, defending champion Chinese Taipei, and Curacao.

The final team for the tournament will either be the USA or Cuba. The final team should be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2013 edition of the tournament has been shortened by three days, thus the limiting of the teams to only four. Each team will play six games.

The WPT takes place from June 30 to July 7 at Familie Stadium in Rotterdam.

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THE NETHERLANDS – Taiwan and Cuba needed extra innings to declare a winner on Sunday in the 2011 World Port Tournament at Family Stadium in Rotterdam. An 11th inning RBI single by Huang Chih-pei game Taiwan the title. Taiwan finished the tournament with an impressive 8-1 mark, including 3 wins over Cuba.

The game went back and forth with Cuba taking a 2-0 lead after 3 and a half innings. Taiwan got a run back in the 4th and then jumped out to a 4-3 lead with a 3 run 5th inning. Wei Thing Lin drove in 3 runs with a double for Taiwan in the 5th, but Cuba quickly tied it up in the top of the 7th.

Yassel Puig (3-for6) was a home run shy of the cycle for Taiwan. Lin Chen-hua picked up the win in relief.

Yadier Pedroso picked up the loss going 6 innings in relief on just 1 day’s rest.

This was the first title for Taiwan after having finished 2nd twice and 3rd 3 times.

RESULTS:

World Port Tournament

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THE NETHERLANDS – Germany got in the win column pounding out 12 runs on 10 hits against Curacao on Thursday. The German pitching staff gave up only 5 hits in shutting down the Curacao bats. In the second game of the day, Taiwan continued its winning ways with a victory over Cuba.

Germany 12, Curacao 2 (8)

Germany ended its losing streak by defeating Curacao. Curacao jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first inning, but that’s all they would get. In the first inning, Sascha Lutz led off the game for Germany with a double to left center. He would score an unearned run on an error by the catcher putting Germany up 1-0. The lead wouldn’t last for long. In the bottom half of the first, Curacao would get two runs. Heinrich Martina (0-for-2) got hit to start the inning but was quickly picked off of first base. Curacao would get a run after a walk, a single, and an error on a fielder’s choice. The second run came on a single by Levi Carolus (1-for-2). That was it for Curacao. They would leave the bases loaded and not plate another run.

However, Germany kept the bats rolling. They would get 4 runs in the 3rd inning to go up 5-2 and they never looked back. They would score 4 more runs in the 5th. Then they would add a single run in the 6th, 7th, and 8th. Center fielder Sascha Lutz set the table going 3-for-5 with 3 runs scored and a RBI. Jendrick Speer added 3 RBI going 3-for-4.

Daniel Hinz went only a third of an inning allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, a walk, and a hit batter. Dominik Hartinger came in to pitch the rest of the game going 7.2 innings giving up 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 4 to pick up the win.

Taiwan 4, Cuba 1

Cuba needed to win to keep pace with The Netherlands. It was looking good until the bottom of the 7th. Cuba got a run in the 3rd inning after Rusney Castillo doubled with one out. He was quickly sent home via a Yoilan Cerce single up the middle. Yosvani Torres kept the Taiwan bats at bay for 6 innings, but didn’t have the answer in the 7th.

Taiwan finally got to Torres in the 7th inning getting 4 runs. They started the inning off with back-to-back singles from right fielder Lin (2-for-4) and Wei Chih Chen (2-for-4). After a ground out, Han Lin (0-for-3) was intentionally walked to load the bases. The next batter Kuan Wei Yang (3-for-5) quickly tied the score with a RBI single. After Cuba pulled Torres, Chih Pei Huang (1-for-5) drove in a run with a fielder’s choice. Another single loaded the bases and then Tsung Han Yu (2-for-4) singled to center driving in a pair of runs to put Taiwan up 4-1.

Torres lasted 6.1 innings giving up 4 runs on 11 hits and 1 walk to take the loss. Yu Hsun Chen tossed 8 innings giving up 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 3 to pick up the win. Yu Ching Lin tossed the 9th inning to pick up the save.

With the win, Taiwan earns a trip to the finals on Sunday. Cuba will need a victory over The Netherlands on Friday to stay in the hunt for the finals.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Friday, July 1:
14:00 Taiwan – Germany
19:00 Cuba – Netherlands

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THE NETHERLANDS –  Cuba got some payback against Curacao with a 1-0 win on Wednesday avenging their loss from last Friday. In game 2 of the day, The Netherlands handed Taiwan its first loss of the tournament.

