NIEUWEGEIN (Netherlands) - On another fine and sunny day, the Dutch National Softball Team again played several mini-intersquad games on Wednesday, April 22.
Next Wednesday-afternoon, the last series of intersquad games are scheduled to be played in Nieuwegein.
As mentioned in the recap of Day 1, these games serve as preparations for the upcoming Holland Tour, which will open on Sunday, May 3 with a double-header at Capelle a/d IJssel against Dutch big league-team Euro Stars.
As it was last week, today was another fine day, however, sometimes there was a chilly wind.
But despite that, it was a great day to be out on the field again and play some games.
The games eventually will lead up to the real thing with the opening of the Holland Tour on May 3, when the first of 16 double-headers is scheduled.
Making the calls behind the plate and in the field today were umpires Jac van Riel and Rob Wurtz.
As always, the players and staff of the national squad appreciate the contributions of the umpires in these games very much and are looking forward meeting them again.
Umpires Jac van Riel (left) and Rob Wurtz are ready for a day of action
Head Coach Craig Montvidas hitting grounders and coaching at third base
Meike Witteveen in action at second base
Players high-five each other after finishing infield/outfield-practice
Daisy Verstapppen delivers a pitch
Meeting in the circle
Left to right: SS Chantal Versluis, 3B Anne Blaauwgeers, 2B Meike Witteveen,
P Kirsten Scheele, 1B Annemiek van Riessen and C Karin Tuk
Physical Therapists Sanne Oude Egberink and Anouk Fermont
A view in the dug-out
Left to right: Dagmar Bloeming, Daisy Verstappen, Petra van Heijst,
Virginie Anneveld and Britt Vonk
Virginie Anneveld reaches second base safely, while 2B Meike Witteveen checks the action
Coach Nancy Evans keeps an eye on the action from behind the infield
Petra van Heijst and Britt Vonk are ready to hit
Virginie Anneveld at bat
A beautiful, blue sky above the playing field
Nathalie Gosewehr batting with Karin Tuk doing the catching
Making the calls is umpire Rob Wurtz
Judith Diepeveen is preparing before her at bat
Anne Blaauwgeers ready to field, playing at third base
Kirsten Scheele winds up with short stop Chantal Versluis ready to field
Judith Diepeveen awaits a pitch in the batter's box
Head Coach Craig Montvidas has a meeting with the team between games
Coach Nancy Evans goes over more details during the meeting
Daisy Verstappen delivers a pitch to batter Areke Spel
Merel Oosterveld is about to make contact
Doing the catching is Anne Blaauwgeers and judging the pitch is umpire Rob Wurtz
Chantal Versluis follows the action from the on-deck circle
Another foul ball that ended up in the water
Areke Spel drills the ball into leftfield
A break in the action for umpires Rob Wurtz and Jac van Riel
Dagmar Bloeming is about to deliver a pitch; at 2B is Petra van Heijst
Nadine Marinus playing at first base with Meike Witteveen being the runner
Petra van Heijst takes her position at second base, while umpire Jac van Riel checks the action
Another break, another meeting
Karin Tuk running at second base with Coach Nancy Evans looking on
Solange Starrenburg awaits the pitch while batting
Annemiek van Riessen leaves second base to advance to third
Despite sliding in head-first, Meike Witteveen is called out at home by
umpire Rob Wurtz, with catcher Anne Blaauwgeers making the putout
Karin Tuk looks on
Britt Vonk slides into second base, while Chantal Versluis has no play
Anne Blaauwgeers connects towards 3B Judith Diepeveen
Karin Tuk is the catcher
Areke Spel playing in rightfield
Rebecca Soumeru worked the video-camera today
