| Michiel van Kampen | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: January 23, 1976 Haarlem | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
Michiel van Kampen (born January 23, 1976, Haarlem) is a Dutch baseball player who currently plays for Kinheim and the Dutch national team. He has been a star relief pitcher in the Hoofdklasse who once set the appearances record and was MVP of the 2007 Holland Series.[citation needed] His sister Judith van Kampen is a star softball pitcher for the Dutch women's softball national team and was the first Dutch woman to play NCAA Division I softball, for the University of Nevada; they both will play for the Netherlands in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[1]
Van Kampen pitched in the US for four years, for Treasure Valley Community College and Albertson College.[citation needed] In 2000, he was 4–1 with 2 saves and a 2.96 ERA for Albertson. In 1999, he had helped Albertson finish second in the NAIA College World Series.[citation needed] In the 1999 European Championship, van Kampen threw two scoreless innings, striking out five batters.[citation needed] He was the top pitcher on the Dutch national team in the 2001 Baseball World Cup, allowing no runs in 5+1⁄3 IP, the only pitcher on the team not to be scored upon.[citation needed] He had a 1.13 ERA in the 2001 World Port Tournament. That year, Van Kampen appeared in 33 games in the Hoofdklasse, setting a league record.[citation needed] In the 2001 European Championship, van Kampen retired all five batters he faced as the Netherlands won Gold.[citation needed]
In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, Van Kampen pitched a scoreless inning against Japan but gave up two runs in 2⁄3 of an inning against the Venezuela national team.[citation needed] His 14 saves led the Hoofdklasse in 2002, doubling runner-up Richard Beljaards.[citation needed] Van Kampen had four saves for HCAW in the Hoofdklasse in 2003. He had a 9.00 ERA and one save in the 2003 World Port Tournament, allowing five hits in two innings of work.[citation needed] He only pitched once in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, tossing a scoreless inning and allowing one hit in an easy win and combined 2-hitter over the French national team.[citation needed] He would not appear for the Dutch national team in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[citation needed]
Van Kampen saved 7 games for HCAW in 2004, third in the Hoofdklasse. In 2005, he moved to Instant Holland A90 and was 1–2 with 6 saves (4th in Hoofdklasse) and a 1.05 ERA in 26 outings.[citation needed] He was back with the Dutch squad for the 2005 European Championship (hurling two games as the Netherlands won the Gold).[citation needed] He had a 1.93 ERA in four appearances in the 2005 Baseball World Cup as the Dutch team finished 4th, their highest ever to that point.[citation needed] 2006 was a busy year for Van Kampen. He pitched in the 2006 World Baseball Classic as the lone Dutch pitcher to succeed in an 11–2 loss to the Cuban national team.[citation needed] He relieved Calvin Maduro in the 7th with a 10–2 deficit. He struck out 3 batters in 11⁄3 IP, allowing no runs.[citation needed] He began by whiffing Yoandy Garlobo and Carlos Tabares. In the 8th, he retired Eduardo Paret on a grounder.[citation needed] He then plunked Michel Enriquez and Yulieski Gourriel reached on a fielder's choice. Van Kampen fanned Joan Carlos Pedroso before giving way to relief pitcher Nick Stuifbergen.[citation needed]
In the regular Hoofdklasse season (now with Corendon Kinheim), Van Kampen was 1–2 with 11 saves and a 2.30 ERA. He led the league in saves.[citation needed] He was 1–0 with a save and 0.00 ERA in three playoff appearances. He had a save and 1.42 ERA in the 2006 Holland Series, which Kinheim won.[citation needed] Van Kampen threw nine scoreless innings in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup to help the Netherlands win the silver medal.[citation needed] He was 1–0 with a save in the competition. He threw 22⁄3 scoreless frames in a 4–3 win over former champion Australia, got the win in the 4–2 victory over the Chinese Taipei national team and tossed the final three innings in a shutout over the Japanese national team in the semifinals for the save.[citation needed]
In the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week, Van Kampen was 1–0 with a 3.18 ERA for the champion Dutch squad.[citation needed] In 2007, he went 2–0 with 8 saves and a 1.05 ERA for Kinheim and only walked three batters in 252⁄3 IP.[citation needed] He tied Dave Draijer for the save lead in the circuit and tied Draijer for second in games pitched (23), one behind Stephen Spragg.[citation needed] He struck out 8 batters in four innings in the playoffs, saving two and posting a 2.25 ERA. In the 2007 Holland Series, Van Kampen pitched 52⁄3 innings, allowing no runs. He saved two of the games in the 3-game sweep by Kinheim and won the other contest.[citation needed] Van Kampen pitched 32⁄3 scoreless innings for Kinheim in the 2007 European Cup, registering a save in the finals. It was the first European Cup title for Kinheim.[citation needed]
In the 2007 European Championship, van Kampen threw 31⁄3 scoreless innings, saving one game as the Netherlands won the Gold and qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[citation needed] He saved two games and threw 31⁄3 scoreless innings in the 2007 World Port Tournament.[citation needed] van Kampen had a 1-1, 9.00 record in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He blew a save in a 4–3 loss to the Australian national team. Entering in the bottom of the 9th with a 3–2 lead, Van Kampen walked Brad Harman. Gavin Fingleson reached on a Michael Duursma error, Harman taking third. Luke Hughes hit a sacrifice fly to score Harman and Trent Oeltjen hit a game-winning double for the Aussies.[citation needed] In the quarterfinals, Van Kampen did far better, getting the win over the host Chinese Taipei national team with a scoreless 10th.[citation needed] He allowed one run in the 11th after the Netherlands scored four in the top of the frame.[citation needed]
Van Kampen struggled in the 2008 European Cup in Grosseto as the worst pitcher on Kinheim, which won the title.[citation needed] He nearly blew a 4–0 lead against the Marlins Puerto Cruz in the opener, giving up 3 runs. Against Montepaschi Grosseto in the gold medal game, he gave up a run in the 10th but got reprieve when Kinheim rallied to win.[citation needed]