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Dutch Team wins first international game
HAARLEM (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team continued its Holland Tour on Friday-evening with its first international game of the 2009 season, meeting the national team of Great Britain.
At the beautiful new site of Olympia Haarlem, the Dutch squad won 14-0 to register its twelfth victory in history against the British team.
This was the first international game being played at the site of Olympia Haarlem, which is named after Nol Houtkamp, the former Head Coach of the Dutch National Softbal Team, who led the squad for a still standing record 15 years (1969-1983).
Before the start of the game, Nol Houtkamp threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
About an hour before game time, a modest rain shower hit the field, resulting in the players taking shelter in the dug-out.
But the rain lasted only a few minutes and then the clouds broke and the sun came out.
So far, all games during the Holland Tour has been played under great weather conditions, except for some cold Wednesday-evenings in Nieuwegein.
Tonight, the temperatures were fine again to play a softball-game.
Today's game against Great Britain was the thirteenth in history between the two countries and the first since May 31, 2007 when the Dutch shutout the British 3-0 during the European Championships in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Back then, current Dutch Head Coach Craig Montvidas led the British Team and was assisted by Hayley Scott, the current Head Coach of the British squad.
This was the fifth victory in a row against the British by the Dutch Team since it lost 1-0 on July 7, 2003 during the European Championships in Bollate (Italy), the lone British win against the Dutch in history.
During this event, Montvidas was the Pitching and Assistant Coach of the British Team.
Today's game against the national team of Great Britain came almost 30 years after the first match-up between the two countries.
On August 27, 1979, the first-ever game was played between the Netherlands and Great Britain, which took place during the European Championships in Rovereto (Italy).
The Dutch squad, then led by Nol Houtkamp, registered a huge victory, as it won 41-2.
Today's 14 Dutch runs were the most against a British team since then.
The next games in the Holland Tour will be played on Sunday, June 21 in Santpoort at the site of Iber Lengua Terrasvogels.
There, the team of Head Coach Craig Montvidas will meet the national team of Great Britain for the second time, then will meet the Foreign All Star Team for the ninth and final time in the afternoon.
In between, the All Stars will play against the British squad.
The opener of this 3-game series starts around 11:00 AM.
Schedule Holland Tour
The players and staff of the Dutch National Softball Team thank Umpires Carolien Stadhouders and Albert Tolen, Official Scorer Dennis Duin (who also served as Public Address Announcer) and Scoreboard Operator Huub Rustman for their contributions in the game against Great Britain.
A rain shower hit the site in Haarlem one hour before the start of the game
The flags of Great Britain and the Netherlands wave in the rain
Head Coach Craig Montvidas announces the starting line-up
About 10 minutes later, the rain stopped and the clouds broke for the sun to come out
The Dutch helmets are ready for action
Outfielders Saskia Kosterink, Areke Spel, Nathalie Gosewehr and
Solange Starrenburg complete their game preparations with
Coach Nancy Evans and pitcher Ginger de Weert
Karin Tuk and Solange Starrenburg during batting practice
Head Coach Craig Montvidas throws batting practice
Nadine Marinus connects during batting practice
Chantal Versluis is also about to make contact
Tonight's Umpires Albert Tolen and Carolien Stadhouders
Tonight's Official Scorer and Public Address Announcer Dennis Duin
Former National Softball Team Head Coach Nol Houtkamp threw some warm-up pitches
before the game with pitcher Ginger de Weert
Starting pitcher Tiffany McDonald greets her teammates during
the introduction of the national team of Great Britain
The Dutch Team is ready for its introduction
Rebecca Soumeru is the first player to be introduced
Starting pitcher Femke van Dusschoten and leftfielder Nathalie Gosewehr
go by their teammates during introductions
The British Team listens to 'God Save The Queen', the national anthem of Great Britain
In front is Head Coach Hayley Scott
The Dutch Team lines up during the playing of the Dutch national anthem 'Wilhelmus'
Coach Nancy Evans, Head Coach Craig Montvidas and pitcher Femke van Dusschoten
listen to the Dutch national anthem
Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Media Officer/Scorer Marco Stoovelaar
also listen to the Dutch national anthem while standing in front of the dug-out
Former National Softball Team Head Coach Nol Houtkamp throws out the ceremonial first pitch
Nol Houtkamp shakes hands with catcher Anne Blaauwgeers
Game Netherlands vs. Great Britain, 14-0
The game had an interesting start, as Great Britain threatened to open the score in the first inning having runners at second and third base with only one out, while the Dutch offense left the bases loaded it its first at bat.
