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Dutch Women Softball Team |
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biography |
Who is Who? |
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| # 22 - Areke Spel - Outfield |
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|  | | Birthdate | July 29, 1986 |
| | Birthplace | Naarden (Netherlands) |
| | Residence | Almere (Netherlands) |
| | Study | |
| | Height | 1,76 m |
| | Weight | 73 kg |
| | Bats | Right |
| | Throws | Right |
| | Position | Outfield |
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| | National Team | 2005 - May 2007; December 2008 - current |
| | Games National Team | 52 |
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| | Clubs | Almere '90 (Almere, 1996-2002; 2005)
Amsterdam Pirates (Amsterdam, 2003-2004)
Euro Stars (Capelle a/d IJssel, 2006-2007)
Chipola College (Marianna, Florida, USA, 2007)
Tex Town Tigers (Enschede, 2008-2009)
Sparks Haarlem (Haarlem, 2010-current)
(Dutch Major League: 2003-2004; 2006-current) |
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| ...Tournaments Participated In... |  
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with Amsterdam Pirates
2003 - International Mastenbroek Tournament (Enschede, Netherlands)
2004 - International Indoor Cup (Schiedam, Netherlands)
with Almere '90
2005 - International Indoor Cup (Schiedam, Netherlands)
International Mastenbroek Tournament (Enschede, Netherlands)
with Tex Town Tigers
2009 - International Mastenbroek Tournament (Enschede, Netherlands)
European Cup (Legnano, Italy)
with Sparks Haarlem
2010 - Intern. Jan de Wit Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Cup Winners Cup (Haarlem, Netherlands)
2011 - European Cup (Caserta, Italy)
with Chipola College
2007 - Region VIII B Championship Tournament (Florida, USA)
FCCAA State Tournament (Auburndale, Florida, USA)
NJCAA Division I National Championship (Plant City, Florida, USA)
with Holland All Stars
2008 - Holland Tour (Oldenzaal, Netherlands)
with Dutch Junior Softball Team
2002 - International Jan van Bakel Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
European Championships Juniors (Chocen, Czech Republic)
2003 - Indoor Cup Tournament (Schiedam, Netherlands)
International Jan van Bakel Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Apeldoorn Softball Series (Apeldoorn, Netherlands)
Kingdom Games (Aruba)
World Championships Juniors (Nanjing, China)
2004 - European Championships Juniors (Le Thillay/Roissy, France)
with Dutch National Softball Team
2004 - World University Games (Plant City, Florida, USA)
2005 - Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
European Championships (Prague, Czech Republic)
2006 - Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
World Championships (Beijing, China)
Japan Cup (Yokohama, Japan)
2009 - Holland Tour (several sites, Netherlands)
Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
World Cup of Softball (Oklahoma City, USA)
European Championships (Valencia, Spain)
2010 - International Indoor Cup (Team Orange) (Schiedam, Neth.)
