2006 Haarlemse Honkbalweek

2006 Haarlemse Honkbalweek

The 2006 Haarlemse Honkbalweek was the twenty-third edition of the Haarlemse Honkbalweek, held every two years. It was held from July 21 to July 30, 2006 in Haarlem, Noord-Holland. Five teams competed in the tournament and the tournament was won by Netherlands.

Competing teams

The following teams participated in the tournament:

Team	Nation	Previous appearances
China	China	none
Chinese Taipei	Chinese Taipei	1984, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2004
Cuba	Cuba	1972, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
Japan	Japan	1978, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
Netherlands	Netherlands	1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
United States	United States	1982, 2000, 2002

Game results

Preliminary round

July 21	United States	1 – 4	Chinese Taipei	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 3700
	Nick Cebula, Ian Harrington, Cody Visser		Chia-Chun Tang, Ko-Chien Lin W, Chia-Jen Lo S	Length: 2:24

July 22	Japan	3 – 4	United States	Pim Mulierstadion
13:30 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4650
	Satoshi Komatsu, Tadahiro Ogino L		Josh Keller, Jared Joaquin W	Length: 2:14

July 22	People's Republic of China	2 – 11	Netherlands	Pim Mulierstadion
18:30 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4650
	Jiangang Lu L, Xuelin Zhao, Quan Huang, Wei Chen		Diegomar Markwell W, Michiel van Kampen, Kenny Berkenbosch	Length: 2:40

July 23	Netherlands	4 – 1	Chinese Taipei	Pim Mulierstadion
14:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4850
	Rob Cordemans, Robin van Doornspeek W, Dave Draijer S		Sung-Wei Tseng, Chia-Wei Lin L, Chia-Jen Lo, Chen-Chang Lee	Length: 2:53

July 23	Cuba	6 – 0	China	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4850
	Ormari Romero W, Norberto Gonzalez, Alberto Bicet		Tao Bu L, Li Zhang, Youhua Guo, Hongrui Li	Length: 2:15

July 24	Japan	0 – 4	Cuba	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Takahisa Ueno L, Shoji Saeki, Yasutaka Hattori		Norge Luis Vera W, Norberto Gonzalez S	Length: 2:13

July 25	Cuba	2 – 1	Chinese Taipei	Pim Mulierstadion
14:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Maikel Folch, Jonder Martinez W		Chien-Fu Chen, Chen-Chang Lee L	Length: 2:32

July 25	United States	7 – 5	China	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Brian Justice, Reese Baker W, Jared Joaquin S		Haifeng Chen, Quansheng Zhao, Li Zhang L, Hongrui Li	Length: 3:06

July 26	Chinese Taipei	0 – 1	China	Pim Mulierstadion
14:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Hung-Wen Chen L		Jiangang Lu W	Length: 2:08

July 26	Japan	5 – 6	Netherlands	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4850
	Yasutaka Hattori, Shoji Saeki, Tadahiro Ogino, Satoshi Komatsu L, Masahiko Morifuku, Takahisa Ueno		Tom Stuifbergen, Gregory Gustina, Robin van Doornspeek W, Dave Draijer S	Length: 3:11

July 27	Cuba	9 – 1	United States	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Deinis Suarez W, Alberto Bicet		Ian Harrington L, Steve Hupper	Length: 2:41

July 28	People's Republic of China	0 – 10	Japan	Pim Mulierstadion
14:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)
	Tao Bu L, Hongrui Li, Chao Lu		Shoji Saeki W, Fumihito Shiota	Length: 2:08

July 28	Netherlands	10 – 11	Cuba	Pim Mulierstadion
19:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4850
	David Bergman, Kenny Berkenbosch, Michiel van Kampen, Robin van Doornspeek L, Gregory Gustina		Felix Rivera, Noelvis Hernandez, Alberto Bicet, Norberto Gonzalez, Jonder Martinez W	Length: 3:27

July 29	Chinese Taipei	1 – 5	Japan	Pim Mulierstadion
13:30 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4800
	Chen-Chang Lee L, Chia-Chun Tang, Sung-Wei Tseng, Chia-Wei Lin, Chia-Jen Lo		Satoshi Komatsu W, Yasutaka Hattori S	Length: 2:14

July 29	United States	3 – 15	Netherlands	Pim Mulierstadion
18:30 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4800
	Josh Keller L, Cody Visser, Brooks Lindsley		Diegomar Markwell W, Nick Stuifbergen	Length: 2:06

Standings

Team	W	L
Cuba	5	0
Netherlands	4	1
Japan	2	3
United States	2	3
People's Republic of China	1	4
Chinese Taipei	1	4

