2022 Haarlem Baseball Week

The 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week was the 30th edition of the Haarlem Baseball Week but the first in four years as the 2020 edition was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating were Cuba, Curaçao, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the USA. Games were each seven innings due to new WBSC rules. The US and Japan sent their collegiate teams (both of which usually produced several stars in their country's top leagues), while Curaçao, Italy and the Netherlands had numerous players with US pro experience, including former major leaguers Wladimir "Coco" Balentien, Roger Bernadina and Shairon Martis for the Netherlands. Cuba's team had several players with experience on their national team.

Rosters

• Cuba: P - Erluis Blanco, Cesar Garcia, Pavel Hernandez, Leandro Martínez, Yoel Mojena, Miguel Paradelo, Juan Pérez Merino, Kelbis Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Yuen Socarras, Carlos Santana. C - Gumercindo Cisneros, Ariel Pestano Jr., Iván Prieto. IF - Osvaldo Abreu, Guillermo Avilés, Alexander Ayala, Carlos Benítez, Lázaro Cedeño, Yulián Milián. OF - Frederich Cepeda, Dennys Laza, Leonel Moa Jr., Alexquemer Sanchez. Mgr - Carlos Martí. Coaches - Leonardo Soto, Ramon Rodriguez, Luis Ferrales, Ciro Silvino Licea.
• Curaçao: P - Nelmerson Angela, Siamani Boekhoudt, Faysel Gregorio, Hershelon Juliana, Chris Koeiman, Témesh Lourens, Je-andrick Lourens, Jordan Lucas, Ruderly Manuel, Risandro Pastor, Cerilio Soleana. C - Ulrich Snijders, Stephan Vidal. IF - Johnny Gregorius, Alex Rodriguez, Darren Seferina, Raywendley van Gurp, Riordan Windster. OF - Roderick Bernadina, Rayshelon Carolina, Sherman Lacrus, Dudley Leonora, Shean Michel, Ortwin Pieternella Jr.. UT - Shurendell Mujica. Mgr - Hainley Statia. Coaches - Quincy Martina, Gustavito de Jongh, Ghionelo Jansen, Carlos Pineda, Dennis Neuman.
• Italy: P - Mattia Aldegheri, Maurizio Andretta, Alex Bassani, Matteo Bocchi, Diego Gergolet, Murilo Gouvêa, Angelo Palumbo, Gabriele Quattrini, Yomel Rivera, Christian Scafidi, Claudio Scotti. C - Ernesto Liberatore, Alberto Mineo, Lorenzo Morresi. IF - Erick Epifano, Leo Ferrini, Renzo Martini, Mattia Mercuri, Ricardo Paolini, Andrea Sellaroli. OF - Federico Celli, Vito Friscia, Noel González, Dario Pizzano. Mgr - Mike Piazza. Coaches - Bobby Cramer, Alberto D'Auria, Gianmarco Faraone, Michele Gerali.
• Japan: P - Minato Aoyama, Tatsuya Hashimoto, Riku Kikuchi, Kentaro Shinogi, Kosei Shoji, Ryuhei Sotani, Taiga Ueda, Shota Watanabe, Kota Yazawa. C - Mashu Kusabe, Taishi Noguchi, Yuya Shinto IF - Takuma Hayashi, Ryuta Hirose, Rui Muneyama, Daiki Saito, Atsuki Tomosugi, Rintaro Tsujimoto, Kyuto Ueda, Kenta Yamada. OF - Masaya Hagio, Takuya Hiruma, Shota Morishita, Ryu Sugisawa. Mgr - Tetsuya Okubo. Coaches - Takashi Kawamura, Tomonari Mizoguchi, Hideyuki Suzuki.
• Netherlands: P - Mike Bolsenbroek, Dennis Burgersdijk, Aaron de Groot, Mike Groen, Lars Huijer, Ryan Huntington, Kevin Kelly, Shairon Martis, Scott Prins, Chris Stuart, Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Franklin van Gurp. C - Jules Cremer, Sicnarf Loopstok, Dashenko Ricardo. IF - Kevin Josephina, John Polonius, Juremi Profar, Sharlon Schoop. OF - Coco Balentien, Roger Bernadina, Kalian Sams, Jiandido Tromp. UT - Dwayne Kemp, Denzel Richardson, Delano Selassa. Mgr. - Evert-Jan 't Hoen. Coaches - Robin van Doornspeek, Ben Thijssen, Tjerk Smeets, Wim Martinus
• USA: P - Ryan Bruno, Wyatt Crowell, Ross Dunn, Hunter Elliott, Joseph Gonzalez, Tanner Hall, Carter Holton, Cade Kuehler, Rhett Lowder, Teddy McGraw, Carson Montgomery, Hurston Waldrep. C - Jack Payton. IF -Maui Ahuna, Jacob Gonzalez, Yohandy Morales, Tre' Morgan, Brayden Taylor, Jacob Wilson. OF - Enrique Bradfield Jr., Dylan Crews, Jack Hurley. UT - Zach Agnos, Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, Kyle Teel. Mgr. - Mike Bianco. Coaches - Xan Barksdale, Drew Bianco, Scott Brown, Cliff Godwin, Josh Holliday.

