HOBOKEN CRUSHES BRASSCHAAT, 20-0, IN BELGIAN OPENER

The Belgian Baseball League opened its season last weekend and, like Bull Durham pitcher Nuke LaLoosh, the Hoboken Pioneers “announced their presence with authority” by thrashing the four-time champion Brasschaat Braves, 20-0, on April 18. Hoboken lost the league finals last season to the Antwerp Royal Greys, and has high expectations in 2009 with pitchers Terence Antonacci and T.J. Hendricks on the roster. Both are considered imports and can only pitch limited innings, although Antonacci is married to a Belgian woman and is eligible to pitch for the Belgian National Team.

Antwerp split their first two games with the Namur Angels, winning the April 18 opener, 7-0, before dropping a 1-0 decision one day later. The Royal Greys are looking for their fifth consecutive Belgian League pennant this season.