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Dutch Women Softball Team |
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biography |
Who is Who? |
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| # 4 - Ellen Venker - Catcher |
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|  | | Birthdate | November 26, 1983 |
| | Birthplace | Boskoop (Netherlands) |
| | Residence | Alphen a/d Rijn (Netherlands) |
| | Study | Student at Central Michigan
University (USA) |
| | Height | 1,63 m |
| | Weight | 60 kg |
| | Bats | Switch |
| | Throws | Right |
| | Position | Catcher |
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| | National Team | 2002 - Jan. 2009 |
| | Games National Team | 52 |
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| | Clubs | Alphians (Alphen a/d Rijn)
Schiedam (Schiedam)
DSC '74 (Haarlem, 2001-2006)
Euro Stars (Capelle a/d IJssel, 2007-2010)
Central Michigan Univ. (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA, 2008)
Gryphons (Rosmalen, 2011-current)
(Dutch Major League: 2001-2010) |
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| ...Tournaments Participated In... |  
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with DSC '74
European Cup
2004 (Viladecans, Spain)
Cup Winners Cup
2005 (Haarlem, Netherlands)
International Mastenbroek Tournament
2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 (Enschede, Netherlands)
International Indoor Cup
2003, 2004 (Schiedam, Netherlands)
with Euro Stars
2009 - International Indoor Cup (Schiedam, Netherlands)
International Jan de Wit Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Holland Tour (Capelle a/d IJssel, Netherlands)
2010 - Intern. Jan de Wit Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
with Dutch Junior Softball Team
1999 - Kingdom Games (St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles)
2000 - European Championships Juniors (Enschede, Netherlands)
2001 - Kingdom Games (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
with Dutch National Softball Team
2002 - International Jan van Bakel Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
2003 - Hillenbrand Invitational Tournament (Tempe, Arizona, USA)
International Jan van Bakel Tournament (Haarlem, Netherlands)
Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Macerata/Cupramontana, Italy)
European Championships (Caronno Pertusella/Saronno, Italy)
2004 - Coppa BSC Legnano Amga Tournament (Legnano, Italy)
Torneo Internationale Softball Città di Legnano (Legnano, Italy)
5-game series vs. Greece (Almere/Bussum/Santpoort/Haarlem, Neth.)
ISF Prague Cup (Prague, Czech Republic)
World University Games (Plant City, Florida, USA)
2005 - Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
European Championships (Prague, Czech Rep.)
2006 - Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
World Championships (Beijing, China)
Japan Cup (Yokohama, Japan)
2007 - Australia Test Series (Enschede/Oosterhout/Haarlem, Netherlands)
European Championships (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Ronchi/Castions/Staranzano, Italy)
2008 - American Tour I (California/Hawaii, USA)
American (NPF) Tour II (Pennsylvania/Illinois/Ohio, USA)
Holland Tour (Santpoort/Groningen/Oldenzaal, Netherlands)
Tri-Nation Exhibition Series (Sendai, Japan)
Olympic Games (Beijing, China)
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| ...Awards... |
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2003 - Egbert van der Sluis Memorial Trophy (Best Dutch International under 23)
2004 - Best Hitter, International Indoor Cup
2005 - Most Stolen Bases, Dutch Major League
2006 - Egbert van der Sluis Memorial Trophy (Best Dutch International under 23)
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| Miscellaneous |
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| When did you start with softball? | | | When I was seven years old |
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| Why did you start playing softball? | | | My father was a sports reporter and therefore we got in touch with baseball and softball |
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| What was your first club? | | | Alphians in Alphen a/d Rijn |
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| Career Highlights | | | Winning title on European Championships with Juniors in 2000
Winning bronze in 2003, 2005 and silver in 2007 on Eur.Champ.Seniors
Winning silver in 1999, gold in 2001 on Kingdom Games
3rd place in Canada Cup 2006; Winning Olympic Qualifier in 2007
Winning CupWinners Cup in 2005; finishing 5th European Cup in 2004
National champion with DSC '74 in 2003
Best International Under 23 in 2003 and 2006
Most Stolen Bases in 2005 |
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| Biggest Accomplishments | | | Qualifying for the Olympic Games |
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| Biggest blunder | | | ? |
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| Which persons do you most admire? | | | My parents |
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| Which persons would you like to meet? | | | Nelson Mandela, Queen Beatrix |
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| Three people you would love to have dinner with? | | | Amy Hudson, Mandy Koning and Leonie Venker |
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| Dreamjob? | | | F-16 Pilot |
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| From who did you learn the most? | | | My parents |
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| Biggest turn-off? | | | Getting up early and running hard |
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| Talent you wish you had? | | | |
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| Pets | | | None |
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| Exotic pet you would like to have? | | | None |
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| Hobbies or Interests | | | Sports, music, reading, friends, eating, sleeping |
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| When you wouldn't have been involved in
softball, what other sport would you have done? | | | Deepsea draught-player |
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| What does the Olympic Games means to you? | | | A dream which comes true |
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| Why does softball has to return to the Olympics? | | | Fast |
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| Describe your playing style | | | |
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| ...My Favorite / Best... |
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| Movie | | | Major League |
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| Actor | | | Shrek |
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| Actress | | | Sandra Bullock |
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| TV Channel | | | None |
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| TV Show | | | None |
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| TV Sports Show | | | None |
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| TV Personality | | | Paul de Leeuw |
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| Radio Channel | | | 100% NL |
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| Radio Show | | | Foute Uur on Q-Music |
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| Radio Personality | | | My father |
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| Music Genre | | | Can be everything, depends on my mood |
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| Singer (male) | | | Robbie Williams, Jan Smit |
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| Singer (female) | | | Anouk, Joss Stone |
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| Group / Band etc. | | | Red Hot Chili Peppers |
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| Song | | | 'Breathe', 'Prodigy' and 'Strong' by Robbie Williams |
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| Vacation Spot / Country | | | Florida, the Dutch Antilles |
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| Food | | | Sushi |
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| Drink | | | Milk and Cola |
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| Animal | | | Frog |
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| Newspaper | | | www.nu.nl |
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| Book | | | |
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| Magazine | | | |
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| Internet Sites | | | Hyves |
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| Sport (besides softball) | | | Skating, Golf, Cricket, Soccer, Rugby, Baseball, Ice Hockey, American Football |
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| Olympic Sport (besides softball) | | | Skating, Ice Hockey |
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| (Professional) Sports Team | | | ADO Den Haag and Detroit Tigers |
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| Athlete (male) | | | Erben Wennemars, Bart Veldkamp |
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| Athlete (female) | | | Marianne Timmer, Leontien van Moorsel |
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| Softball Player | | | Jocelyn Forest, Lisa Fernandez |
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| Career |
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2011 --- In the first part of the season, Ellen plays for Gryphons, which plays in the second-highest Dutch league, doing the catching on the American pitcher with the squad.