Holland Tour (several sites, Netherlands)
Venezuela International Series (Puerto Ordaz/Barinas, Venezuela)
World Championship (Caracas, Venezuela)
2011 - American Tour (Florida, Tennessee, USA)
Holland Tour (several sites, Netherlands)
Torneo 150 Anni Unitá d'Italia (Bollate, Italy)
Games vs. Argentina (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
European Championship (Ronchi dei Legionari/Staranzano, Italy)
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| ...Awards... |
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2003 - Best Pitcher, Apeldoorn Softball Series
2004 - Best Hitter, European Championships Juniors
Bep van Beijmerwerdt Trophy (Most Talented Dutch Youth Player)
2007 - 1st Team Panhandle All-Conference Team, Chipola (USA)
2nd All-State Team, Chipola College (USA)
State All-Tournament Team, Chipola College (USA)
2010 - Nominated Sports Female Athlete of the Year 2009 Almere
Winner Homerun Contest, Softball Gala 2010
2011 - Best Hitter, Dutch Major League
Most Valuable Player, Dutch Major League
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| ...Miscellaneous... |
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| When did you start with softball? | | | In 1996, when I was nine years old |
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| Why did you start playing softball? | | | The baseball-team of my brother had one player short and so I played
a game once and then I started to like it |
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| What was your first club? | | | Almere '90 in Almere |
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| Accomplishments / Highlights | | | Winning the national title in the United States with Chipola |
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| Biggest blunder | | | Just after I had made a nice catch preventing a homerun, I fell over the
outfield-fence doing so, but then I wanted to jump back onto the field
over the fence and my spike stuck in the fence, so I fell again |
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| Which persons do you most admire? | | | My family |
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| Which persons would you like to meet? | | | ??????? |
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| Three people you would love to have dinner with? | | | Ken Griffey, Jr., Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero |
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| Dreamjob? | | | Working for the police or being a police officer with a dog |
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| From who did you learn the most? | | | My parents; in softball from coaches Monti VanBrunt and Belinda Hendrix |
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| Biggest turn-off? | | | People who lie |
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| Talent you wish you had? | | | Singing |
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| Pets | | | A dog named Bandero and a cat named Sylvester |
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| Exotic pet you would like to have? | | | A koala |
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| Hobbies or Interests | | | Shopping, chilling with my girlfriends, dancing |
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| When you wouldn't have been involved in
softball, what other sport would you have done? | | | Maybe swimming |
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| What does the Olympic Games means to you? | | | Everything, the Olympic Games is something every real athlete wants
to reach in their career, so that includes me |
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| Why does softball has to return to the Olympics? | | | Because softball is a sport in which you need so much different talents
and I think it's a great teamsport, because you need several
different people, all with their own way of playing and their own qualities |
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| Describe your playing style | | | Focused, controlled, I go all out.
I always say: I work hard to make it look easy. |
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| ...My Favorite / Best... |
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| Movie | | | Take the Lead, P.S. I Love You,
Remember the Titans, Mr. Brooks |
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| Actor | | | Doesn't mind |
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| Actress | | | Same, doesn't mind |
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| TV Channel | | | Net 5, TMF, MTV |
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| TV Show | | | Friends, Will & Grace, Sex in the City,
ER, De Lama's |
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| TV Sports Show | | | ESPN |
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| TV Personality | | | Gordon, Paul de Leeuw |
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| Radio Channel | | | Wild FM |
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| Radio Show | | | Wild FM |
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| Radio Personality | | | No favorite |
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| Music Genre | | | R&B, Rap, Reggaeton, Pop-music, Country |
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| Singer (male) | | | R. Kelly, Avant, Tyrese, Usher |
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| Singer (female) | | | Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Rhianna, Mariah Carey |
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| Group / Band etc. | | | No favorite |
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| Song | | | Too much to name |
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| Vacation Spot / Country | | | Florida, Jamaica, anywhere where it's warm and tropical |
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| Food | | | roti, Turkish pizza |
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| Drink | | | Fernandez |
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| Animal | | | Tiger, alligator |
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| Newspaper | | | Spits, Metro |
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| Book | | | Tegengif by Judith Visser, Echte mannen eten geen kaas by Maria Mosterd,
Komt een vrouw bij de dokter by Kluun |
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| Magazine | | | No favorite |
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| Internet Sites | | | MySpace, Hyves, Grand Slam * Stats & News |
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| Sport (besides softball) | | | American Football, basketball, swimming |
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| Olympic Sport (besides softball) | | | Swimming, gymnastics, hockey |
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| (Professional) Sports Team | | | Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim |
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| Athlete (male) | | | Maarten van der Weijden |
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| Athlete (female) | | | Leontien van Moorsel, Inge de Bruijn |
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| Softball Player | | | Jessica Mendoza |
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| Career |
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2011 --- In March, Areke participates with the Dutch National Team in the American Tour to Florida and Tennessee ---
In June, Areke participates with the Dutch National Team in the Torneo 150 Anni Unitá d'Italia in Bollate (Italy) and therefore is a member of the team when it plays the 100th game in history against Italy on June 2 ---
On July 3, in the first game of a double-header (which was part of the Holland Tour) against the National Team of Argentina, Areke hits a pinch-hit single and scores once ---
In the second game vs. Argentina, Areke is 1-for-3, scores twice and has one RBI ---
On July 13, Areke is one of the 17 players named to the roster of the Dutch National Softball Team for this years European Championship in Italy ---
During the Championship, Areke plays with uniform 19 instead of her regular 22, as her uniforms are missing and her bag is damaged when the arrives at the airport ---
Later in August, Areke participates with Sparks Haarlem in the European Cup-tournament in Caserta (Italy) ---
In the regular season, Areke leads her team in hitting (.463), hits (38) and triples (6) and is second-best in runs scored (34), RBI's (28) and stolen bases (9) ---
Her .463 average and 38 hits are also best in the Dutch big league, while her 28 RBI's are second-best.
