By Chris Mast
The three-game baseball series between the Dutch team and the Czech Republic has evolved into a true best-of-three matchup. After defeating the Dutch national team 1-0 on Friday evening, the Czech Republic responded on Saturday afternoon with a 6-0 victory, which was a punishment for the Netherlands. And on Sunday morning – at 11 o’clock – the third match will determine who will come out on top in this series of training sessions in preparation for the European Championship in the Czech Republic.
Just like on Friday, the Dutch batting team is still searching for form. Remarkably, Holland’s only hits came from numbers seven, eight and nine on the batting list, respectively Dwayne Kemp (now as a third baseman), right fielder Delano Silassa and left fielder Giandido Tromp. The weaker hitters are usually at the bottom end of the batting team.
Manager Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen assigned Juan Carlos Solparán to the mound as a starting pitcher. At the start of the competition in the Eredivisie, Solbaran helped RCH reach the top four. He then moved to the United States to join a team in Kentucky. So the question was how his level had developed in recent months. Solbaran had an unfortunate fifth inning. According to Solparan and catcher Lobstock, two bases were incorrectly occupied by walks. Then the next Czech batter delivered a no-hitter. Third baseman Dwayne Kemp mischecked first base by throwing the ball into the back of the base runner. Things also went wrong during the Netherlands’ next game, when catcher Lobstock couldn’t control a throw from the outfield and the Czechs were able to score again.
When the smoke cleared at the end of that match, the score was 4-0 to the Czechs. Solbaran has now been replaced on the mound by Giorgheny Casimiri, who played in Canada, and who had the furthest Czech single. After an inning – with Aaron De Groot on the mound for the Netherlands – the score was 6-0. That was also the final result, which was embarrassing for the Netherlands.