Cuba 1, Curacao 0

Dalier Honajosa allowed only a single hit in 7.1 innings while walking 1 to pick up the win. Cuba got its only run on a Yordanis Samon sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th. That’s all Cuba needed behind Honajosa’s pitching. Raydel Isabella pitched great as well but took the loss giving up 1 run on 8 hits in 8 innings of work.

Netherlands 4, Taiwan 2

Taiwan was dealt its first loss as they dropped Wednesday nights contest to the Dutch. The Netherlands jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 3rd with a run, then forged ahead by a score of 4-0 with 3 runs in the 4th inning. Michael Duursma and Shaldimar Daantji had RBI singles in the 4th to help the Dutch take down the surprising Taiwanese team. Diegomar Markwell went 6 innings allowing a run on 6 hits and 2 walks to pick up the victory. Wei Chung Wang was touched up for 4 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks in 3.1 innings taking the loss.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Thursday, June 30:
14:00 Curacao – Germany
19:00 Taiwan – Cuba

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THE NETHERLANS – Taiwan’s bats went off on Tuesday bashing out 19 runs to whip Curacao and continue their unbeaten streak. Germany dropped another game in a rain shortened match with the host Dutch team and continue in search of its first win.

Taiwan 19, Curacao 1 (7)

The second match up for these two countries was even more lopsided than the first. Taiwan jumped out with 7 runs in the 1st inning and didn’t look back from there scoring 5 in the 2nd and 6 in the 3rd. Han Lin and Wei Thing Lin both hit home runs while Yu Kin Huang and Chih Pei Huang both drove in 4 runs apiece. Quincy Martina kept Curacao from being shutout with a solo home run in the 7th inning.

Germany 1, The Netherlands 6 (6)

The game was interrupted in the first inning for 2 hours because of rain. Then rain caused the game to be called midway through the 6th inning. Leon Boyd picked up the win going 5 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk. Dwayne Kemp drove in a couple runs for the Dutch. Bjoern Schonlau drove in the lone run for the German squad with a RBI single in the 5th inning.

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THE NETHERLANDS – Day 5 of the 2011 World Port Tournament saw two teams play double headers due to rain canceling a game on Saturday. Taiwan continued to run through the competition with a pair of wins, while Cuba came back in the late innings to force extra innings against Germany.

Cuba 1, Taiwan 3

Taiwan remained unbeaten with the early morning win over Cuba. This was a makeup game from Saturday that got rained out. The 4-time defending champion, and 8-time winner, is not having a great tournament as this is already its 2nd loss. Cuba got on the board early in the top of the 1st with a run. The game stayed 1-0 until the top of the 5th when Taiwan would tie it. They would eventually go ahead to stay in the top of the 7th with a single run, and they added an insurance run in the top of the 9th. Han Lin led the Taiwan offense going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kuan Ju Chen picked up the win going the distance allowing only 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk.

Cuba 4, Germany 3 (10)

It was looking like Cuba would suffer a 2nd defeat on the day. After 6 innings, Germany led 2-0, but they couldn’t hold the lead. Cuba would fight back late in the game with a single run in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to tie it and send it to extra frames. Germany led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th and was 1 out away from its first victory of the tournament when Yoilan Cerce singled in the tying run. Cuba would get a single run in the 10th on an error by German shortstop Nils Hartkopf to earn the walk-off win and deny Germany of its first win. Yasel Puig led the way offensively for Cuba homering and driving in 2 runs.

Both starters pitched well but did not factor into the decision. Eugen Heilmann went 7+ innings allowing 2 runs on 8 hits and a walk for Germany. Misael Siverio pitched 5.2 innings for Cuba allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Duniel Ibarra picked up the win in relief.

Curacao 1, Taiwan 7

Taiwan stayed undefeated with a 7-1 victory over Curacao. The game was scoreless until the 5th inning when Curacao would get on the board on an RBI double by Andley Simmons. They would hold the lead until the 7th inning when Taiwan would get 1 run to tie it up. Taiwan would put it away in the 8th and 9th with 3 runs in each inning. Chih Pei Huang and Han Lin both went 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead Taiwan offensively.

Both starters pitched well as Chun Lin Kuo went 6 innings allowing 1 run on 8 hits and a walk for Taiwan. Jonathan Balentina went 6.2 innings allowing only 1 run on 9 hits while striking out 7. Neither factored into the decision.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Tuesday, June 28:
14:00 Taiwan – Curacao
19:00 Germany – Netherlands

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THE NETHERLANDS – Cuba rebounded from a surprising defeat to Curacao to down the host Dutch team 4-1 in the first game of the day on Sunday. In game 2, Curacao continued its winning ways by sending Germany to its 3rd straight loss.

