Schiedam Crushes Saints 17-6, Opens 2026 Season Under Mercy Rule

Eighteen hits, 17 runs, and a mercy-rule finish: Schiedam's Men 1 dismantled the Saints 17-6 in Rotterdam on Sunday to give new head coach Kenrich George the most emphatic possible opening statement of the 2026 Heren 1 season.

The damage started immediately. Schiedam scored four runs on five hits in the first inning, putting the Saints on the back foot before their pitching staff had found any rhythm. Debutant Mack de Held opened on the mound for Schiedam, recording four strikeouts while allowing three earned runs in a controlled early-season showing before the bullpen took over.

The fifth inning buried it. Schiedam piled on five more runs in the frame, a sequence anchored by a two-run double and a succession of singles that forced a Saints pitching change and made the mercy-rule conclusion feel inevitable. Jim van Tol and Beau van Straten contributed clutch extra-base hits throughout the afternoon, while Lucas Wols went 3-for-5 and Lars Bol posted a 3-for-6 line to pace the offense at the top. Pascal Plugge handled relief duties effectively after de Held's exit, keeping the scoreboard tidy on the way out.

George came in this offseason to replace Sander Bol and brought a reshuffled roster with him. Debutants Arshan Thakourdat and Braydan Donata both contributed on the field, and what was notable in Sunday's result was how quickly those new combinations clicked with returning players.

A 17-6 mercy-rule scoreline on opening weekend tells you two things. Schiedam's offense is loaded: 18 hits against a single opponent is not something most Heren 1 rotations absorb without a structural problem somewhere. But the Saints also contributed to their own undoing, unable to strand base runners or make the plays that might have shortened innings. How much of Sunday belongs to Schiedam's ceiling versus Saints' floor is a question that only more games will settle.

That calibration starts next Sunday when Ridderkerk Rowdies arrive for Schiedam's home opener. The Rowdies will provide a sharper read on George's rotation depth and whether the batting numbers from Rotterdam are a trend or an outlier. For Mack de Held, a second consecutive quality start would go a long way toward locking down that rotation spot as the season finds its pace.