Curacao upends Saudi Arabia to even record at 1-1
Offense comes through after one-run effort Friday

By Mark Rogoff
Special Correspondent

Curacao’s offense was waiting to erupt after a 4-1 drubbing Friday against Japan.

After 2 off days – one scheduled; the other due to severe thunderstorms – Curacao wasted no time in its 2nd Pool C game doing what they do best: hit.

The Caribbean champs erupted for 3 runs in the first inning on its way to a 9-2 win over Saudi Arabia, Monday afternoon at Volunteer Stadium.

“I was just thinking to win the others and play good baseball,” said manager Vernon Isabella through assistant coach Michelangelo Clestina, in reference to Curacao’s opening-game loss.

Curacao added 4 more in the 4th, 3 of which came on Kevin Moesquit’s homer to straightaway centerfield. They tacked on 2 more in the 6th, highlighted by Jonathan Schoop’s RBI double.

“I feel good,” said the shy Moesquit. “(The home run) was an outside fastball.”

Schoop, who bats leadoff for the Caribbean champs, finished the day 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored.

“I feel like the first batter must get on base all the time and score runs,” he said. “Just like Rickey Henderson.”

Schoop scored the game’s first run after reaching on a fielding error, then coming around to cross the plate 3 batters later on another fielding error. RBI singles by Jeandre Perreira and Jurick Obispo made the score 3-0.

Saudi Arabia starter Thomas Timoney settled down after the first, facing the minimum over the next 2.1 innings. But Curacao picked up where they left off when 4 of the next 5 batters reached base safely. Moesquit capped it with his first home run of the Series.

The Transatlantic champs scored 2 in the 3rd to pull with a run, but it was all they’d get. Shaan Bukhari’s groundout to Schoop scored Thomas Timoney, who started things off with a one-out single to right. Lee Aberle then singled home Joel Reimer, who reached base on a hard-hit double to left.

Curacao hurler Czenvic Rojer gave up just the 2 runs on 7 hits. The southpaw struck out 5, including the last 3 batters he faced to close out the game.

The Pabao Little Leaguers pulled even with Saudi Arabia’s All-Stars in the standings, both 1-1 after 2 pool contests.

“It’s tough to get down in the first inning,” said Saudi head coach Phillip Warren. “We just continued on. (Our) runs motivated the team, but they’re just a good hitting team.”

Warren obviously would have liked to win and go 2-0 prior to facing a tough Japan team in their pool-play finale.

“That was part of our game plan – winning the first 2 in order to advance beyond pool play,” he said.