The German National team lost to the Netherlands by a score of 8:1, the German offensive players didn´t seem to be able to handle the Dutch pitching. Nevertheless Germany qualified already for the Quarterfinals.
Team Netherlands got off to a good start scoring a run against German starter Daniel Thieben in the first inning. Just an inning later the Germans were able to tie the game on a Double by Marco Cardoso with a run from Eric Brenk. From this point on two Dutch players took over the control of the game: Starter Lars Hujer and Left Fielder Ademar Rifaela. The Dutch outfielder gave his team the lead with a two-run shot in the second, in the following innings the German batters were without a chance to score runs to come back. In the fourth inning it was Rifaela with his second two-run bomb of the game to expand the Dutch lead to four to one. The last offensive action belonged, of course, to Rifaela, who hit a three-run Home Run in the eighth to secure the win for the Netherlands.
Dutch starter Lars Hujer pitched an absolute gem, throwing 6.2 one-run innings while striking out eleven. Best offensive player was obviously Ademar Rifaela, who drove in seven of the eight Dutch runs. The starter for Team Germany Daniel Thieben went 5 innings allowing five runs, Reliever Lukas Steinlein allowed three more. Marco Cardoso was the best offensive player in the German team, Eric Brenk had some great plays in the defense.
Despite the loss Germany qualified for the Quarterfinals as they have beaten Great Britain in the direct game against each other. Germany will face the Czech Republic tomorrow to secure position 3 or 4 in Group A, the Dutch team will play against unbeaten Israel.