Games

July 8

• Japan 1, Curaçao 0. Minato Aoyama and Taiga Ueda combine on a three-hitter to outduel Nelmerson Angela and two relievers. LF Takuya Hiruma's fourth-inning single scores SS Rui Muneyama with the game's lone run.
• Netherlands 2, Italy 1. The hosts also start off with a pitching duel win as Lars Huijer and Kevin Kelly fan ten in a four-hit effort to beat Christian Scafidi; Italy also allows just four hits. 1B Juremi Profar goes 2 for 2 with a walk and the two-run double that provided the winning offense. 1B Renzo Martini drives in 2B Ricardo Paolini with the lone Italian tally.

July 9

• Japan 1, USA 0. Japan again wins a 1-0 duel as Kosei Shoji and three relievers (Taiga Ueda getting the win) combine on a four-hit whitewash. Rhett Lowder and Carter Holton shut out Japan for six before Cade Kuehler allows a run in the 8th when 2B Takumi Hayashi (3 for 3, BB) singles in 3B Rintaro Tsujimoto.
• Netherlands 5, Cuba 1. Cuba starts off with a loss, with Mike Groen getting the victory over Yoel Mojena. CF Roger Bernadina, a former major leaguer, hits a three-run homer. For Cuba, two veterans provide the offense when LF Dennys Laza singles in DH Frederich Cepeda.

July 10

• USA 9, Italy 0. The US handily bounces back thanks to a eight-run fourth. CF Enrique Bradfield Jr. drives in three and Joseph Gonzalez gets the win. Former AAA hurler Murilo Gouvêa takes the loss, while 3B Renzo Martini reaches all four times up as a bright spot for the Europeans.
• Curaçao 8, Netherlands 6. Curaçao stunned their hosts, who had the bigger names from Curaçao! Shairon Martis cruised against his fellow islanders with five shutout innings but faded in the 6th when Curaçao rallied for six; Martis took the loss. Témesh Lourens got the win. 1B Dudley Leonora, who had spent time on the Netherlands squad, went 3 for 4, while Ortwin Pieternella Jr. comes off the bench to drive in three. In a losing effort, 3B/1B Juremi Profar was 3 for 4 with two runs and a RBI.
• Japan 4, Cuba 3. Japan allows its first runs of the tournament but remains unbeaten when RF Takuya Hiruma drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the winning run in the bottom of the 6th. Pavel Hernandez takes the loss, while Riku Kikuchi gets the win and Tatsuya Hashimoto the save.

July 11

• Italy 5, Curaçao 3. Alex Bassani gets Italy's first win of the tourney while 2B Ricardo Paolini and DH Noel González each rap three hits. SS Darren Seferina goes 2 for 3 with two runs in a losing cause; Ruderly Manuel gets the decision for the islanders.
• USA 2, Cuba 0. The US continues their fine pitching as Tanner Hall and Teddy McGraw teamed on a four-hitter. They only get two hits off Jose Rodriguez but it's enough. No one has more than a single in the game.LF Dennys Laza's single-and-a-walk effort was the best offensive show!