2010 --- In the regular season, playing for Euro Stars, Ellen plays in 32 games, hits .255 and leads the team with 19 runs scored ---
After completion of the season, Ellen decides to transfer to Gryphons for the 2011 season.
2009 --- Before the start of the indoor practice-sessions, Ellen announces in January that she is unable to combine her work with the practice-schedule and withdraws from the National Team ---
In the regular season, Ellen hits .290, scores 20 runs (second best of her team) and collects 31 basehits (third best of her team).
2008 --- Ellen is 2-for-3 and scores once in the game vs. California State University-Bakersfield, which is the third game of the first American Tour of the Dutch National Team as part of its preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing. For Ellen, this is the only game she played during the Tour, as she was available for a few days only, while playing for Central Michigan University, which is headed by wellknown coach Margo Jonker ---
On May 29, after entering as a pinch-runner in the seventh inning, Ellen scores a run for the Dutch in a 6-4 loss in the opening game vs. Philadelphia Force during the second American Tour ---
Two days later, she singles in a run, which gives the Dutch a 4-1 lead in the third game vs. Philadelphia, which comes alongside in he next at bat, before the game is interrupted by lightning. It will be completed the next day and ends in a 5-4 loss ---
On June 14, Ellen goes 1-for-3 in a 3-0 win in the fourth and last game vs. Rockford Thunder ---
Four days later, she is 2-for-2 in the opener vs. Akron Racers ---
On July 14, Ellen is one of 15 players being named to the roster for the Olympic Games ---
In the first game of the Tri-Nations Tournament during the Japan Tour, Ellen is 1-for-2 and walks once vs. Canada ---
On August 12, in the opener of the Olympic Games, Ellen makes her Olympic debut in the game vs. China ---
After returning from playing for Central Michigan University, Ellen joins her team Euro Stars in mid-season. She hits .350, which is the highest of her team, but she doesn't have enough at bats to qualify for the league-statistics. Ellen also leads her team with 18 runs and 5 stolen bases ---
On December 11, Ellen is one of 28 players being named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team for 2009 and is invited to start practice in January.
2007 --- On May 28, Ellen reaches base twice, singles and scores once in a 15-0 victory vs. Greece during the European Championships in Amsterdam (Netherlands) ---
On June 15, in the first semi-final of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Italy, Ellen singles and scores, but the game is lost 7-4 in 8 innings ---
But in the end, the Dutch reach the final, defeat Italy and qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing ---
In her first season with Euro Stars, Ellen leads the team with 15 runs and 31 basehits, while hitting .301 and collecting seven RBI's ---
After the season, Ellen leaves for the USA for her first year studying and playing at Central Michigan University.
2006 --- In her last season with DSC '74, Ellen collects 35 basehits, scores 12 runs and hits .318 ---
For the second time in her career, Ellen wins the Egbert van der Sluis Memorial Trophy for Best Dutch International under 23.
2005 --- Ellen sets career-highs this season with 15 RBI's, a .327 batting average, 34 basehits, including her first big league-homerun, 12 stolen bases and scores 15 runs ---
With her 12 stolen bases, she leads the Dutch big league ---
On their own site in Haarlem (Netherlands), DSC '74 organizes the B-pool tournament of the CupWinners Cup and wins it.
2004 --- In the regular season, Ellen hits .236 ---
With DSC, Ellen participates in the European Cup in Viladecans (Spain), finishing in fifth place.
2003 --- With DSC '74, Ellen hits .278 and scores 13 runs, while her team wins the Dutch championship title, being coached by current Dutch National Team Assistant Coach Rob Walgien ---
After the season, she is awarded the Egbert van der Sluis Memorial Trophy for Best Dutch International under 23.
2002 --- In the regular season, Ellen scores 19 runs and hits .287.
2001 --- Ellen makes her debut in the Dutch big league, playing for DSC '74 in Haarlem.
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| Family |
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| ELLEN is the daughter of Loek and Ineke Venker, has brother Barry and sister Leonie, who in 2005 played softball in the Dutch big league for Birds.
In October 2011, Ellen's father Loek Venker became the Team Manager of the Dutch Junior Red Softball Team. |
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