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Day 16: One of those days
KANEOHE (Hawaii, USA) - After winning all four games in the first part of their American Tour, the Dutch Women Softball Team started the second part on Hawaii with a loss. It was one of those days, that the opponent simply was the better teams. At the softball-field of the Lady Sea Warriors, located on a beautiful spot on the campus of Hawaii Pacific University and surrounded by big pine trees, the Dutch lost 8-1 in a 9-inning game.
The Dutch Team was outhit 14-6, but one of the Dutch hits was a homerun by rookie Nathalie Timmermans, who accomplished a rare feat, as her homerun was her first-ever basehit, while playing for the Dutch National Team. Nathalie's homerun, in the seventh inning, accounted for the lone Dutch run.
On our way to Kaneohe on the north shore of Oahu through green mountains
The entrance of Hawaii Pacific University in Kaneohe
The softball-field of the Sea Warriors is surrounded by pine trees
After leaving the hotel in Honolulu, the team went on the road, traveling to the northern city of Kaneohe, some 40 minutes driving. After passing the James Wilson Tunnel, a beautiful view of the northern part of Oahu Island was visible, with the road being bordered by a huge (green) mountain. By the way, the mountain was covered in clouds, but also was circled by vog. Yes, that's spelled right. It was no 'fog', but 'vog', since it was coming from the vulcano on the main island and were particles of dust still circling there since an eruption in the seventies. When the wind is 'favorable', the vog is visible. By the way, the vulcano on the main island is currently active, as a large flow of lava is coming down from it. The main island, however, isn't that crowded, as approximately 200.000 people are living there. On Oahu, where we are, 800.000 people are living, with the total population of Hawaii being just over one million people.
The players walk to the beautiful location of the softball-field
The softball-field with in the background the cloud-covered mountains,
which are surrounded by 'vog', the volcanic ashes from the main island
Part of the team poses on the field
Back to work and preparing for the game
Box Score vs. Hawaii Pacific University
The Dutch team lacked hitting today, as only six basehits were recorded, two of them by lead-off batter Saskia Kosterink.
On the other hand, the Dutch didn't got a break also, as some hard hit balls were handled well defensively by the team from Hawaii Pacific University.
Saskia led off the game with a nice bunt-single, advanced on a sac-bunt by Kim Kluijskens, but stranded on third base, which she had reached when Marloes Fellinger had flied out into deep leftfield, just before the fence.
Marloes Fellinger lines out in the third inning
The Dutch got another scoring opportunity in the third inning.
Petra van Heijst led off with a single, then next batter Marjan Smit reached when a throwing error was made on her sac-bunt.
A sharp grounder by Saskia Kosterink resulted in a force out at third base, as did a fly ball into short leftfield by Kim Kluijskens, which dropped, but could be handled in time by leftfielder Ciera Senas to force Marjan at third base. Next, Marloes Fellinger's line drive was caught by 2B Casey Sugihara.
In the fourth inning, Sugihara also caught a line drive by lead-off batter Debby Connor, then two flyouts followed. In the fifth, off a new pitcher, Petra van Heijst walked with one out and stole second, but stranded there.
The Dutch team also had their share of some fine defensive plays in the early innings.
In the first, catcher Nina van Huissteden picked off a runner from first base and centerfielder Saskia Kosterink made a fine running catch on a line drive by Casey Sugihara.
The second inning ended with a 5-3 groundout, after a nice pick by 3B Daisy de Peinder on a line drive by Anuthea Young.
In the third, rightfielder Jolanda Kroesen was able to turn a double play. After catching the ball hit by Puna Waoilama, she doubled up runner Nicole Riviera at first base.
The Sea Warriors first struck in the fourth inning.
With two outs, Krystal Plunkett doubled, then her pinch-runner Ashley Fernandez scored when next batter Jessica Adolph single.
Dutch starter Dagmar Bloeming delivers to catcher Nina van Huissteden
In the fifth, HPU added two runs. Dutch starter Dagmar Bloeming gave up two basehits and was replaced by Anouk Mels, who gave up a 2-run single with two outs to Casey Sugihara.
The Sea warriors scored two more runs in the sixth inning, again with two outs, on a triple by Nicole Riviera, who was 3-for-4 in the game.
Nathalie Timmermans moments before connecting for her homerun
Nathalie Timmermans (26) is greeted by her teammates
After stranding a runner in the fifth and sixth inning, the Dutch came on the board in the seventh inning when rookie Nathalie Timmermans homered with one out. For Nathalie, it was her first-ever basehit in the National Team.
Later in the inning, Sandra Gouverneur and Saskia Kosterink walked, but both were left behind.
Rebecca Soumeru ended the game in the circle
Hawaii Pacific University reacted with three runs in their seventh at bat on RBI-singles by Jessica Adolph and Laine Shikuma and a wild pitch by new pitcher Rebecca Soumeru, who relieved Anouk Mels in this at bat with two outs.
For Jessica Adolph, this was her fourth single. She had a big part in the HPU-win, as she was 4-for-4, scored twice and had two RBI's, therefore accounting for four of her teams eight runs.
After the single of Laine Shikuma, Rebecca took over the pitching and ended the inning with a flyout. She would retire all four batters she faced, including two with a strikeout in the eighth inning.
Saskia Kosterink had two of the six Dutch basehits
The Dutch team left a runner on third base in the eighth, then became the victim of a double play in the ninth.
Hereafter, Chantal Versluis had a great at bat. After ten pitches, including several foul balls, and a 3-2 count, she singled, which was followed by a single by Saskia Kosterink, who was 2-for-4 and reached base four times. Unfortunately, a groundout ended the inning and the game.
It was just one of those games, you can't win them all. So, everyone is focusing already on the next game, which will come on Friday, as the Dutch squad then will play a double-header.
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