But hereafer, the British reached base only two more times and the Dutch Team went on to collect eleven basehits and scored 14 runs.
In the first inning, Dutch starting pitcher Femke van Dusschoten, who was one of seven Dutch players to make her international debut, made a throwing error on a bunt by lead-off hitter Laura Thompson (one of two British players with exactly the same name).
She then advanced on a grounder by next batter Stephanie Pearce and moved to third base when veteran player Karlene Headley-Cooper singled and advanced herself to second base on the throw to home.
But then, Femke struckout the next batter and a pop-fly ended the inning.
In the second inning, Femke struckout the side and in the fifth, she added two more strikeouts.
In between, Laura Thompson singled, but was caught stealing.
After giving up to single to Headley-Cooper, Femke retired seven of the next eight batters, including six with a strikeout.
Rebecca Soumeru took over the pitching in the fourth inning and gave up a lead-off single to Karlene Headley-Cooper, who had two of the three British basehits.
But then, she was caught stealing in a rundown after the batter had struckout.
Hereafer, Rebecca retired the next four batters in order, including two strikeouts.
In the first Dutch at bat, Britt Vonk led off with a double and moved on a wild pitch.
With one out, Saskia Kosterink and Nathalie Timmermans walked, but two outs followed, meaning three runners stranded.
In the second inning, the Dutch Team registered four basehits and scored five runs.
Anne Blaauwgeers led off with a double and scored when Nadine Marinus followed with a single, who then scored herself moments later when next batter Nathalie Gosewehr also singled.
Britt Vonk then walked and with one out, Saskia Kosterink reached on a force play-grounder, as Nathalie was forced out at third base.
The bases were loaded when Nathalie Timmermans walked.
Areke Spel then cleared the bases with a 3-run double to make it 5-0.
In the third inning, the Dutch again batted around, this time scoring four runs on three hits, including an RBI-single by Areke Spel, who had four runs batted in.
The other runs in this at bat were scored on a basesloaded walk for Britt Vonk, a wild pitch and a sacifice fly by Nathalie Timmermans.
Ten batters accounted for four basehits and five runs in the fourth inning.
With one out, Nadine Marinus (who was 3-for-3 and scored three runs) and Nathalie Gosewehr singled and Judith Diepeveen walked, then Petra van Heijst followed with a 2-run single.
The second sacrifice fly by Nathalie Timmermans, a wild pitch and a single by Virginie Anneveld increased the lead to 14-0.
As mentioned, Femke van Dusschoten made her debut in an international game, but Virginie Anneveld, Anne Blaauwgeers, Judith Diepeveen, Nadine Marinus, Solange Starrenburg and Karin Tuk also played in their first international game of their career.
Box Score Netherlands vs. Great Britain
Starting pitcher Femke van Dusschoten throws to lead-off hitter Laura Thompson
British pitchers Tiffany McDonald and Sarah Jones
Dutch pitchers Femke van Dusschoten and Rebecca Soumeru
Virginie Anneveld (3rd base), Judith Diepeveen (2nd base)
and Nadine Marinus (1st base) made their international debut
Also playing in their first international game were Karin Tuk (catcher),
Solange Starrenburg (rightfield) and Anne Blaauwgeers (catcher)
Playing at short were Britt Vonk and Petra van Heijst (who started at second base)
The starting outfielders were Nathalie Gosewehr (LF), Saskia Kosterink (CF) and Areke Spel (RF)
Nathalie Timmermans was the designated player in tonight's game
Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont works with Chantal Versluis
Britt Vonk reaching third base on a wild pitch in the first inning
A view of the stands behind home plate
And another look at the spectactors
Britt Vonk and Saskia Kosterink are the lead runners
who scored on the 3-run double by Areke Spel in the second inning
Anne Blaauwgeers and Nathalie Timmermans scoring runs
Head Coach Craig Montvidas coaching at third base
...and Nancy Evans coaching at first base
Karlene Headley-Cooper is caught stealing in a rundown in the fourth inning and is
tagged out near second base by 1B Nadine Marinus
Coaches Nancy Evans and Craig Montvidas look on,
while Rebecca Soumeru prepares in the circle for her next pitch
Rebecca Soumeru delivers another pitch
Solange Starrenburg takes off from first base in the fourth inning
Playing at first base is Rachael Watkeys
Game Over. Dutch players shake hands
The players of both teams give high-fives afterwards
NOC*NSF Strength & Conditioning Specialist Patrick van Balkom attended today's game
With him in the dug-out are Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont
(thanks again to Fred Versluis for submitting several photos)
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