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Dutch Team adds two more victories; Dagmar Bloeming Perfect!
 Nederlandse tekst
BOLLATE (Italy) -
The Dutch National Softball Team added two victories on Friday, June 3, on Day 2 of the Torneo 150 Anni Unitá d'Italia.
The day started with lots of sun and a 6-0 shutout-win vs. SK Joudrs Praha (Czech Republic).
In the evening, Dagmar Bloeming threw a Perfect Game, as the Dutch squad shutout Prague All Stars (Czech Republic) 8-0 in a rainshortened game.
Netherlands vs. SK Joudrs Praha
The game against SK Joudrs Praha from the Czech Republic was played under fine weather conditions with lots of sun, but it took until the sixth inning for the first run to get scored.
But then all runs were scored in the 6-0 win.
In the first five innings, Czech starter Jana Vacíková did fine.
She faced the minimum of 15 batters in the first five innings, depite allowing two batters to reach base.
In the first inning, she hit lead-off hitter Nathalie Gosewehr, but she was caught stealing, while it appeared that she had beaten the tag by the short stop.
In the fourth inning, after nine batters had been retired in order, Meike Witteveen singled, but was doubled up after a flyout.
In the fifth inning, after walking Nadine Marinus, Vacíková was replaced and then the Dutch started a 6-run rally.
First, Nadine advanced on a sac-bunt by Anne Blaauwgeers, then Merel Oosterveld reached on an error.
The bases were then loaded when Nathalie Gosewehr was walked intentionally.
A throwing error then followed on a force play-grounder by Meike Witteveen, which led to two runs.
Nathalie was then eliminated at home on a comeback-grounder by Virginie Anneveld and the bases were re-loaded when Saskia Kosterink also received an intentional pass.
But again the force play didn't work, as Solange Starrenburg cleared the bases with a 3-run double and ended up on third base on an error.
Moments later, she scored on a single by Fabienne van Uden to make it 6-0.
Rebecca Soumeru started for the Dutch and threw four innings, giving up only one basehit, which was a lead-off single in the fourth inning.
She struckout four batters.
In the fifth, Femke van Dusschoten took over and completed the game, throwing three hitless innings.
In the fifth and sixth inning, 3B Virginie Anneveld had two great defensive plays to support Femke, who struckout two batters.
Box Score game Netherlands vs. SK Joudrs Praha
Media Officer and Statistician Marco Stoovelaar fills in the line-up sheet
(photo made by Jeroen van Eijndhoven)
Cameraman Jeroen van Eijndhoven films Virginie Anneveld during batting practice
The umpires for the game against SK Joudrs Praha
Martino Vargiu (field) and Roberto Valentinis (home plate)
The coaches meet with the umpires
Jana Vacíková, the starting pitcher of Joudrs
Out or safe?
Nathalie Gosewehr appears to slide passed the tag of short stop Aneta Rynešová
in the first inning, but is called out
Dutch starter Rebecca Soumeru, who gave up one hit in four innings
Lenka Jaklová steals second base in the first inning; short stop Meike Witteveen has no play
Yonina Sint Jago looks on from the dug-out
Left to right: Fabienne van Uden, Anne Blaauwgeers and Merel Oosterveld
Pitcher Dagmar Bloeming watches the action
Virginie Anneveld checks the signs
Solange Starrenburg concentrates before her at bat
Areke Spel cheers her teammates
Femke van Dusschoten took over in the 5th and threw three scoreless innings
Meike Witteveen hits the ball to short in the 6th inning...
...enabling Nadine Marinus to score a run
Nathalie Gosewehr is forced out at home in the 6th inning
Solange Starrenburg dives back into second base after her 3-run double in the 6th inning;
but then advances to third when an error follows at second base;
moments later, she scores on a single by Fabienne van Uden
Karin Tuk hits a foul ball as pinch-hitter in the 7th inning
Lindsey Meadows checks the signs and the ball as pinch-hitter in the 7th inning
After the game, the players hand out signatures to Italian softball-fans
Between the games, the players relax in the sun on the terrace and enjoy an icecream
Team Manager Paul Boonstra also tries to eat an icecream
Riccardo Fraccari, President of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS), but also
the President of the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), attended the games today
More relaxing moments for Merel Oosterveld and Areke Spel
And more signatures
Solange Starrenburg plays a ball-game with young softball-fans
Anne Blaauwgeers and Nadine Marinus
And another signature-seeker
Davide celebrated his birthday today
Italian photographer Franco Bagattini (of photo-website Fastpitch) of course also was in Bollate
Netherlands vs. Czech All Stars
Towards the end of the afternoon, the Dutch Team started its second game of the day and met the Czech All Stars from the Czech Republic, which included three National Team-players and five who are candidates for the National Team.