The Netherlands 1, Cuba 4

Cuba jumped out early scoring a run in the 1st and 2nd innings and never looked back. Yadier Pedroso shut down the Dutch bats going the distance allowing only 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 10. Leading 2-0 heading into the top of the 9th, Cuba extended its lead with RBI singles by Rusney Castillo and Yoilan Cerce. The Dutch team finally got to Pedroso in the 9th inning on an RBI single from Michael Duursma but that is all they would manage. Kevin Heijstek pitched well for The Netherlands going 6 innings allowing only 2 runs on 8 hits but took the loss.

Germany 1, Curacao 5

Germany continued its disappointing showing with a 5-1 loss to Curacao in game 2 on Sunday. Germany jumped out to the lead once again in the 3rd inning on a RBI single by Simon Guehring. That’s all the German squad could muster against Curacao pitching. Starter Duko Jansen went 7 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits and 1 walk to earn the victory. Curacao came back in the 4th to tie the game at 1 and then took the lead in the 5th with 2 more runs. Jair Josepha drove in the run in the 4th with an RBI double.  Johannes Gregorius and Randolph Kirindongo had back to back run scoring singles in the 5th that put Curacao in the lead for good. Curacao would get 2 more runs in the 7th to put the game away.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Monday, June 27:
10:00 Cuba – Taiwan
14:00 Cuba – Germany
19:00 Curacao – Taiwan

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THE NETHERLANDS – Only one game was played on Saturday due to the early match between Cuba and Taiwan getting rained out. They will make up the game early Monday morning. The game that did get played later in the day was a good one between the Dutch and Germany.

Netherlands 2, Germany 1

Germany jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a double by Florian Goetze. Unfortunately, that is all the Germans could muster against Dutch starter David Bergman. Bergman went 8 strong innings allowing the one run on six hits while striking out eight to earn the victory. Tim Henkenjohann pitched well for the German squad but took the loss going 6.2 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on seven hits and six walks while striking out 9 along the way. Vince Rooi drove in a run for the Dutch team in the 7th inning to put them up for good. Arshwin Asjes came in and pitched a scoreless 9th to pick up the save.

The win runs the host teams record to 2-1 while Germany falls to 0-2.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Sunday, June 26:
14:00 Netherlands – Cuba
19:00 Germany – Curacao

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THE NETHERLANDS – The 2011 World Port Tournament continued on Friday with a pair of good games. The first game of the day saw a surprising upset as Curacao defeated 4-time defending champion Cuba. In game 2 of the day, Taiwan continued its winning ways with a win over host The Netherlands.

Curacao 6, Cuba 4

Curacao used a 2-run 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie and upset eight-time champion Cuba. Yasel Puig had just tied the game at 4 in the top half of the inning on an RBI single for Cuba. It was a back and forth affair as Curacao went up 2-0 in the early going. Cuba bounced back with 3 runs in the 5th to take a 3-2 lead only to see Curacao score twice more in the bottom of the 5th to take a 4-3 lead. Johnny Gregorius scored 3 runs for Curacao. Ruderly Manuel gave up 4 runs (1 earned) on 10 hits and  a walk in 6.2 innings for Curacao. Gregory Gustina picked up the win for Curacao in relief.

Dalier Hinojosa started for Cuba going 4.1 innings allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 2 walks. Ismel Jimenez took the loss for Cuba. Alexander Guerrero led the way offensively driving in 2 runs for Cuba.

Taiwan 8, Netherlands 4

Taiwan continued its winning ways sending the host team The Netherlands off with a 8-4 loss. Taiwan got a run in the bottom of the 1st, but saw it quickly evaporate as the Dutch scored 4 in the top of the 2nd. Taiwan got a run in the 3rd and 4th innings to cut the lead to 4-3. They took the lead in the 6th with 2 more runs and put the game away in the 8th with 3 more. Yu Kin Huang had 3 RBI, while Kuan Wei Yang scored 3 runs for Taiwan. Dwayne Kemp drove in 2 runs for the Dutch with a double in the 2nd.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Saturday, June 25:
14:00 Cuba – Taiwan
19:00 Netherlands – Germany
Sunday, June 26:
14:00 Netherlands – Cuba
19:00 Germany – Curacao

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THE NETHERLANDS – The 2011 World Port Tournament got off to a great start on Thursday with a pair of games. In Game 1, Germany squared off with Taiwan and The Netherlands took on Curacao in Game 2.

