Dutch Baseball

...Frans van Aalen (right), on the photo with... ...CEB Secretary General Gaston Panaye,... ...at the 2001 World Cup in Chinese Taipei... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

IN MEMORIAM ...Henk Ronnenbergh... (1924 - 2005)

...Manny Olivera... ...Florida Marlins... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The two additional teams will come from a qualification tournament, which is set to take place somewhere this Spring, but has to be completed by the end of March.
In November last year, the Pan-American qualification tournament took place in Cartagena (Colombia), with the six best teams qualifying for the World Cup. However, the teams from USA and Canada withdrew for that competition because of security concerns, leaving only seven teams to participate. The six best teams claimed their World Cup-spot, meaning an extra qualification tournament will be held to give the USA and Canada an opportunity also to qualify.
It is not yet known where the event will take place and what other countries will participate. The USA and Canada are being mentioned to host the tournament. Besides the USA and Canada, other countries who might participate are Italy, Czech Republic (representing Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and Guam (Oceania). Italy missed qualification by finishing in fifth place during the 2003 European Championships.
The set-up of the World Cup remains the same with two pools, now existing of nine instead of eight teams. With the expansion, it might be possible the event will start a day earlier.
(January 17)

...Gregory Halman... ...MVP 2005... (Photo: Kinheim)

As expected, Gregory Halman was named the league's Most Valuable Player. The 17-year old first baseman finished the season with a .358 average, which was the fourth best. He led the league with 41 Runs Batted In, shared first place with four Homeruns and scored 28 Runs. Halman played in his second big league-season for Haarlem-based DPA Kinheim, but signed a professional contract halfway with the Seattle Mariners, in which organisation he will make his debut in 2005. After the season concluded, Halman transferred to Amsterdam Pirates, making him eligible to play for the Amsterdam-team when he returns from the States. Also nominated for the MVP Trophy were SS Michael Duursma (Konica Minolta Pioniers) and C Sidney de Jong (Mr. Cocker HCAW).

...Eelco Jansen... ...Best Pitcher 2005... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

RHP Eelco Jansen won the Best Pitcher Award in the last season of his 12-year career. Jansen finished the season with an 1.79 ERA, the second lowest in the league, pitched 106 1/3 inning and threw 100 StrikeOuts. Pitching for Dutch champion DOOR Neptunus, he finished with an 11-2 record, the best in the league. After the season ended, Jansen retired and was named Pitching Coach for Amsterdam Pirates. Also nominated for the Best Pitcher Award were LHP Manny Olivera (Hypotheekzeker.nl-Tornado's) and LHP Richard Orman (Konica Minolta Pioniers).

Other awards:
Sidney de Jong (Mr. Cocker HCAW) is the Batting Champion with a .361 average, clinching the batting title on the last day of the season.
Gregory Halman (DPA Kinheim) and Bryan Engelhardt (Ubink en Co Almere) are the Homerunkings, each hitting four.
Michael Duursma (Konica Minolta Pioniers) stole the most bases with 20.
(January 19)

Best players softball women
Best players softball men

IN MEMORIAM ...Joop Odenthal... (1924 - 2005)

...Wladimir Balentien... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Wladimir Balentien, who is a professional player in the organisation of the Seattle Mariners, was named best national team player under 23 and therefore was awarded the Guus van der Heijden Memorial Trophy. Balentien made his debut in the Dutch national team last year during the Torneo Olimpico di Baseball in Nettuno (Italy) and later participated in the Olympic Games in Athens (Greece). Last November, the 20-year old Balentien was added to the 40-man Major League-roster of the Mariners, with whom he will open Spring Training in February. Rebecca Soumeru (New York Pizza Sparks Haarlem), who also won the Most Valuable Player-title for last season, was the best national team softball-player under 23 and won the Egbert van der Sluis Memorial Trophy.

