2023 Holland Series

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2023 Holland Series: L&D Amsterdam Pirates (37-21-1) defeated Curaçao Neptunus (45-10-1), 4 games to 3.

Introduction

The 2023 Holland Series is the 37th Holland Series. Last year's champion HCAW did not return but the faces were certainly familiar ones as these two squads had faced off in the six Series prior to 2022.

Teams

Neptunus

Neptunus had won five of the last nine Holland Series and had the best regular-season record at 20-3-1, then were 22-7 in the next rounds. Managed by Greg Muller, they had strong pitching from Tom de Blok, Kevin Kelly, Aaron de Groot and former major leaguer Shairon Martis while the offense had Christian Diaz, Roger Bernadina, Dwayne Kemp and Stijn van der Meer all turn in fine performances.

Amsterdam

Led by Mervin Gario, the Pirates had won the Series in 2019 and 2021. They were 16-7-1 in the regular season and 21-14 in the following rounds. Denzel Richardson was their big offensive leader, followed by Roelie Henrique Jr. The pitching staff was anchored by Jelle van de Lelie, Svan van de Sanden and Nelmerson Angela.

Games

October 7

Game 1 in Neptunus Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	2	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	1	6	12	1
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	2
Win: Prins (1-0) Loss: Martis (0-1)

Amsterdam turned to Scott Prins, who had no US pro experience, and he outdueled former major leaguer Martis. With one out in the first, 2B Tommy van de Sanden hit into an error by his counterpart, Kemp. Martis plunked RF Richardson and 3B Oliver van der Wijst singled in a run. A fly from SS Alex Madera put the Pirates in front, 2-0. That's all that Prins would need but he got more support. In the third, Tommy van de Sanden had a one-out double, Richardson singled and van der Wijst's sacrifice fly scored van de Sanden. With two away in the 6th, veteran DH Kenny Berkenbosch began a rally with a single and C Jules Cremer had one of his three hits today. 1B Jorrit Penseel singled as well for a 4-0 lead. CF Jason Jakobus singled to make it 5-0, chasing Martis with one of his worst outings of the season.

Neptunus got to Prins in the 7th as SS John Polonius was hit, C Tony Krueger singled him to third and 1B Sheadion Jamanika grounded him in. That was the only run the high-scoring Neptunus squad mustered off Prins. Amsterdam tacked on one last insurance run in the 9th when Richardson went yard for his league-leading 9th homer of the season.

October 8

Game 2 in Loek Loevendie Ballpark

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	1
Amsterdam	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	x	3	5	0
Win: Angela (1-0) Loss: Kelly (0-1) Save: Vijfvinkel (1)

Amsterdam knocked off Kelly, who entered with a 14-1 record on the year. They got men in scoring position with no outs in the first but Kelly struck out RF Richardson, 3B van der Wijst hit into an out at the plate and SS Madera grounded out. In the 2nd, DH Berkenbosch was hit and the 38-year-old former Marlins farmhand stole second. 1B Penseel singled and CF Jakobus hit into a run-scoring force. They doubled the lead in the fourth without getting a hit. Berkenbosch was again plunked then advanced on a bunt from C Cremer, a grounder from Penseel and a balk for a 2-0 lead. In the 5th, LF Henrique doubled and 2B Tommy van de Sanden singled, then Richardson hit into a run-scoring double play. Neptunus got to Angela in the 6th when 2B Kemp singled and LF Diaz doubled him in, but it was the only run allowed by Angela in his 7 innings and Pim Vijfvinkel closed it out without allowing a run, retiring six of seven batters.