Areke also shares first place with Solange Starrenburg with 62 total bases ---
In the Holland Series, Areke leads Sparks Haarlem with a .500 average, which also is the best average overall in the Series, sharing the lead with teammate Debby Connor ---
Her five runs and five basehits are the most of all players that participate in the championship series, the most hits she shares with Solange Starrenburg of Terrasvogels ---
In October, Areke is one of 21 players named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Softball Team for the 2012 season ---
On November 11, during the KNBSB Stars Awards Gala, Areke is named Most Valuable Player of the 2011 season.
Also nominated were Marisčla de Wind (Iber Lengua Terrasvogels) and American player Elena Leon (Olympia Haarlem).
2010 --- In January, Areke participates with the National squad (playing for Team Orange) in the International Indoor Cup in Schiedam (Netherlands) with her team winning first place ---
On January 18, Areke is one of 21 players named to the preliminary roster for this years World Championships ---
On May 23, Areke scores two runs and has one RBI in the first game and has an RBI-single in the second game vs. the Foreign All Star Team ---
In between the two games against the Foreign All Stars, Areke represents Sparks Haarlem and wins the Homerun Contest 2010 with representatives of all eight Dutch big league-teams ---
On May 26, Areke is one of 16 players who is named to the final roster for the World Championship in Venezuela ---
On June 27, Areke is 3-for-3 (including a homerun), scores three runs and has two RBI's in a 7-0 win vs. South Africa during the World Championship in Venezuela ---
On June 30, Areke plays in her 50th official international game for the Dutch National Softball Team, going 1-for-3 in the play-off game vs. Australia ---
In August, Areke participates in the Cup Winners Cup Tournament in Haarlem (Netherlands) with Sparks Haarlem, which wins the Cup after a come-from-behind victory in the last inning, scoring six runs to win 7-6 ---
In the regular season, Areke hits .389 with 28 basehits, 21 runs scored and 18 runs batted in for Sparks Haarlem ---
On October 31, Areke is one of 24 players to be named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Softball Team for the 2011 season.
2009 --- On May 3, Areke makes her comeback in the Dutch National Softball Team and hits 2-for-3, scores once and has two RBI's in the second game of the Holland Tour vs. Euro Stars.
For Areke, this is her first game in the National Team since November 2006 ---
On May 6, Areke hits 2-for-3, including a triple, scores twice, has three RBI's and is the winning pitcher in the second game against the Dutch Juniors ---
On May 10, Areke registers two doubles in the opening game vs. Centrals ---
In the opener vs. Twins on May 24, Areke triples and scores two runs ---
Areke triples and homers, scores twice and has two RBI's in the second game against the Foreign All Stars on May 27 ---
On May 27, Areke is one of the 17 players who is named to the final roster for the Dutch National Team to participate in this years international events ---
On June 10, Areke is 4-for-7, including two doubles and has three RBI's in the double-header vs. the Foreign All Star Team ---
On June 19, Areke is 2-for-3 with a double and has four RBI's in the game against Great Britain ---
On July 18, Areke hits a solo-homerun in the game vs. Japan during the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City ---
On July 28, Areke his a 2-run inside-the-park-homerun in the game vs. Austria during the European Championships in Valencia ---
On July 31, Areke scores one of two runs in the semi-final of European Championships vs. Great Britain ---
On August 1, Areke is a member of the Dutch Team which brings the European title back to the Netherlands for the first time in 19 years ---
Two weeks later, Areke participates with Tex Town Tigers in the European Cup Tournament in Legnano (Italy), which is her first EC-event ---
In the regular season, Areke hits .270, scores eleven runs and has 10 runs batted in ---
Areke again reaches the Holland Series with Tex Town Tigers, which wins its second consecutive Dutch championship title ---
After completion of the season, Areke decides to play for Sparks Haarlem in the 2010 season.