Germany 3, Taiwan 5

After a 30 minute rain delay, Germany started off strong leading the game 3-1 after 2 innings, but Taiwan came back with 4 runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Germany would never recover. Taiwan reliever Chun Lin Kuo came in to shut down the German offense going 7 scoreless innings in relief striking out 10 and giving up only 3 hits picking up the win. Kuan Wei Yang led the offensive attack going 4-for-5 with 2 RBI. German starter Philipp Hoffschild took the loss tossing 5.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 9 hits.

Germany will next take on The Netherlands on Saturday while Taiwan will next face The Netherlands.

The Netherlands 6, Curacao 0

The Netherlands shut out Curacao in Game 2 of the 2011 World Port Tournament. Dutch starter Rob Cordemans pitched 7 shutout innings allowing only 3 hits and striking out 7 along the way to pick up the victory.

The Dutch got on the board in the 4th when Vince Rooi tripled in the first run of the game. They added one more in the 4th and then exploded for 4 runs in the 6th inning to put the game away. Shaldimar Daantji had the big hit in the 6th inning with a 2-run single. Jonathan Balentina picked up the loss giving up 2 runs in 3.1 innings on 4 hits and 4 walks.

The Netherlands will now take on Taiwan on Friday while Curacao will face Cuba.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Friday, June 24th
Curacao vs. Cuba
Taiwan vs. The Netherlands

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GERMANY – The German Baseball and Softball Federation (DBV) has announced a roster for the upcoming World Port Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The international baseball tournament will get underway on June 23.

Besides Germany, other participating nations includes Cuba, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and the tournament host, the Netherlands.

The German squad is led by American manager Greg Frady who is assisted by coaches Troy Williams and Dirk Fries.

2011 GERMAN NATIONAL TEAM – WORLD PORT TOURNAMENT:

• Daniel Harms, HSV Stealers
• Nils Hartkopf, Haar Disciples
• Dominik Hartinger, Gauting Indians
• Simon Guehring, Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
• Rene Franke, Mannheim Tornados
• Sascha Lutz, Mannheim Tornados
• Jan Jacob, Bonn Capitals
• Maximilian Schmitz, Bonn Capitals
• Tim Henkenjohann, Bonn Capitals
• Cedric Bassel, Buchbinder Legionaere (Regensburg)
• Philipp Hoffschild, Buchbinder Legionaere (Regensburg)
• Christopher Howard, Buchbinder Legionaere (Regensburg)
• Dominik Wulf, Solingen Alligators
• Andre Hughes, Solingen Alligators
• Dustin Hughes, Solingen Alligators
• Jens Cornelsen, Solingen Alligators
• Florian Goetze, Solingen Alligators
• Daniel Hinz, Paderborn Untouchables
• Björn Schonlau, Paderborn Untouchables
• Michael Franke, Paderborn Untouchables
• Eugen Heilmann, Paderborn Untouchables
• Octavio Medina, Paderborn Untouchables
• Julius Uelschen, Paderborn Untouchables
• Sascha Brockmeyer, Paderborn Untouchables

Marvin Moore is a freelance writer at i-BaseballContent.com

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THE NETHERLANDS – The Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) has announced the roster for the 2011 World Port Tournament. The event will be played from June 23 to July 2 at the Family Stadium in Rotterdam.

Joining the Netherlands at the 10-day international baseball tournament is Germany, Cuba, Curacao and Taiwan.

The Dutch squad will be led by American manager Brian Farley and 17 of the 24 players hail from DOOR Neptunus (10) and L&D Amsterdam (7). The Netherlands will use the tourney in preparation for the IBAF Baseball World Cup in Panama this coming October.

DUTCH NATIONAL TEAM – WORLD PORT TOURNAMENT

Catchers:
Sidney de Jong (L&D Amsterdam) and Bas Nooij (L&D Amsterdam)

Infielders:
Jeffrey Arends (DOOR Neptunus), Michael Duursma (Vaessen Pioneers), Bryan Engelhardt (Corendon Kinheim), Roeland Henrique (L&D Amsterdam), Raily Legito (DOOR Neptunus), Dwayne Kemp (DOOR Neptunus), Vince Rooi (L&D Amsterdam)

Outfielders:
Shaldimar Daantji (DOOR Neptunus), Bas de Jong (L&D Amsterdam), Eugene Kingsale (DOOR Neptunus), Danny Rombley (UVV)

Pitchers:
Arshwin Asjes (DOOR Neptunus), David Bergman (Corendon Kinheim), Leon Boyd (Burnaby Bulldogs, Canada), Rob Cordemans (L&D Amsterdam), Berry van Driel (DOOR Neptunus), Kevin Heijstek (DOOR Neptunus), Jurrian Koks (L&D Amsterdam), Diegomar Markwell (DOOR Neptunus), Nick Stuifbergen (Corendon Kinheim), Nick Veltkamp (Corendon Kinheim), and Orlando Yntema (UVV)