...Areke Spel... (Photo: Hans Vader)

On Saturday-evening, awards also were handed out to the best youthplayers of last season.
17 year old Gregory Halman (DPA Kinheim), who already was named Most Valuable Player of last season, also was the winner of the Ron Fraser Award, which is handed annually to the best allround youthplayer. Kevin Heystek, who played for first divisionist DOOR Tridents, won the Roel de Mon Award for best junior pitcher.
In softball, Areke Spel (Amsterdam Pirates) was named best allround youthplayer and won the Bep van Beijmerwerdt Trophy. Nadine van Roode (Onze Gezellen) won the Riet Vermaat Trophy for the best junior pitcher in 2004.

Jan Collins, Paul van den Oever and Ben Thijssen, who led DOOR Neptunus to its recordbreaking sixth consecutive national championship and also won the European Cup, won the Coach of the Year Award. Normally, this award is handed to the Head Coach of a team, but Neptunus has no Head Coach, as the three are coaching as a team, all with different responsibilities. Johan Kluijskens won the softball Coach of the Year Award. In early 2004, he took over New York Pizza Sparks Haarlem as interim coach and led the team to the Dutch national title and also won the European Cup.
Ruud Elfers is the recipient of the In Memoriam Leen Volkerijk Award, which is handed out annually to those persons who have been active in player development and education.
(January 22)

...Sparks Haarlem celebrates championship... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Six teams were nominated for Team of the Year, all won the Dutch title in their respective sports. The men judo-team of Kenamju also won the Bronze Medal on the European Cup, but Sparks Haarlem was the only team that won two gold medals and therefore was the frontrunner for the award, which it won.
The biggest pool of candidates was for the Talent of the Year Award. Besides winner Gregory Halman, 34 more talented players in nine different sports were nominated. Halman, who last season played for DPA KInheim, was the lone baseball-player in this category. This year, he will make his professional debut in the organisation of the Seattle Mariners.
Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru (New York Pizza Sparks Haarlem) was of the nine nominees for the title Women Atlete of the Year. She had an outstanding season and also pitched strong during the European Cup-tournament, as well as during an international tournament in Prague (Czech Republic) with the Dutch national team, but didn't win tonight. Joan van den Akker, the national 100 meter track-champion, won the award.
Dennis van der Geest (judo), who won Bronze on the European Championships and the Olympic Games, but also was Dutch champion, was voted Male Atlete of the Year. Eleven atletes were nominated.
Other awards:
Masters of the Year: Rapido '82 (waterpolo)
Volunteer of the Year: Ron Apeldoorn (HLC - gymnastics/jazzballet/aerobics)
(January 25)

...Rick van den Hurk... (Photo: Florida Marlins)

...Forstin Coenraad... (Photo: Kinheim)

Pitchers (8):
RHP Forstin Coenraad (DPA Kinheim), RHP Rob Cordemans, RHP Robin van Doornspeek, LHP Diegomar Markwell (all DOOR Neptunus), RHP Dave Draijer (Konica Minolta Pioniers), LHP Rick van den Hurk (Florida Marlins), RHP Michiel van Kampen (Ubink en Co Almere) and LHP Alexander Smit (Minnesota Twins)

Catchers (3):
Maikel Benner (DOOR Neptunus), Chairon Isenia (Tampa Bay Devil Rays) and Sidney de Jong (Mr. Cocker HCAW)

Infielders (9):
Sharnol Adriana (Mexico), Ivanon Coffie (Houston Astros), Yurrendel DeCaster (Pittsburgh Pirates), Michael Duursma (Konica Minolta Pioniers), Gregory Halman (Seattle Mariners), Evert-Jan 't Hoen, Percy Isenia, Raily Legito (all DOOR Neptunus) and Ralph Milliard (Mr. Cocker HCAW)

Outfielders (5):
Wladimir Balentien (Seattle Mariners), Johnny Balentina (DPA Kinheim), Bryan Engelhardt (Ubink en Co Almere), Dirk van 't Klooster and Harvey Monte (both DOOR Neptunus)

Staff:
Robert Eenhoorn (Manager), Hensley Meulens (Coach), Ben Thijssen (Coach), Steve Janssen (Pitching Coach)
Martijn van Berkel (Physical Therapist), Hans Kroon (Strength/Conditioning), Frans Bergman (Equipment Manager/Videoscouting), John de Vos (Business Manager).

