The Netherlands baseball team has made history winning the World Cup final in Panama after beating Cuba 2-1. It is the first time a European team has won the title since Britain did in 1938.
The Dutch players and team staff celebrated their victory in the Rod Carew stadium in Panama City with dozens of fans. The Dutch embassy and consulate had invited some 200 people to witness the historic duel, team manager Tjerk Smeets said. An hour after the end of the game, he said, all the champagne was long gone, but they were still on the pitch celebrating with all the fans.
Near-perfect game
The Netherlands played a near-perfect game, with veteran right hander Rob Cordeman, who held out for well over seven innings, giving an outstanding performance. For their part, young stars Shairon Schoop and Mariekson Gregorius ensured key defensive plays. David Bergman got the final two outs in the ninth and earned the save. In the ninth inning it was third baseman Jonathan Schoofs who caught newcomer Hector Olivera’s first pitch in his glove securing the decisive third out.
More to celebrate
The Dutch, moreover, had yet two other awards to savour. Following the final, the technical commission of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) declared Dutch player Curt Smith the most valuable player (MVP) of the Panama World Championship. Smith, aged 25, was responsible for one of the two points the Dutch scored in their 2-1 victory over the Cuban powerhouse. Tom Stuifbergen was declared best pitcher. Surprisingly the All Star team conspicuously lacked any Dutch players.
Celebrations
The Dutch baseball players will be honoured in the Netherlands on Tuesday, when federal coach Brian Farley and his team are due to return to the country.
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© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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I Extremely happy for the Dutch National team. Having ties to Holland for much of my life I can only hope that baseball becomes a passion for the Dutch people as much as it is for us yanks. BTW You don't score "points" in baseball you score RUNS. True, a technicality but an important one.
having watched this tournament in panama and seeing the dutch beat power houses like USA, Canada, Cuba etc was pretty cool. This was a tournament of pro player and Cuba brought a team that could compete at a Major league level.
http://groundskeeper.mlblogs.com/
did USA participate to this championship? Or they just sent one player that only reach semi-finals?
Countries in the finals of the World Championship 2011 (last was 2009, USA were the victors then)
Canada, Australia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Greece, Japan,
Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Panama, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico,
South Korea, United States of America, Venezuela
The USA and Canada tied for bronze:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Baseball_World_Cup#Bronze_medal_game.
More info here:
http://www.ibaf.org/en/competition/e4dbf607-4cbe-4b8e-a07b-274157b24e33/results
Hope that helps!
Off course they participated, Holland also has beaten them 7 to 5
Who would've thunk it?
Triple congratulations for beating Cuba, country's which national sport is baseball... AMAZING!!!!!
Having lost against Sweden in football maybe baseball is the way to go.
congratulations!!!
Super prestatie! Nu een lintje voor deze jongens!!
http://www.nederlandseradio.com
Congratulations do you realise what you have done for European baseball. Magnificent.
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