Coaching Staff:
Brian Farley (Manager), Steve Janssen (Pitching Coach), Wim Martinus (Asst. Coach), Tjerk Smeets (Asst. Coach), Ben Thijssen (Asst. Coach)

Official World Port Tournament website

http://www.worldporttournament.nl/

Marvin Moore is a freelance writer at i-baseballcontent.com

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THE NETHERLANDS – Seasoned veterans Eriel Sanchez and Ariel Borrero provided the offensive muscle, and promising southpaw Maikel Folch continued to shine as Cuba broke open a close game with five late scores to capture thier fourth consecutive World Port Tournament championship with a 9-3 win over the host Dutch Sunday in Rotterdam.

Sánchez, the Sancti Spíritus backstop who was left off the World Baseball Classic roster this past spring, drilled a two-run shot in the fifth to give Cuba a brief 3-2 lead. His counterpart, L&D Amsterdam’s Sidney de Jong, retaliated with a two-run dinger the following inning to knot the score at 3-all.

Guantánamo veteran infielder Giorvis Duvergel, competing in perhaps his last international tournament, put the Cubans on top for good with an RBI hit in the bottom of the sixth. The Big Red Machine roughed up Corendon Kinheim closer Michiel van Kampen for six hits and three runs en route to the title-clinching victory.

FINAL STANDINGS
1. Cuba
2. Netherlands
3. Taiwan
4. Japan

Villa Clara’s veteran first baseman Ariel Borrero, who was also a WBC snub after playing in the inaugural event, tallied two runs and a pair of RBIs with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate.

Folch finished off a sparkling performance in Rotterdam allowing just a lone hit in four scoreless frames to earn the win. The Ciego de Avila left-hander also bagged the Best Pitcher Award with a 0.00 ERA in 18 innings.

Ciego de Avila’s Yoelvis Fiss was named the Most Valuable Player after hitting .428 (15-for-35) with two homers and 12 RBIs, and teammate Adonis García went 15-for-30 (.500) during the tournament to claim the Best Hitter Award.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Yoelvis Fiss, Cuba

BEST HITTER
Adonis Garcia, Cuba

BEST PITCHER
Maikel Folch, Cuba

ROOKIE AWARD
Nick Urbanus, Netherlands

DONALD BAX PRESS AWARD
Bas de Jong, Netherlands

MOST POPULAR PLAYER
Nick Urbanus, Netherlands

Photo courtesy of foro.univision.com

THE NETHERLANDS – Miguel Alfredo González continued his dazzling performance at the 2009 World Port Tournament with another impressive outing and Cuba stayed on course for their fourth consecutive tournament title with a 10-0 triumph against Japan Wednesday in Rotterdam.

González (2-0), who tossed five innings of no-hit ball against the Dutch last Thursday in a two-hit outing over six frames, limited a youthful Japanese squad to just a lone hit. The La Habana right-hander racked up five strikeouts in five innings to nab his second win of the tournament.

Cuba plated all the runs it would need in a three-run third, and chased Japan starter Takehiko Tsuji with six scores in the sixth to remain unbeaten with a 5-0 record.

THURSDAY, JULY 9
Cuba vs. Taiwan (DH)
Netherlands vs. Japan

Villa Clara outfielder Leonys Martín drove in four runs with a double and home run, while Ciego de Ávila’s Adonis Garcia finished with three RBIs.

Yadier Pedroso, who also pitches for the La Habana Cowboys in the Cuban League, worked the final two innings with four strikeouts to seal the blowout victory.

DUTCH SQUEAKS PAST TAIWAN

Diegomar Markwell tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings and the Dutch National Team edged Taiwan 2-1 to win their second game in four outing at the international tournament on their home soil.

The 28-year-old DOOR Neptunus left-hander, who pitched for seven years in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system, struck out seven as American skipper Rod Delmonico’s squad got another dominant start from their starting pitcher. Sparta/Feyenoord right-hander Rob Cordemans allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings in an 8-0 win over Japan on Monday.

The Dutch tagged Taiwan starter Chih-Lung Huang for an early score. Raily Legito, who also plays for DOOR Neptunus and is currently hitting .369 in the Dutch League, put the Orange and Black ahead 1-0 with an RBI single.

L&D Amsterdam’s Zaïr Koeiman, who is the second-leading hitter in the Netherlands with a .384 batting average, stole home in the fifth to make the score 2-0.

The Taiwanese foiled the shutout in the ninth on Hsin-Min Wang’s run-scoring hit. However, Ming-Jen Kuo flied out the end the game.