The Dutch Team won 8-0, while Dagmar Bloeming threw a Perfect Game.
The game was halted in the top of the fifth inning due to heavy rain and then was stopped definitively and declared valid.
Opposed to the first three games, the Dutch Team this time started the scoring early.
In the first inning, Chantal Versluis led off with a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and a sac-bunt by Meike Witteveen and scored on a single by Nathalie Gosewehr.
A 6-run rally then followed with two outs in the second inning.
After two flyouts, Nadine Marinus reached on an infield-hit, then stole second base and advanced on a passed ball.
After Yonina Sint Jago had walked, Chantal Versluis followed with an RBI-single.
Next, an RBI-single (followed by an outfield-error) was produced by Meike Witteveen.
The bases were then loaded when Nathalie Gosewehr walked and Saskia Kosterink singled.
As happened earlier in the day, a baseclearing double followed.
This time, Nathalie Timmermans drove the ball into deep leftfield for a 3-run double that increased the lead to 7-0.
The eighth run was added in the third inning, again with two outs.
Chantal Versluis then reached third base on an outfield-error and scored when Meike Witteveen followed with a double.
Dagmar Bloeming retired all 13 batters she faced, including eight with a strikeout to register a Perfect Game.
In the first three at bats, only one batter was able to bring the ball into the field, but that ended in a 4-3 out.
In the fourth, two grounders and a flyout completed the inning.
While it had started to rain in the fourth inning, it started to rain heavier in the fifth, accompanied by sometimes loud thunder.
When the first batter popped out, the umpires halted the game, as the rain made playing impossible.
In a short moment, the field was blanked and finally, it was decided to stop it and call it a day.
This also resulted in a cancellation of the game that was to be played following the Dutch-Czech game.
But when the game was declared valid, it also meant that Dagmar's Perfect Game became valid.
On Saturday, the Dutch Team is scheduled to play two games, but these two have been switched.
Instead of ending vs. Sanotint Bollate, the Dutch now open against the organizing club, which, by the way, is doing a fine jobe these days.
The game vs. Italy is now scheduled for the evening, weather permitting.
When weather conditions eventually result in the cancellation of the Netherlands vs. Italy game, the result of the exhibition game between the two countries played on Wednesday, becomes part of the tournament.
After completion of tonight's game, the team enjoyed another meal on the field and then it was back to the hotel.
Box Score game Netherlands vs. Czech All Stars
The helmets are ready for the game
The umpires for the game vs. Czech All Stars
Angelo Nearco (field) and Martino Vargiu (home plate)
The meeting between the coaches and the umpires
The players return for exhanging gifts before the game
Dagmar Bloeming threw a Perfect Game
Adéla Weissová was the starting pitcher for the Czechs
Meike Witteveen puts down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning
Nathalie Gosewehr then follows with an RBI-single that opened the score
Nadine Marinus running at third base
Meike Witteveen (who was 2-for-2) hits an RBI-single in the 2nd inning
Meike's hit brings Chantal Versluis to third base
...Chantal then scores on a single by Saskia Kosterink
Reason to smile
With the bases loaded, Nathalie Timmermans hits a 3-run double in the 2nd inning
Head Coach Craig Montvidas joins in the celebration
In the 3rd inning, Chantal Versluis connects and reaches third base on an outfield-error
With one out in the fifth inning, rain interrupts the game
The team waits for the rain to stop
The grounds crew covers the field
But moments later, it starts to rain heavier...
...turning the field into a small pool
But in the dug-out, Coach Karen Marr, Yonina Sint Jago, Dinet Oosting,
Femke van Dusschoten, Ginger de Weert and Head Coach Craig Montvidas keep on having fun
After the game is stopped (and declared valid), everyone sits in the big tent
There, a meal is served and then the team returns to the hotel
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