Netherlands Edges Out Dominicans In Baseball

from National Public Radio

At the World Baseball Classic Sunday, the Netherlands shocked the Dominican Republic 3-2.

The Dominicans counted famous major leaguers on their roster: David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada, Jose Reyes, Moises Alou, Willy Taveras, Edinson Volquez and Pedro Martinez. The Dutch team had one: Sidney Ponson.

Jaap De Groot, chief sports editor of De Telegraaf, agrees the game was the biggest in the history of Dutch baseball.

"We won in the past from Cuba at the Olympics in Sydney, and we ended fourth at the last two world championships, but beating a full professional Major League team, that never has happened before," De Groot tells NPR's Robert Siegel.

He says though the game is very small, the group that plays it is very committed and very professional.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, March 9, 2009