HAARLEM (DA) — Team Kingdom of the Netherlands will open its Honkbalweek Haarlem campaign June 26 at Pim Mulierstadion with a roster that includes 10 debutants as it chases its sixth title in Europe’s largest baseball event.
The tournament runs through July 4 and includes the Kingdom team, the reigning European champion, as well as Italy, Czechia, Curaçao, Chinese Taipei and the International Globetrotters.
The Kingdom team last won the tournament in 2022. Japan won the most recent edition two years ago.
Manager Evert-Jan ’t Hoen’s roster combines experienced names such as Shairon Martis, Lars Huijer, Sharlon Schoop and Dwayne Kemp with a large group of new players.
Nine of the 10 debutants have previously played for representative youth teams. Several are already established in the Lucky Day Honkbal Hoofdklasse, including Darryl Collins and Marnix Ruben of Curaçao Neptunus.
Others built experience in the United States college system, including Ingmar Hutzezon of UVV, Jelle van der Lelie and Raphael Smeenk of Amsterdam Pirates, and Daytan Biegel of St. Thomas University.
Jorrit Patist, who has hit 4 home runs for UVV this year, is on the roster as the third catcher. Gedionne Marlin of San Marino Baseball in Italy and Gilian Wernet of Tenerife Marlins in Spain also are among the new names.
The 10th debutant is Raydley Legito, an outfielder for Kinheim and the son of Raily Legito, the Kingdom team’s record international. Raily Legito played multiple times at Honkbalweek Haarlem and won the tournament with the Kingdom team in 2004, 2006 and 2010.
The Kingdom team will face the International Globetrotters on June 26, Italy on June 27, Chinese Taipei on June 28, Curaçao on June 30 and Czechia on July 1 before the playoff rounds begin July 2. The final is scheduled for July 4.
Curaçao’s presence gives the tournament another strong Caribbean connection. The Kingdom roster also includes several players from Curaçao-based clubs, with Jamdrick Cornelia of Wildcats KJ74, Sharlon Schoop of Sta. Maria Pirates and multiple players from Curaçao Neptunus.
The full Kingdom team roster:
Pitchers
Jamdrick Cornelia, Wildcats KJ74
Lars Huijer, Amsterdam Pirates
Ryan Huntington, Curaçao Neptunus
Ingmar Hutzezon, UVV
Kevin Kelly, Curaçao Neptunus
Shairon Martis, Curaçao Neptunus
Eric Mendez, San Marino Baseball
Koen Postelmans, Curaçao Neptunus
Scott Prins, Nettuno
Juan Carlos Sulbaran, Curaçao Neptunus
Jelle van der Lelie, Amsterdam Pirates
Gilian Wernet, Tenerife Marlins
Catchers
Jaïr van Borkulo, Kinheim
Sem Kuijper, Curaçao Neptunus
Jorrit Patist, UVV
Infielders
Gedionne Marlin, San Marino Baseball
Junior Martina, Fortitudo Bologna
Shervyen Newton, Fortitudo Bologna
Sharlon Schoop, Sta. Maria Pirates
Raphael Smeenk, Amsterdam Pirates
Outfielders
Daytan Biegel, St. Thomas University
Darryl Collins, Curaçao Neptunus
Dwayne Kemp, Curaçao Neptunus
Raydley Legito, Kinheim
Marnix Ruben, Curaçao Neptunus
Utility player
Delano Selassa, Amsterdam Pirates
All Honkbalweek Haarlem games will be available live on HonkbalSoftbal.tv. The tournament pass costs €19.99 and includes all 20 games live and on demand. Single games are available from €5.99, while the final costs €7.99.