October 14

Game 3 in Loek Loevendie Ballpark

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	0	0	0	2	0	3	0	0	3	8	15	5
Amsterdam	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	2
Win: De Groot (1-0) Loss: Prins (1-1) Save: Kelly (1)

Neptunus ended their 7-game Holland Series losing streak, though they started on a poor note. Amsterdam loaded the bases in the first against de Blok but SS Madera hit into a double play to end the threat. In the second, DH Berkenbosch and 1B Penseel singled and CF Jakobus bunted in Berkenbosch. They made it 4-0 in the third. 2B Tommy van de Sanden walked, stole second and took third on a throwing error by Krueger, one of five Neptunus errors today. 3B van der Wijst singled to make it 2-0. De Groot replaced de Blok and got one out but Berkenbosch tripled in a run and came home on an error on the play by SS Polonius. De Groot and Kelly held the Pirates to two hits over the next six, though, and their offense woke up.

The comeback began in the 4th, RF Diaz had a two-out single off Prins and DH Arthur Bonevacia doubled. Krueger made up for his earlier miscue with a two-run single to cut the gap in half. In the 6th, 3B Makesiondon Kelkboom doubled and Diaz singled him in. With two outs, 1B Jamanaika took Prins deep and Neptunus now had a 5-4 lead. It remained a one-run game until the 9th when Neptunus got insurance against Michal Bennett. Jamanika singled and was bunted over by CF Rayshelon Carolina. LF van der Meer singled, as did SS Polonius, with a Jakobus error on the play turning it into a 7-4 contest. 2B Kemp singled and a two-out single from Diaz (his 4th hit of the day) drove in the final run.

October 15

Game 4 in Neptunus Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	3	9	3
Neptunus	1	2	2	2	0	0	0	0	x	7	12	0
Win: Martis (1-1) Loss: Angela (1-1) Save: Groen (1)

Neptunus evened the Series with another good offensive showing. They fell behind early as Amsterdam 2B Tommy van de Sanden doubled off Martis with one out in the first and advanced twice on balks by the former big leaguer for an unusual run. In the bottom of the inning, Neptunus tied it off Angela but could have had more. 3B van der Meer walked and SS Polonius and 2B Kemp singled. DH Bernadina hit into a force at home and LF Diaz grounded in a run then Angela whiffed RF Bonevacia to recover pretty well from a bases-loaded, no-out situation. Things turned worse for the Pirates in the second, though. They stranded the bases loaded in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, C Krueger singled and 1B Jamanaika bunted into an error by Angela. After a wild pitch and an out, van der Meer singled in both runners.

Neptunus padded the lead in the third on a one-out walk by Bernadina, a Diaz single, a two-out RBI single from Krueger and a RBI single from Jamanaika to chase Angela in favor of Sven van de Sanden. In the 4th, the hosts had their third straight two-run frame. Van der Meer reached on an error, Polonius singled, Bernadina singled in a run with one out and Diaz singled in another. Sven van de Sanden and Benjamin Meyer kept Neptunus scoreless the rest of the way but the damage had been done; Diaz finished with three hits to remain hot. Amsterdam made a little headway in the 5th when Tommy van de Sanden doubled and scored on a two-out hit by SS Madera. They got their only other run in the 7th versus Kevin Bakker. LF Henrique singled, RF Richardson drew a one-out walk, 3B van der Wijst singled and Madera hit a sac fly. Ryan Huntington and Mike Groen closed it out for Neptunus.

October 17

Game 5 in Neptunus Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	7	1
Win: De Groot (2-0) Loss: Vijfvinkel (0-1)

Neptunus won their third straight, but needed a 9th-inning run to do so. Amsterdam got to Kelly in the first on walks to LF Henrique and RF Richardson, with a steal and throwing error in between, then 3B van der Wijst hit into a run-scoring force. They would not score again, mustering just four hits off Kelly and de Groot. Meanwhile, Vijfvinkel had Neptunus in check for six innings. In the 7th, DH Bernadina drew a walk, was bunted over by Diaz and scored on a hit from RF Bonevacia to tie it. It remained 1-1 until the bottom of the 9th. SS Polonius singled for his third hit (the rest of his team had three combined to that point) and 2B Kemp bunted him to second. Bernadina walked and Diaz hit into an error by van der Wijst to load them up. After Vijfvinkel retired 3B Kelkboom, C Krueger delivered the game-winning hit.