(January 28)

...Baseball Stadium in Prague... (Photo: Org.Comm. European Championships)

Defending European champion Netherlands will play in Pool A and meets Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Russia and Sweden. Greece, the other finalist of 2003, plays in Pool B with Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Spain and Ukraine.

Host Czech Republic opens the event on Thursday, July 7 at 4 PM in Blansko against Spain. The tournament goes into full swing on Friday, July 8 with five games, followed by six games on each of the next four days.

Netherlands plays its first game on July 8 at Olomouc against Great Britain, starting at 5 PM. The Dutch will play its next four games in Chocen.
On July 9, the Dutch team meets Italy at 8 PM. In 2003, during the EC in The Netherlands, Italy finished in fifth place, missing qualification for this years World Championships. But it also means that Italy and Netherlands are playing in the same pool during this years EC.
On July 10, the Dutch team continues with the game against Russia, which also starts at 8 PM.
On Monday, July 11, the next game is scheduled vs. Sweden, starting at 3 PM.
The Dutch finishes the Preliminary Round on July 12 against Germany at 10 AM.
If all goes well, the Dutch team transfers to Prague on Wednesday, July 13 to play games in the Final Phase on July 14-16.
The bronze and gold medal games are scheduled for Sunday, July 17.
Edwin van den Berk has been appointed as the Dutch representative in the umpire corps.
(January 31)

Complete Schedule European Championships 2005

Dutch champion DOOR Neptunus will defend the European Cup in front of a home audience, as the tournament will take place in Rotterdam. The tournament will be played June 8-12.
Neptunus will play in Pool A and opens the Preliminary Round on Wednesday, June 8 against Paderborn Untouchables, the champion of Germany. The next day, T&A San Marino will be opponent, followed by the game against French champion Savigny-sur-Orge Lions.
In Pool B, Italian champion Prink Grosseto Orioles will meet Dutch runner-up Mr. Cocker HCAW, Czech champion Draci Brno and Russian champion Balashikha Tornado.
The semi-finals will be played on Saturday, June 11, followed by the finals the next day.
Complete Schedule European Cup tournament

Dutch team Konica Minolta Pioniers will play in the CupWinners Cup-tournament, which is scheduled for June 14-18 in Mortsel and Borgerhout in Belgium. Last year, Pioniers reached the final game, but failed to defend the CupWinners Cup as it was shutout by Rojos de Tenerife of Spain. This year, both teams again are favorite to reach the deciding game.
In the Preliminary Round, Pioniers is playing in Pool B and opens on Tuesday, June 14 vs. Ciudad Amaya Pamplona (Spain). The next day, Pioniers meets Brasschaat Braves (Belgium), followed by the confrontation with Technika Brno (Czech Republic).
Rojos de Tenerife is playing in Pool A and meets Regensburg Legionäre (Germany), Croydon Pirates (Great Britain) and Dinamo Bucharest (Romania) in the preliminaries.
On Friday, June 17, the semi-finals are played and on Saturday, June 18, the two final games.
Complete Schedule CupWinners Cup tournament

Other European Cup-tournaments are scheduled as follows:
European Cup, Qualification Pool, Group I - June 13-19 at Karlovac (Croatia)
European Cup, Qualification Pool, Group II - June 13-19 at Leksand (Sweden)
CupWinners Cup, Qualification Pool, Group I - June 13-19 at Montpellier (France)
CupWinners Cup, Qualification Pool, Group II - June 13-19 at Blagoevdgrad (Bulgaria)
CEB Cup - June 15-19 at Prague (Czech Republic)
CEB Cup, Qualification Pool - June 13-19 at Utena (Lithuania)
(January 31)

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