STANDINGS

Photo courtesy of javno.com

THE NETHERLANDS – Taiwan foiled Cuba’s bid for a perfect run at the 2009 World Port Tournament with a 1-1 tie in the front end of a doubleheader on Thursday morning. However, the three-time defending tournament champion rallied for three late scores to win the second game, 5-4.

The Taiwanese went ahead with an ugly two-out rally in the the third to break a scoreless tie in a make-up game of Tuesday’s rained out contest. But Cuba pulled even in the sixth when Yoelvis Fiss drove in Leonys Martin with a two-out single to make the score 1-1.

FRIDAY, JULY 10
Japan vs. Taiwan
Netherlands vs. Cuba

Maikel Folch, whose throwing error allowed Chih-Hsiang Lin to cross the plate with Taiwan’s lone run, allowed a walk and four hits in seven strong innings. Vladimir García collected the final six outs to help Cuba remain unbeaten at 6-0-1.

Taiwan starter Wen-Yang Liao, who gave up three hits over four shutout frames, combined with two relievers to limit the potent Cuban bats to just six hits.

CUBANS EDGE TAIWAN IN TWINBILL FINALE

Cuba climbed out of a 4-2 hole with three late scores to beat Taiwan 5-4 Thursday in Rotterdam.

Taiwan grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fifth before the Cuba answered back the following inning with a bases-loaded walk and an RBI sacrifice fly by Fiss to go on top, 2-1, in a low-scoring duel. Then the game turned a little wacky.

Cuban starter Freddy Asiel, who coasted through the first seven innings, was sent packing in the eighth. Taiwan pulled even on a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch which prompted Cuban skipper Roger Machado to replace Asiel with Miguel Lahera. But the situation for the mighty Big Red Machine went from bad to worse.

TOP HITTERS
.520 – Adonis García (Cuba)
.500 – Yoelvis Fiss (Cuba)
.450 – Bas de Jong (Netherlands)
.409 – Eriel Sánchez (Cuba)
.393 – Eugene Kingsale (Netherlands)
.375 – Bryan Englehardt (Netherlands)
.370 – Sydney de Jong (Netherlands)
.364 – Ariel Borrero (Cuba)
.294 – Yukinori Osonoi (Japan)

Lahera proceeded to move both runners into scoring position with a balk, and then surrendered a two-run hit to Chung-Chun Wu to give the Taiwanese their first lead of the game.

Cuba responded with a trio of runs an inning later. Eriel Sánchez doubled home a pair of runs to tie the game, and then scored the deciding run on Giorvis Duvergel’s game-winning hit.

DUTCH WINS THIRD STRAIGHT GAME

Sidney de Jong capped a two-run rally in the ninth with a game-winning RBI single and the Dutch National Team captured their third straight victory with a 4-3 comeback win against Japan on Thursday night.

Japan, which was outhit 11-5, took a 1-0 lead in the third off Dutch starter David Bergman, and tagged the Corendon Kinheim ace for two scores in the seventh on Ken Hinomoto’s two-run double to grab the lead again, 3-1. But the Dutch added three runs over the final two frames to steal the win.

STANDINGS

Photo courtesy of baseball.about.com

THE NETHERLANDS – Rob Cordemans handcuffed Japan for seven dominant innings and the Dutch National Team rolled to an 8-0 win Monday at the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam.

The Sparta/Feyenoord right-hander held the Japanese hitless for 6 1/3 innings to help the Dutch snap a four-game losing skid at this year’s tourney. Cordemans, 34, walked one and struck out six while limiting Japan to a lone single in a more than impressive outing to earn the win.

The Dutch (1-4) raced to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening frame, and stretched the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth. American coach Rod Delmonico watched his team tally three more scores the following inning to deal Japan (2-3) their third loss in five games.

Corendon Kinheim slugger Bryan Engelhardt, who currently leads the Dutch Major League with six homers, went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to ignite the Orange and Black 16-hit attack. L&D Amsterdam outfielder Bas de Jong drove in a pair of runs with two doubles.

Unbeaten Cuba (4-0) will meet Taiwan (2-2) in the lone tournament matchup slated for Tuesday.

STANDINGS

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THE NETHERLANDS – Adonis Garcia had four hits and Yoelvis Fiss homered to help Cuba keep the Dutch National Team winless at the World Port Tournament with a 10-6 victory this past Sunday in Rotterdam.

The Ciego de Ávila Tigers’ teammates combined for seven hits as the three-time defending WPT champion erased an early 1-0 deficit with four first-inning scores off Dutch starter Joey Eijpe. Veteran Santiago de Cuba catcher Rolando Meriño crossed the plate three times as coach Roger Machado’s unbeaten squad tagged the Mr. Cocker HCAW left-hander for nine runs.