July 12

• Japan 9, Italy 0. Kota Yazawa and Kentaro Shinogi fan 13 in a 3-hitter, Japan's third shutout in four games. Claudio Scotti matches them with four shutout innings but Japan goes to town against Maurizio Andretta, Matteo Bocchi and Yomel Rivera for nine runs in three. 3B Rintaro Tsujimoto drives in three.
• Curaçao 1, Cuba 0. Cuba gets blanked for the second straight day as Jordan Lucas outduels Leandro Martínez. LF Rayshelon Carolina drives in DH Johnny Gregorius in the 2nd with the game's only run. DH Frederich Cepeda has half of Cuba's four hits.
• USA 10, Netherlands 0. The US takes sole possession of second place with the third whitewash of the day. Paul Skenes, Carson Montgomery and Wyatt Crowell team on a four-hitter, while SS Jacob Gonzalez drives in three. Ryan Huntington is the losing pitcher. CF Roger Bernadina is the only Dutch player with a hit longer than a single as he doubles.

July 13

• Italy 2, Cuba 0. Cuba finishes the round-robin winless. Gabrielle Quattrini and Mattia Aldegheri combine on a five-hitter in the fifth consecutive shutout of the week. 3B Mattia Mercuri scores one of Italy's runs and drives in the other. Cesar Garcia is the losing pitcher.
• Curaçao 3, USA 2. Curaçao lands another upset. Nelmerson Angela allows one run in five for the win, and Alex Rodriguez saves it. SS Darren Seferina goes 2 for 3 with a run and a RBI to pace the offense. Hurston Waldrep took the loss as the US was held to four hits.
• Japan 5, Netherlands 0. Japan finished the round-robin unbeaten as they get yet another shutout; this time Shota Watanabe gets the win while four hurlers combine to fan 10 on Japan's fourth shutout in five games. 2B Takuma Hayashi scores a pair. Chris Stuart gives up five runs in one inning before Mike Bolsenbroek and Scott Prins turn in scoreless relief. CF Roger Bernadina has two hits for the Dutch.

July 14

• Cuba 5, Italy 1. In the 5th/6th place game, Cuba finally gets a win, avenging their latest loss to avoid a last-place finish. Yuen Socarras gets the win, saved by Carlos Santana. 1B Guillermo Avilés goes 3 for 3 with a run and two RBI. RF Noel González goes 2 for 3 against his countrymates, while Cristian Scafidi takes the decision for Italy.
• Curaçao 3, USA 2. For the second straight day, Curaçao stuns the US, 3-2, this time winning a spot in the finale. The US leads 2-1 into the bottom of the 8th when Rayshelon Carolina singles in PR Riordan Windster to tie it. In the 10th, Cade Kuehler hits Windster with the bases loaded to force in Darren Seferina with the winner. Cerilio Soleana gets the victory, while Wyatt Langford has two of the US's three hits.
• Netherlands 2, Japan 1. After going unbeaten in the round-robin, Japan falls in the semifinals as the hosts moved to the title game. Minato Aoyama has a no-hitter through 6 1/3 then walks 2B Sharlon Schoop and a LF Dwayne Kemp double ends the no-hitter and the shutout and ties the game. Taiga Ueda relieves but allows a single to C Sicnarf Loopstok to make it 2-1. Lars Huijer, meanwhile, had held Japan to one hit, no walks and one run through six. In the 7th, RF Takuya Hiruma got Japan's second hit but was erased when 1B Kenta Yamada grounded into a game-ending double play.

July 15

• 3rd/4th place game: USA 5, Japan 1. Hunter Elliott, Carter Holton (W) and Carson Montgomery combine on a two-hitter in shutting down Japan, while the US chases Kosei Shoji in the second inning. 3B Yohandy Morales goes 3 for 3 with a double, run and two RBI. Japan finishes 4th despite the best record, losing at the wrong time.
• Title Game: Netherlands 6, Curaçao 1. The hosts pick up the win to rebound from a 2-3 round-robin; Shairon Martis and Ruderly Manuel trade goose eggs for 4 1/2 before Manuel fades. Martis remains strong, allowing two hits and one run in seven, while SS John Polonius doubles, triples, scores a run and drives one in. Veterans Raywendley van Gurp and Johnny Gregorius get the only hits for the islanders.

Records

1. Netherlands, 4-3
2. Curaçao, 4-3
3. USA, 4-3
4. Japan, 5-2
5. Cuba, 1-5
6. Italy, 2-4

Awards

The following awards were handed out:

• Jacques Reuvers Award: Roger Bernadina, Netherlands
• Carl Angelo Award: Rintaro Tsujimoto, Japan
• Homerun King: Yohandy Morales, USA
• Best Hitter: Juremi Profar, Netherlands
• Best Pitcher: Lars Huijer, Netherlands