October 22

Game 6 in Loek Loevendie Ballpark

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Neptunus	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	1
Amsterdam	3	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	x	5	9	0
Win: Prins (2-1) Loss: Martis (1-2)

Due to weather conditions cancelling Saturday's game, today would feature two games - if Amsterdam stayed alive in Game 6. The Pirates struck right out of the gate as LF Tommy van den Sanden singled, 3B van der Wijst had a two-out single and DH Berkenbosch smacked a three-run homer. In the 4th, they got an insurance run off Martis as C Cremer, 2B Duco Nuijten and 1B Penseel all singled and Tommy van den Sanden hit into a run-scoring double play.

As in Game 1, Prins shut down Neptunus effectively, not allowing a run till the 6th. SS Polonius led off with a single, LF Diaz drew a two-out walk and the flagging Prins walked RF Bonevacia and C Krueger to force in a run. Angela relieved and escaped further damage; he and Meyer shut out Neptunus the rest of the way. Huntington allowed the game's last run in the bottom of the inning. The bottom of the order again started it with a walk by Cremer, a hit by Nuijten and a delayed double steal attempt scoring Cremer though Nuijten was out.

Game 7 in Neptunus Familiestadion

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Amsterdam	0	4	0	2	2	0	0	1	0	9	8	1
Neptunus	0	4	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	11	1
Win: Angela (2-1) Loss: De Groot (2-1)

The road-and-home doubleheader caused by the postponed game led to a busy day for both teams. The Pirates prevailed to keep up their string of titles in odd-numbered years - 2019, 2021 and 2023 - while Neptunus had the best regular-season record for the 5th year in a row with no titles to show as they fell again.

Neptunus turned to Kelly, who had been very good in Game 5, but it was a different story today. In the second, 3B van der Wijst led off with a single and DH Berkenbosch drew a walk. SS Madera bunted the runners over and C Cremer was intentionally walked to set up the double play. That was not to be as 2B Nuijten got plunked to make it 1-0 and 1B Penseel, the #9 hitter, smacked a three-run double; he would go on to win Series MVP honors.

Amsterdam failed to hold that lead. In the bottom of the inning, Neptunus came right back against Vijfvinkel, who had thrown a complete game in Game 5. LF Diaz and DH Bonevacia had one-out singles and C Krueger walked. 1B Jamanika singled in a run. Vijfvinkel struck out CF Carolina but SS Polonius copied Penseel with a three-run double of his own, tying the game at four. In the third, they took the lead. 2B Kemp drew a walk from Maickel Rietel and RF Bernadina laid down a bunt hit. Angela relieved, already the third Pirate pitcher of the day; he would also be their last, working the final 7 innings. The second batter he faced today was Bonevacia, who tripled in the runners and then scored on a balk for a 7-4 lead.

The Pirates fought back in the top of the 4th. With two away, LF Tommy van den Sanden drew a walk and CF Henrique went yard to cut the gap to one. That knocked out Kelly in favor of de Groot, who was 2-0 so far this Series. Neptunus added some insurance in the bottom of the frame. Polonius was walked with one out, was bunted over and scored on a hit by Kemp for a 8-6 lead. Angela did not allow another run, though. Amsterdam quieted the home fans in the 5th by evening the score. Berkenbosch drew a one-out walk and Madera singled. Cremer walked as well. On a grounder by Nuijten, Neptunus got one out at second but an error by former AAA player Polonius helped make it a game-tier.

Neptunus got the first two men on in the bottom of the 5th but they were stranded. In the top of the 8th, it was once again the bottom of the Pirates' order that did the trick. Cremer singled and Nuijten bunted him to second. Groen replaced de Groot but Penseel singled Cremer in for his 4th RBI of the day from the 9 slot. Neptunus did mount a scare in the bottom of the 9th as Angela was in his 7th inning of work. With one away, 3B van der Meer singled. Kemp flew out but Bernadina walked to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on first. Angela retired Diaz on a fly to center to end the game as Neptunus once again had their hopes dashed in the Series, giving the Pirates another crown.