L&D Amsterdam outfielder Bas de Jong led the Dutch at the plate with a 5-for-5 effort.

Santiago de Cuba right-hander Yaumier Sánchez, who worked five effective innings, allowed two runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts to get the win.

JAPAN SILENCES TAIWAN

Kyohei Kondoh hit an early home run and Nobuyuki Tanaka tossed five shutout innings as Japan beat Taiwan 6-1 to claim their second tournament win in four games.

Kondoh went deep off Taiwanese starter Yu-Ching Lin in the second. and teammates Wataru Hiyane and Ryosuke Katsumi added run-scoring singles in the same frame to give Japan a 3-0 lead en route to the easy victory.

Tanaka limited Taiwan to just a walk and three hits in five impressive innings to register the win.

Lin was dealt the setback after surrendering four runs and seven hits in only four innings of work.

Japan will meet the Dutch National Team in the lone matchup scheduled for Monday.

STANDINGS

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THE NETHERLANDS – Ariel Borrero and Yoelvis Fiss both homered and Cuba hammered Taiwan 9-1 at the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam on Saturday in a matchup of unbeaten teams.

The Cubans broke a scoreless tie with three runs off Taiwan starter Chu-Chien Hsu in the third, and plated six more scores over the next three frames to remain on course for their fourth consecutive tournament championship.

Villa Clara’s Freddy Asiel Álvarez (1-0) scattered one run and three hits in six innings to claim the win.

SUNDAY, JULY 5
Cuba vs. Netherlands
Taiwan vs. Japan

Borrero and Fiss combined to drive home four runs, and veteran catcher Rolando Meriño added a pair of RBIs.

Hsu (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up eight hits and six runs in four innings of work.

JAPAN BLANKS DUTCH TEAM

Syogo Suenaga tossed a complete game three-hitter and Japan captured their first win at this year’s World Port Tournament with a 6-0 victory against the Dutch National Team on Saturday.

Yohei Yamamoto went 4-for-5 to lead the Japanese offensive fireworks, while Yuta Siozawa and Ken Hinomoto each chipped in two RBIs apiece.

Suenaga (1-0), who racked up six strikeouts, earned the win in a masterful outing.

Nick Stuifbergen (0-1) allowed three runs and six hits over six innings and was charged with the loss.

STANDINGS

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THE NETHERLANDS – Maikel Folch turned in a dominant outing and Cuba remained unbeaten at the World Port Tournament with a 8-0 victory against Japan on Friday.

The Ciego de Ávila left-hander baffled the Japanese squad for seven shutout innings to earn his first win in this year’s tournament at Rotterdam to help Cuba improve its record to 2-0. With the loss, Japan dropped to 0-2.

Yoelvis Fiss and Rafael Valdez paced Cuba’s 12-hit attack with two RBIs each, while Yolbis Borroto scored a pair of runs for the three-time defending tournament champion.

SATURDAY, JULY 4
Game 1: Cuba vs. Taiwan
Game 2: Netherlands vs. Japan

Japan starter Keisuke Sugiyama (0-1) was dealt the loss after allowing four hits and two runs in three innings.

TAIWAN DEALS DUTCH ANOTHER SETBACK

Wen-Yang Liao blanked the Dutch National Team for five innings and Taiwan stayed perfect on the second day of the World Port Tournament with an 8-3 triumph.

Taiwan broke a scoreless deadlock in the fourth with a pair of scores off Corendon Kinheim right-hander David Bergman (0-1), and stretched the lead to 5-0 in the sixth on a three-run double by Hsin-Min Wang.

The Dutch fought back and cut the lead to 5-3 on Eugene Kingsale’s two-run base hit in the eighth. However, Taiwan answered back with three runs in the bottom of the same inning highlighted by Chih-Hsiang Lin’s two-run double.

Liao (1-0) gave up five hits and struck out four to notch the win.

STANDINGS

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THE NETHERLANDS – Miguel Alfredo González tossed five innings of no-hit ball and Cuba opened their title defense with a 1-0 victory against the Dutch National Team on Thursday at the World Port Tournament at Rotterdam.

Caught in a swarm of media covering the defection of star pitcher Aroldis Chapman, Cuban skipper Roger Machado got a tremendous outing from González. The La Habana right-hander scattered a pair of hits and thee walks over six scoreless frames to earn the win.

