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Another day on the field
NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Wednesday came together again at its 'home' site in Nieuwegein to conduct a light practice session.
In the original schedule, two games were initially scheduled for today against the Foreign All Star Team, but these games were dropped a few weeks earlier.
These games would have followed an intensive week of games and practices, but by dropping them it enabled the group of players to have a period of needed rest, as this is the last full week, before the team will leave for Canada next week for participation in the Canada Cup.
While there were no games scheduled, Wednesday became a long and busy day.
Head Coach Craig Montvidas, Coach Nancy Evans and Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar attended a meeting early in the morning at the Head Office of the Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation regarding the scouting software, which will be used during the upcoming international events.
The three then went to the field, as the team was to start its practice session around 12:30 PM.
In the meantime, Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Business Manager Rich Hooff also had arrived at the field and had started a fitting session with the players, as sample models of new clothing were brought to the field, as well as new shoes for the players and staff.
In the afternoon, again on a hot day with a blue sky, the team conducted several drills and practice games, including one in which two players were joined together both defensively as well as offensively.
After completion of the practice, the team went inside the clubhouse and got a mediatraining from Theo Plasschaert, radio-reporter for NOS Langs de Lijn and Radio Nederland Wereldomroep and baseball/softball-writer for the Haarlems Dagblad-newspaper.
Theo gave the players additional tips and advices regarding talking with journalists and what both parties can expect of each other.
The Dutch Team thanks Theo Plasschaert for his contributions today.
The Holland Tour continues on Saturday, June 27 in Zoetermeer at the site of Birds.
This will mark the 30th and final game of the Holland Tour, which initially existed of 34 games. Four games were dropped from the schedule by the staff of the national squad due to several reasons.
Saturday's game will be played against a team compiled from players who were members of the Dutch National Team in the period 2005-2008 and will be the highlight of the 40th anniversary of Birds, which has several activities scheduled for next Saturday.
The game will start at 1:30 PM.
Schedule Holland Tour
Coach Nancy Evans gives instructions during practice
Head Coach Craig Montvidas looks on during a hitting session in a batting cage
The 'home' of the Dutch Team in Nieuwegein at the site of the Nieuwegein Diamonds
Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Business Manager Rich Hooff check the different sets of clothing
Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru comes in for a fitting session
Head Coach Craig Montvidas looks on; Team Manager Paul Boonstra makes notes
Coach Nancy Evans checks her new shoes; Will they fit?
Virginie Anneveld returns to the field
While a runner rounds the bases, the team has to complete a game
One of the hitting stations during the practice session
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Coach Nancy Evans look at the activities on the field
Players come in from the field for the next game
Britt Vonk and Femke van Dusschoten are joined together
Virginie Anneveld and Meike Witteveen after chasing a ball in the outfield
Saskia Kosterink and Areke Spel are joined as pitcher
An unique photo: Dagmar Bloeming, who never bats, in the batter's box
At left is Ginger de Weert, who joins her while running the bases
Dagmar and Ginger safely reach first base, while Solange Starrenburg
and Anne Blaauwgeers advance to second base
Nathalie Timmermans takes Nathalie Gosewehr to first base
Time for another game during the afternoon practice
The players return to the clubhouse after completion of the practice session
The clubhouse of Nieuwegein Diamonds
Radio-reporter Theo Plasschaert gives tips to the Dutch players
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