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Dutch one-runs by Australia!
SURREY, British Columbia (Canada) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Thursday closed the preliminary round of the Canada Cup Tournament with a 1-0 loss against Australia to finish in fourth place of the 5-team International Division.
The lone run was scored with two outs in the seventh at bat.
It was a narrow escape for the 'Aussies', as the Dutch were close to a run of their own in the top of the seventh inning.
Dutch pitcher Rebecca Soumeru did a great job and took a No-Hitter into the sixth inning.
Two singles in the seventh at bat led to the Australian run.
The 39th game between the Netherlands and Australia was a real pitching duel.
Not only dominated Rebecca Soumeru for the Dutch, on the Australian side Justine Smethurst gave up only two basehits.
After the latter retired the side in order in the first inning, Saskia Kosterink led off the second inning with a single, but then was eliminated in a double play on a grounder by next batter Nathalie Timmermans and then Areke Spel lined out to first.
In the fourth inning, Petra van Heijst walked with one out.
This time, Britt Vonk lined out and a grounder ended the at bat.
With one out in the fifth inning, Areke Spel hit the second Dutch basehit and she also was left behind as Justine Smethurst struckout the next two batters.
Areke would be the last Dutch runner in the game, as Smethurst retired the next eight batters in a row.
Rebecca Soumeru (pictured left) dominated and retired 16 of the first 18 batters she faced.
The righthander started the game by striking out Danielle Stewart and Kylie Cronk, then added a strikeout on Stacey Porter to start the second at bat.
In that inning, Australia also got its first runner on base when Chelsea Forkin reached on an error.
After retiring the next six batters, Rebecca issued a walk to Stacey Porter with two outs in the fourth, but she then was caught stealing
In the home of the sixth inning, with two outs, Rebecca lost her No-Hitter when Danielle Stewart singled with two outs, but she also was caught stealing.
During that play on second base, Dutch short stop Chantal Versluis got spiked in her shin and afterwards needed five stitches.
The decision then fell in the seventh inning.
In the top of the at bat (with one out), Saskia Kosterink drove the ball into deep rightfield where Leigh Godfrey made a nice play, catching the ball just above the fence preventing it from becoming a homerun.
In the home of the at bat, Kylie Cronk led off with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Brenda De Blaes.
To set up a force play, powerhitter Stacey Porter was walked intentionally.
It then appeared that an extra inning was in the making, as next batter Clare Warwick flied out to centerfield.
But next batter Tracey Mosley, who had just entered the game defensively, singled through the middle enabling Kylie Cronk to score the winning run and end the game.
In the evening, the players and staff of the Dutch Softball Team, but also its attending fans, were invited for diner at the house of Marilyn and Walter Adams, the Canada Cup-host family for the Dutch squad.
Marilyn and Walter are doing a great job of supporting and assisting the Dutch team during the event and are a real part of the team.
Another valuable member of the squad during this wonderful tournament is bat-girl Imaara Lavji, who is with us every day and also is very helpful to the team.
Box Score Game Netherlands vs. Australia
Schedule Canada Cup
Our bat-girl Imaara Lavji
Bat-girl Imaara Lavji is introduced before the game
The Australian team line up for the national anthem
Meike Witteveen leads off for the Dutch team
Britt Vonk connects, but grouds out in the first inning
Saskia Kosterink reaches first base with a single in the 2nd inning
Dominating pitcher Rebecca Soumeru
Australian pitcher Justine Smethurst throws to Areke Spel
And Rebecca Soumeru delivers on behalf of the Dutch
Chantal Versluis swing at a pitch
Another delivery by Rebecca Soumeru
1B Britt Vonk catches a foul-popfly in the third inning
A big crowd attended the game between the Dutch and Australia
Petra van Heijst is greeted at first base by Coach Nancy Evans
after walking in the fourth inning
Petra van Heijst is the runner at second base with Britt Vonk hitting
in the fourth inning
Saskia Kosterink returns to her spot in centerfield in the fifth
A look from the first base side
Playing in rightfield: Areke Spel
Danielle Stewart slides into second base during a caught stealing in the sixth inning,
but in doing so spikes short stop Chantal Versluis in her shin
Head Coach Craig Montvidas has a talk with the team
A scoreless game in the seventh inning
Moments later, the game is over, Australia wins 1-0
The players and staf of the Dutch Team and their supporters are enjoying
a meal at the house of Marilyn and Walter Adams, our host family during this Canada Cup
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