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Dutch Team gets together in Nieuwegein and Rotterdam
 Nederlandse tekst
NIEUWEGEIN / ROTTERDAM (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team got back together again on Wednesday, September 9 at their 'home site', the field of Nieuwegein Diamonds at Nieuwegein for a look back to the past season, a look forward to the new year and taking several promotional photos.
Five days later, the team went to Rotterdam, as it was invited in the skybox of the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) to attend the game of the Dutch National Baseball Team against Puerto Rico during the second round of the World Championships.
At Nieuwegein, Head Coach Craig Montvidas looked back to the successful year and memorized the accomplishments of the team, like the 30-game Holland Tour (which got a lot of positive compliments from opposing teams, host clubs, umpires, scorers and fans), the Canada Cup at Surrey (Canada), the World Cup of Softball at Oklahoma City (USA) and of course the European Championships in Valencia (Spain).
During the team-meeting Montvidas and his staff also looked ahead to the 2010 international season.
A tentative practice schedule was presented, including several activities in the November-March period, but next years schedule also includes participation in the Canada Cup and the World Championships (in Oklahoma City).
Possibilities to make an additional trip before the start of the season will be examined.
When the schedule is finalized, it will of course be added on this site.
Also on Wednesday, despite a very cold temperature, several promotional teamphotos were taken with the European Cups for sponsor-purposes.
Today, the team got together for the first time since it captured the European title on August 1 by staying unbeaten in Valencia.
At Nieuwegein, the 17 players who participated in the European Championships were joined again by the three alternates (Judith Diepeveen, Merel Oosterveld and Ginger de Weert), who were with the team until their departure to Canada.
In the following weeks in August, the players returned to their clubteams to complete the regular season, but also to participate in the European Cup Tournaments in Legnano and Parma (Italy).
In Parma, Iber Lengua Terrasvogels captured the European CupWinners Cup, where Sparks Haarlem finished in third place.
In Legnano, Computer SOS Tex Town Tigers ended in fifth place.
Five days after the team-meeting in Nieuwegein, the complete 20-player team, accompanied by seven staff members, traveled to a rainy Rotterdam.
There, the team was an honorary guest in the skybox of the Dutch Federation to attend the second game of the Dutch National Baseball Team in the second round of the World Cup.
The Softball Team watched a great game, as the Baseball Team defeated the all-pro Puerto Rican squad 5-2 to win its second game in a row and improving its chances of qualifying for the final round, which will be held in Italy.
Team-meeting in Nieuwegein
Head coach Craig Montvidas welcomes the team back to Nieuwegein
Players are handed notes with a look back to the successful season
Head Coach Craig Montvidas addresses the players
Tasty (Championship) cakes were presented by the hosts in Nieuwegein
Photographer Bart van Leersum sets up his camera, while the team approaches for the photos
Despite the cold, the players take their positions for one of the team-photos
After changing uniform, more photos were taken
Visit to Baseball World Cup
Nathalie Gosewehr, Chantal Versluis, Rebecca Soumeru,
Kirsten Scheele and Ginger de Weert in the skybox in Rotterdam
On the other side, Solange Starrenburg, Anne Blaauwgeers, Coach Nancy Evans,
Judith Diepeveen and Femke van Dusschoten were seated
In the background is Business Manager Rich Hooff
Also with the team in Rotterdam was Patrick van Balkom, who was the Strength and Conditioning
Coach during the indoor practice sessions in the beginning of this year
Standing besides Patrick is Business Manager Rich Hooff
Solange Starrenburg, Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont, Coach Nancy Evans,
Femke van Dusschoten, Anne Blaauwgeers and Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink
enjoy themselves in the skybox of the Dutch Federation
Virginie Anneveld, Anne Blaauwgeers, Areke Spel
and Judith Diepeveen look on during the game...
...as do Saskia Kosterink and Karin Tuk
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