Michiel van Kampen
| Michiel van Kampen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | |||
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Born: January 23, 1976 Haarlem | |||
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| Teams | |||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Baseball | ||
Representing  Netherlands
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| Intercontinental Cup | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2006 Taiwan | National team |
| European Baseball Championship | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 1999 Italy | National team |
| | 2001 Germany | National team |
| | 2005 Czech Republic | National team |
| | 2007 Spain | National team |
| | 2010 Germany | National team |
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.[1] 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.[2]
Van Kampen pitched in the US for four years, for Treasure Valley Community College and Albertson College.[1] 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.[1] In the 1999 European Championship, van Kampen threw two scoreless innings, striking out five batters.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] In the 2001 European Championship, van Kampen retired all five batters he faced as the Netherlands won Gold.[1]
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.[1] His 14 saves led the Hoofdklasse in 2002, doubling runner-up Richard Beljaards.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] He would not appear for the Dutch national team in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.[1]
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.[1] He was back with the Dutch squad for the 2005 European Championship (hurling two games as the Netherlands won the Gold).[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] He relieved Calvin Maduro in the 7th with a 10-2 deficit. He struck out 3 batters in 1 1⁄3 IP, allowing no runs.[1] He began by whiffing Yoandy Garlobo and Carlos Tabares. In the 8th, he retired Eduardo Paret on a grounder.[1] 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.[1]
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.[1] 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.[1] Van Kampen threw nine scoreless innings in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup to help the Netherlands win the silver medal.[1] He was 1-0 with a save in the competition. He threw 2 2⁄3 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.[1]
In the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week, Van Kampen was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA for the champion Dutch squad.[1] In 2007, he went 2-0 with 8 saves and a 1.05 ERA for Kinheim and only walked three batters in 25 2⁄3 IP.[1] He tied Dave Draijer for the save lead in the circuit and tied Draijer for second in games pitched (23), one behind Stephen Spragg.[1] 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 5 2⁄3 innings, allowing no runs. He saved two of the games in the 3-game sweep by Kinheim and won the other contest.[1] Van Kampen pitched 3 2⁄3 scoreless innings for Kinheim in the 2007 European Cup, registering a save in the finals. It was the first European Cup title for Kinheim.[1]
In the 2007 European Championship, van Kampen threw 3 1⁄3 scoreless innings, saving one game as the Netherlands won the Gold and qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[1] He saved two games and threw 3 1⁄3 scoreless innings in the 2007 World Port Tournament.[1] 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.[1] In the quarterfinals, Van Kampen did far better, getting the win over the host Chinese Taipei national team with a scoreless 10th.[1] He allowed one run in the 11th after the Netherlands scored four in the top of the frame.[1]
Van Kampen struggled in the 2008 European Cup in Grosseto as the worst pitcher on Kinheim, which won the title.[1] 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.[1]