2008 --- In the regular season, her first with Tex Town Tigers, Areke hits a career high .396 in 22 games, hitting 21 basehits and scoring 17 runs ---
On August 30, she hits a grand slam homerun, which not only is her first homerun on the big league-level, but also is the first homerun at home by a player of Tex Town Tigers in eleven years ---
Tex Town Tigers finishes in first place, qualifies for the play-offs and Holland Series and becomes the first team from the east of the country to capture the Dutch championship title ---
On December 11, Areke is one of 28 players being named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team for 2009 and is invited to start practice in January.
2007 --- On May 19, Areke grounds in a run for the Chipola College Lady Indians in the final game vs. North Idaho College to give her team a 3-0 lead, but at the end of seven innings the score is tied. Chipola then scores three runs in the eighth inning to win the game and capture the national championship title in the NJCAA Division I. Areke went 0-for-4 in this game, but batted 5-for-15 in the five previous games in the championship tournament ---
As player of Chipola, she is named to three All-Star teams ---
Earlier in the year, Areke is one of the players on the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team, but is unable to play with the squad in the 5-game series against Australia in the Netherlands, due to her college-season in the USA. In May, she is left off the roster for the European Championships and Olympic Qualifier ---
This year, Areke again is on the roster of Euro Stars, but doesn't play for the big league-team, as she plays in Florida in the first months of the year ---
After the Dutch season ends, Areke decides to change clubs and will play for Tex Town Tigers in 2008.
2006 --- This year, Areke makes her second trip to China, as she participates with the Dutch National Team in the World Championships in Beijing ---
After one season with Almere '90, Areke returns to the big league, playing for Euro Stars, finishing with a .323 batting average ---
In the Fall of this year, she is going to the United States to study and play at Chipola College in Florida together with Euro Stars-teammate Karin Tuk.
2005 --- On February 10, Areke is one of 32 players being named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team and in July makes her debut during the Canada Cup-tournament, then also participates in the European Championships in Czech capital Prague ---
After having played in two seasons on the big league-level with Amsterdam Pirates, Areke this year is playing in the First Division for Almere '90, the club where she started her career.
2004 --- Areke again is a member of the Dutch National Junior Team, which captures the European title in France. Areke is the leading hitter of the event ---
Later in the year, she participates with a national squad in the first World University Games in Florida (USA) ---
In the regular season, Areke plays in 29 games for Amsterdam Pirates, collecting 13 basehits ---
After completion of the season, she wins the Bep van Beijmerwerdt Trophy for most talented Dutch youth player.
2003 --- In her second year with the Dutch Juniors, Areke participates in the World Junior Championships in Nanjing (China) ---
This year, while playing for Amsterdam Pirates, Areke makes her debut in the Dutch Major League, appearing in 20 games, while being used as a pitcher in seven games.
2002 --- This year, Areke makes her international debut, playing for the Dutch National Junior Team, which participates in the European Championships in Chocen (Czech Republic).
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| Family |
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| AREKE is the daughter of Ben and Marjanne Spel and has one brother named Arend, who plays baseball with Almere '90.
Father Ben has been a softball-coach for several teams, including Almere '90 and Amsterdam Pirates. |
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