FRIDAY, JULY 3
Game 1: Cuba vs. Japan
Game 2: Taiwan vs. Netherlands

Veteran Santiago de Cuba catcher Rolando Meriño plated the lone run of the game in the third with an RBI single off DOOR Neptunus left-hander Diegomar Markwell. The 28-year-old former Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer was pinned with the loss despite allowing one run and seven hits in eight strong innings.

TAIWAN SLIPS PAST JAPAN

Kun-Sheng Lin’s run-scoring single in the 11th broke a 3-3 deadlock and Taiwan edged Japan 4-3 on Thursday in the tournament opening game for both squads.

Taiwan tagged Japan starter Syohei Tsuruta for two runs in the third to take an early lead, but
Yuta Siozawa’s two-run base hit in the sixth put the Japanese ahead, 3-2. However, Ming-Jen Kuo drilled a solo shot an inning later to tie the game at 3-all.

Ching-Ming Wang (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Chih-Lung Huang, while Yoichi Sakamoto (0-1) was dealt the setback.

STANDINGS

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NETHERLANDS – Thursday marked the start of Major League Baseball’s international player signing period, and on the same day Cuban prized pitcher Aroldis Chapman defected in Rotterdam where Cuba is participating in the World Port Tournament.

The website, CubaenCuentro.com, first reported that Chapman had left the national team. The 21-year-old posted a 11-4 record with a 4.03 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings this past season for the Holguin Dogs in the Cuban League.

“I walked out easily, right through the hotel door, and I hopped into a car and left,” Chapman told the site. “It was easy. Now the plan is to sign with a Major League team.”

The hard-throwing southpaw, who sources told ESPN.com will arrive in Miami shortly, is expected to spark a bidding war amongst major league clubs interested in a young, left-handed pitcher who was clocked at 100 mph during the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Chapman went 0-1 at this year’s WBC with a 5.68 ERA in two games for Cuba. However, he showed flashed of stardom with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

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THE NETHERLANDS – The 12th edition of the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam gets underway on July 2 with Cuba seeking their fourth consecutive tournament title. The international baseball tournament is held every two years on a rotating basis with the Haarlem Baseball Week competition.

The Dutch National Team, led by former Tennessee Volunteers skipper Rod Delmonico, will join the Taiwanese National Team and a youthful roster of promising Japanese prospects in an effort to wrestle away the championship from the Cubans. The Big Red Machine has walked away with seven of the 11 titles in the 24-year history of the tournament.

PAST CHAMPIONS
1985 – Cuba
1987 – Cuba
1989 – Netherlands
1991 – United States
1993 – United States
1995 – Cuba
1997 – Cuba
1999 – Netherlands
2001 – Cuba
2003 – Cuba
2007 – Cuba

Some of the top players from the 2007 tourney will not be in action this time around. Cuba’s roster will be missing Alfredo Despaigne (.448), Carlos Tabares (15), José J. Ruíz (4) and Yosvany Peraza (18). The talented group finished first in batting average, hits, home runs and RBIs, respectively.

2007 WORLD PORT TOURNAMENT ALL-STAR TEAM

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Yosvani Peraza (Cuba)

C – Yosvani Peraza (Cuba)
1B – José Julio Ruíz (Cuba)
2B – Ming-Chue Tsai (Taiwan)
SS – Han Lin (Taiwan)
3B – Donald Duarte (Cuba)
OF – Alfredo Despaígne (Cuba)
OF – Jordan Danks (USA)
OF – Alexei Bell (Cuba)
DH – Pedro Alvarez (USA)
RHP- Leon Boyd (Netherlands)
LHP- Wei-Hua Lee (Taiwan)

The Dutch will also be missing a key player from two years ago. Former DOOR Neptunus right-hander Leon Boyd, who won two games and finished with a 0.00 ERA in the 2007 WPT, signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization after an impressive stint at the World Baseball Classic this past March.

2009 WORLD PORT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 2
Japan vs. Taiwan
Netherlands vs. Cuba

Friday, July 3
Cuba vs. Japan
Taiwan vs. Netherlands

Saturday, July 4
Cuba vs. Taiwan
Netherlands vs. Japan

Sunday, July 5
Cuba vs. Netherlands
Taiwan vs. Japan

Monday, July 6
Japan vs. Netherlands

Tuesday, July 7
Cuba vs. Taiwan

Wednesday, July 8
Cuba vs. Japan
Netherlands vs. Taiwan

Thursday, July 9
Taiwan vs. Cuba
Netherlands vs. Japan

Friday, July 10
Japan vs. Taiwan
Netherlands vs. Cuba

Saturday, July 11
Cuba vs. Japan
Taiwan vs. Netherlands

Sunday, July 12
Championship Game

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