In a very energizing final against nemesis Cuba the United States team has impressively defended their world title. Out of the thirteen games played the Americans only lost the first one. In Regensburg against Venezuela, almost three weeks ago, the final score was 13-9 after eleven innings and a tiebreaker. Cuba was defeated twice: last week in the third round with 5-3, yesterday in the final round with 10-5. The Dutch team was unable to defeat the old and new champion on Friday, 8-2.

The Netherlands is number six in the IBAF world ranking. When look at it this way the Dutch team has lived up to their expectations during this complicated World Cup, which took place in seven European countries. Still the feeling remained that they could've done better than sixth place, resulting from the four defeats in a row with which the tournament ended. And this after the flying start in their homeland, which brought manager Rod Delmonico's selection to Italy as unexpected winner of the pool.

During the 2009 World Cup the Dutch may not have won big, thanks to Hainley Statia and Sidney de Jong there was still reason to celebrate for the orange team. Short stop Statia and catcher De Jong were chosen for the All Star Team of the tournament.

Far into the sixth inning pitcher Diegomar Markwell, well supported by his field, kept the Dutch hope for the finals alive. Although Team USA took the lead in Nettuno in the second inning with 1-0 thanks due to a solo homerun by Ike Davis, the Dutch team definitely had opportunities in the third inning. With three loaded bases Curt Smith struck the ball hard in the scoreboard's direction, but leftfielder Jon Weber was there to foil the attempt. That is how the American advantage remained. First baseman Randall Simon showed, with among others three astounding doubles, that outside the United States there are good baseball games.

After the Stromboli the Etna is Europe's most active volcano. The biggest eruption of the last hundred years dates from July 2001. Since then the Sicilians have not seen such an eruption like the one by the Dutch baseball team, last night in the fifth inning of the game against Chinese Taipei in Messina. Eight base hits, among which two doubles, brought the orange team to an advantage of 11-1 and thus it was pretty clear who would this duel in the third round of the Baseball World Cup. It was indeed the Netherlands, although Rod Delmonico's selection was unable to close the deal in nine innings, 11-2.

Rod Delmonico wanted to keep it short. Shrugging, the American national coach of the Dutch players said: ‘Baseball is a game of errors, errors are part of the game." He referred to the failed pitch by Yurendell de Caster to first baseman Randall Simon in the eighth inning, just when the Dutch had fought back from a 2-0 disadvantage against Australia. De Caster was angry with himself and turned around, bummed out, and didn't see the ball pitched by Simon. It was error number two and it was followed by a wild pitch by Dennis Neuman which allowed Bradley Harman - the man who should have been out at first base - to bring Australia back in the lead. The disillusionment was big among the Dutch and Luke Hughes used the moment to bat another ball over the fences that evening. And just like the first time he also struck home a team member, 5-2.

In the decisive round of the Baseball World Cup the Dutch team has the best batting average of all participating teams. Randall Simon and 'cousins' remain the best in this field, better than even Cuba, the United States, Canada and Australia. High up on a number of individual rankings is the Dutch second baseman Sharlon Schoop. Captain/catcher Sidney de Jong is just as good.

The alarm went off at five o'clock this morning for the players, coaches and attendants of the Dutch baseball team in the Domina Hotel in Rotterdam so that they would be on time for their flight to Rome. They are getting ready for the final rounds of the Baseball World Cup in Italy, but when they went to sleep they didn't know yet where they would be going. It could be Nettuno in the province of Rome, just as well as Messina on Sicily. It all depended on the final score in pool F and this would only be clear as soon as the result of the game between Nicaragua and Puerto Rico was announced on Sunday evening. Most of them didn't wait for this and went to sleep, having complete faith that the direction would make sure they would be where they are needed when ‘Play ball!' is shouted on Tuesday evening.

The Dutch opens the third round of the 2009 Baseball World Cup on Tuesday evening (20.00 hours) in Messina, Sicily, against Taiwan. The Asians ended in fourth place in the ‘Italian' pool G, after the United States, Australia and Canada.

Cuba has gotten over their defeat by Puerto Rico from the day before. Tonight the strong Cuban baseball players, captained by midfielder Leonis Martin, made no errors. South Korea lost with 1-5.