2006 Holland Series

or "2006 Holland Series in women's softball".

The 2006 Holland Series were held from 21 September to 1 October 2006 between the two Dutch play-off winners Corendon Kinheim and Konica Minolta Pioniers. The first team to win 3 games in the best-of-five-games series would become Dutch champions. Konica Minolta Pioniers took a 1-0 and 2-1 lead, but with only one more win needed they lost the remaining matches, resulting in a 3-2 Kinheim championship. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com.]

The end of Neptunus hegemony

Rotterdam based defending champions DOOR Neptunus won the Holland Series for seven consecutive years, but found themselves beaten in 2006 during the play-offs by Konica Minolta Pioniers, third placed in the regular season. Since 2001 all Holland Series were decided in a clash between Neptunus and Bussum based Mr. Cocker HCAW. 2006 is the first season since 1992 that neither Neptunus or HCAW are in the Holland Series. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com]

Kinheim and Pioniers

Kinheims most successful period was in the 90s when they reached the Holland Series five consecutive times (1992-1996). They lost four of their Holland Series entries, but managed to become Dutch champions in 1994 when beating Neptunus 3-2. In 2006 Kinheim won the regular league, the Honkbal Hoofdklasse and the KNBSB-Beker, which is the national cup trophy. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com]

Pioniers entrance in the 2006 Holland Series is only the second time in the teams history. In 1997 they also were able to beat Neptunus in the play-offs to beat HCAW 3-2 in the Holland Series and to claim their first title. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com]

Before the Holland Series started Kinheim could be seen as the big favourite. During the regular season both teams met each other six times. Six out of six matches Kinheim left the pitch as winners, even claiming a 17-0 victory on 20 May. In total Kinheim scored 48 runs, while Pioniers were only able to hit 11 runs. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com]

Results

Match 3: Corendon Kinheim - Konica Minolta Pioniers 4-7

The third match started off in the second inning when Pioniers scored an impressive five runs with Kinheim already in need to change their pitcher. Kinheim were able to hit one run back, but were chasing the visitors from the start. In the fourth inning the excitement returned when Kinheim scored three more runs, making the score 4-3 in Pioniers' advantage and fully loaded bases. The next hit however was caught and ending the inning. Pioniers then did not get into any more trouble and even managed to score two more runs themselves to win the match 7-4. Pioniers is excelling the series in defende, making eleven doubleplays and only making two errors in three matches. [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html 2006 Holland Series] , at honkbalsite.com] [ [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/r240906e.htm#1 Pioniers re-take Series lead] , Grand Slam Baseball & Softball Headlines]

External links

* [http://www.honkbalsite.com/frindex.html?/competitie/2006/hollandseries.html Holland Series 2006]
* [http://home.wxs.nl/~stoov/ Holland Series 2006 in detail]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/hb06-hs1.htm Complete Play-by-Play Game One]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/hb06-hs2.htm Complete Play-by-Play Game Two]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/hb06-hs3.htm Complete Play-by-Play Game Three]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/hb06-hs4.htm Complete Play-by-Play Game Four]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~catcher/hb06-hs5.htm Complete Play-by-Play Game Five]

References