Final

July 30	Cuba	6 – 9	Netherlands	Pim Mulierstadion
13:00 UTC+2 (CEST)		(report)		Attendance: 4800
	Ormari Romero L, Norberto Gonzalez, Jonder Martinez, Maikel Folch, Deinis Suarez		Rob Cordemans, Nick Stuifbergen, Michiel van Kampen W, Dave Draijer S	Length: 3:02

Cuba got off to a strong start, knocking out three-time Olympian and four-time Hoofdklasse Pitcher of the Year Rob Cordemans in the first inning and scoring four runs. They made it 6-0 in the third but gave up five in the bottom of the third to make it a contest. In the fourth, the Dutch scored twice for a 7-6 lead, which they would hold. The winning hit was delivered by C Sidney de Jong, who singled in 1B Percy Isenia and CF Eugene Kingsale. Cuba failed to score in the final six innings against strong relief work from Michiel van Kampen and Dave Draijer, who combined to allow four hits and two walks. The Dutch tacked on a couple insurance runs in the 6th and 7th to lock it up. In the finale, Kingsale (2 for 3, 3 R, RBI) and De Jong (2 for 5, 4 RBI, R) led the Netherlands offense, which had five of their players hit doubles.

Final rankings

Rank	Team
1	Netherlands
2	Cuba
3	United States
4	Japan
5	People's Republic of China
6	Chinese Taipei

Awards

The following awards were handed out:

• Jacques Reuvers Award: Bryan Engelhardt,  Netherlands
• Carl Angelo Award: Dirk van 't Klooster,  Netherlands
• Press Award: Dirk van 't Klooster,  Netherlands
• Homerun King: Bryan Engelhardt,  Netherlands
• Best Hitter: Dirk van 't Klooster,  Netherlands
• Best Pitcher: Dave Draijer,  Netherlands
• Best Defending Player: Dirk van 't Klooster,  Netherlands

Team summaries

• China was making its first appearance in Haarlem Baseball Week competition. Managed by Jim Lefebvre, they tied for last but managed one win, not bad for a first show. They were outscored 34-8. 3B Wei Sun (.312/.353/.438) led the offense while Jiangang Lu (1-1, 3.46) was the top pitcher.
• Chinese Taipei was managed by Chih-Shien Yeh and tied China for last place, their one win coming against the USA in the opener. Their 7-13 run differential was much better than China's thanks to the best pitching of the tourney. CF Chen-Yu Chung (.294/.400/.353) was the top hitter while three hurlers had ERAs under 1.50 in 8+ innings of work.
• Cuba had won four of their nine prior Haarlem Baseball Week appearances and did not lose until the finals. Managed by Antonio Pacheco, the Cubans did not boast the presence of their top national team players for this tournament but sent their best team in years. OF Yoandry Urgelles (.800/.818/1.200) and OF Yoennis Cespedes (.481/.481/.741) paced the charge, which outscored opponents 38-22. Maikel Folch (0-0, 1.42) was the top pitcher.
• A three-time former champion, Japan's roster was composed of players from the industrial leagues. Hiroaki Takahashi served as the manager of the club, which scored 23 and allowed 15. OF Toshihiro Nakao (.545/.615/.909) was the top batter while Shoji Saeki (1-0, 1.42) was their most effective moundsman.
• The Dutch roster was similar to that of their team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Managed by Robert Eenhoorn, the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week champs was led by 2005 Hoofdklasse MVP Dirk van 't Klooster (.500/.500/.571), 4-time Pitcher of the Year Rob Cordemans (0-0, 6.14), 2006 Hoofdklasse MVP Tjerk Smeets (0 for 2) and 2006 Pitcher of the Year Diegomar Markwell (2-0, 2.77). Former MVP Sidney de Jong (.320/.393/.600), former Haarlem Baseball Week MVP Johnny Balentina (.200/.200/.200) and ex-major-leaguers Eugene Kingsale (.476/.621/.667, 12 R) and Ivanon Coffie (.176/.391/.412) also were on the club. Bryan Engelhardt (.444/.565/1.000) led the tournament with 3 HR. They had a 55-28 edge in runs as they led the tournament in offensive output. Dave Draijer (0 R in 5 2/3 IP, 3 saves) was the closer for the Netherlands. The home team won just their second Haarlem Baseball Week, but their second in a row.
• The American team was not a notable assortment. They were outscored 36-16. 3B Ricky Reavis (.429/.455/.524) and OF Scott Santschi (.417/.500/.417) were the top hitters for the USA. Nick Cebula (0-1, 4.26) was the only starter to allow under a run per inning; Josh Keller (0-1, 1.54) and Ian Harrington (0-1, 1.42) had lower ERAs but gave up a slew of unearned tallies.