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Day 12: Third shutout-loss in a row
BEIJING (China) - For the third day in a row, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team suffered a shutout-loss. After losing 3-0 vs. Japan and 8-0 vs. Venezuela, today (Saturday) Australia also won with an 8-0 score.
The Dutch team again lacked offensive power, as it produced only one basehit, a lead-off single by Kim Kluijskens in the seventh inning.
Australian starter Justine Smethurst retired the first 16 Dutch batters in a row, before hitting Jolanda Kroesen with a pitch with one out in the sixth inning to end her Peferct Game.
Hereafter, Smethurst struckout te next two batters to end the inning. In the seventh inning, Smethurst's No-Hitter also ended when Kim Kluijskens led off with a single, but then three outs followed to complete the game.
It also has to be said again that the Dutch team had no luck offensively.
Kristi de Vries hit a hard line-drive in the second inning and Marloes Fellinger did the same in the fourth at bat, but both were caught out.
After stranding a runner at second base in the first inning, Australia opened the score with two runs in the second inning.
This happened with two outs (just like yesterday vs. Venezuela).
Dutch starter Judith van Kampen then gave up a double to Jodie Bowering and walked next batter Danielle Stewart.
The first scored moments later on a double by Belinda Wright, while the latter scored on an error.
In the fourth inning, Bowering led off with a walk, then two outs followed.
But the lead was increased to 4-0 when Simmone Morrow homered, resulting in a pitching change.
Rebecca Soumeru took over and did a fine job.
Only one of the first eight batters she faced reached base, but was caught stealing.
In the seventh inning, with one out, Rebecca gave up back-to-back doubles (resulting in a run) and was replaced by Kristi de Vries took over.
She walked her first batter, then gave up a 3-run homerun to Sandy Lewis, which made it an 8-0 score.
Judith van Kampen re-entered the game as pitcher and completed it.
With the loss, the Dutch Team was officially eliminated for the Play-Offs and therefore the medal-round.
On Sunday, the squad will face the USA and that will be a tough outing, as the USA won every Olympic softball-tournament since 1996, when softball made its Olympic debut in Columbus (USA), close to Atlanta, which was the main city for the 1996 Olympics.
The USA then repeated as Olympic champions in 2000 (Sydney, Australia) and 2004 (Athens, Greece).
Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar in the afternoon accompanied KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten, his wife Rienette and KNBSB-boardmember André van Overbeek to the Olympic Hockey Stadium.
There, the four watched the Dutch Women Hockey Team beat Australia 2-1 to reach the semi-final.
In the evening, the Dutch Olympic Baseball Team won its first game after losing the first three games of their tournament.
The squad of Manager Robert Eenhoorn won 6-4 against host nation China, which scored its last run in the ninth inning and then left three runners behind, as David Bergman closed the game and earned a save.
In the middle of the night, around 1:30 AM, we got word from Deggendorf in Germany that the Dutch National Junior Softball Team had captured the European title by winning 4-3 in a thrilling final against Italy.
From Beijing, the players and staff of the Dutch National Softball Team, as well as the KNBSB-boardmembers here in China, congratulates the Dutch Juniors and Head Coach André Prins and his staff with this wonderful result!
Box Score Game 5 vs. Australia
Live Play-by-Play and Box Score Netherlands vs. USA (softball) on Saturday
The streets of Beijing are decorated with all kind of Olympic outings
The entrance of the Olympic Village
The apartments in the Olympic Village
A lot of security on all venues. This is the hockey-entrance
The Olympic Green Hockey Stadium near the Olympic Village
The Dutch team in bus en route to the stadium
(photo taken by Caroline Theunissen)
Players and Staff of the Dutch team meet a delegation of sponsor SSK prior to the game
(photos taken by Caroline Theunissen)
The Dutch dug-out before the game against Australia
Hi George, your son Dennis is eating very healthy in Beijing with an apple and a banana
Pitcher Judith van Kampen in action against Australia
A overview of the field during the Netherlands vs. Australia match-up
A lot of spectators were seated in the outfield-stands
Jolanda Kroesen in rightfield
Jodie Bowering (27) doubled in the second inning and later scored the first run
3B Daisy de Peinder, SS Sandra Gouverneur and 2B Petra van Heijst overlook the situation
Simmone Morrow is welcomed in the dug-out after hitting a 2-run homerun in the 4th inning
Leftfielder Marloes Fellinger is unable to get hold of the ball,
as Kerry Wyborn hits a double in the seventh inning
Kim Kluijskens, who hits the lone Dutch basehit, signs a ball
The Boekel-sisters
Noémi (left) is flanked by Christianne and Fabiënne
Kim Kluijskens (at right) poses with Ilonka, teammate Saskia Kosterink,
Kim Geerlings (a volleyball-friend of Saskia) and Yolanda (the mother of Kim Kluijskens)
What is he transporting?
Go back to the schedule of the Olympic Games
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