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Donnay to sponsor Dutch Team; Holland Tour ends with victory
ZOETERMEER (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Saturday presented itself in new clothing, as Donnay became a partner of the national squad.
Donnay provides the national team during the upcoming international events (Canada Cup, World Cup of Softball and European Championships) with clothing, which will be worn during traveling, outside the games and at representative moments.
Donnay offers a complete assortment of products in the field of Basics and Sports and offers men as well as women's clothing, but also for children. Besides that, Donnay is also specialized in products like sportbags, several sport balls and rackets.
After the presentation and photo shoot with the new clothing, the Dutch National Softball Team continued its Holland Tour with the playing of the 30th and final game of the event that started on May 3.
Today's game was played in Zoetermeer at the site of Birds, which today celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The game was the highlight of the celebrations, which also included speeches by club chairman Leo Smallegange, the president of the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association Ruud van Zetten and Frans Muijzers, the Alderman of sports for the municipality of Zoetermeer.
In the evening, The Groove Coverband performed, featuring lead singer Anouk Mels, who herself is a former member of the Dutch National Softball Team.
In today's game, the Dutch Team faced a team which was compiled of players who played in the national squad from 2005-2009.
The Dutch Team won 7-0 to finish the Holland Tour with a 26-4 record.
On Monday, the team will conduct its last practice session, then starts packing for departure to Canada two days later to participate in the Canada Cup.
Schedule Holland Tour
The players and staff of the Dutch National Softball Team thank Umpires Albert Tolen and Rob Veldkamp, Official Scorer Harry Wedemeijer and the bat-girls of Birds for their contributions in the game against the former nationals on Saturday.
The players and staff of the Dutch National Softball Team emsembles at the
site of Birds in Zoetermeer in its new Donnay-clothing
Some players meet several players of the Former National Team
Nathalie Gosewehr meets with former national Linda Hoenderdos
The two are teammates at Iber Lengua Terrasvogels
The Dutch National Softball Team presents itself in the clothing of its
new clothing partner Donnay before today's game
Coaches Rob Walgien and Mary-Ann Hatt
address the players of the former national team
In the meantime, the current national players are ready to start warming-up
Coach Nancy Evans tosses a ball during a pre-game drill
Former national outfielder Marloes Fellinger catches a ball during warm-up
Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar talks with Judith van Kampen,
the starting pitcher for the former national team-players
While the game preparations continued, speeches were held to celebrate the
40th anniversary of hosting club Birds
On this photo, chairman Leo Smallegange addresses the club-members
At left is Alderman Frans Muijzers, at right KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten
KNBSB-President Ruud van Zetten is ready to give Birds-chairman Leo Smallegange a present
Alderman Frans Muijzers after participating in the official opening of the celebrations
At the site of Birds, several merchandise stands were set up
Today's Umpires Albert Tolen and Rob Veldkamp
The latter will join the national team in July for the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City
Today's Official Scorer Harry Wedemeijer
The game was a highlight of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Birds
Game Netherlands vs. Former Nationals, 7-0
Four players on the roster of the former national team participated in the Olympic Games last year in Beijing, including starting pitcher Judith van Kampen, 3B Noémi Boekel, SS/2B Daisy de Peinder and leftfielder Marloes Fellinger.
Judith was one of two players on the team, who retired as an active player after last season, the other being centerfielder Marieke Jansen.
Marloes was invited in December for indoor practices with this year's squad, but had to withdraw, as it was impossible for her to combine her regular job with the intensive practice schedule.
Noémi initially was a member of the preliminary roster until March and then decided to withdraw and concentrate only to play for her clubteam Sparks Haarlem.
Also on the roster of the former nationals was 1B Annemiek van Riessen, who didn't make this years roster of the national team.
As not much pitchers were available for today (some had to play with their regular season team), American pitcher Chelsea Engle was added to the team as a guest-player.
Chelsea pitches for big league-team Twins and already faced the Dutch Team as a member of the Foreign All Star Team.
The team was completed with catcher Kim Kafoé, 2B/SS Anouk van den Heuvel and RF Linda Hoenderdos.
The team was coached by Rob Walgien and Mary-Ann Hatt, who both were a member of the coaching staff the last three years.
In the first inning for the former nationals, Marloes Fellinger walked with two outs, but stranded at first base.
In the first Dutch at bat, Meike Witteveen led off with a walk and Anne Blaauwgeers reached on an error to put runners at first and third base.
Starting pitcher Judith van Kampen then struckout next batter Britt Vonk and was replaced by Chelsea Engle.
It was announced beforehand that Judith would throw only briefly.
Next, Meike was thrown out at home on a grounder by Saskia Kosterink and then the inning ended with another strikeout.
In the second inning, former Birds-player Kim Kafoé singled for the former nationals with one out off starting pitcher Dagmar Bloeming.
Kim's basehit would be the lone one for her team and she also would be the last baserunner for the squad, as the next 14 batters were all retired in order.
In the home of the second, Virginie Anneveld led off with a triple, but three outs followed.
In the third inning, another Dutch runner stranded at third base.
With one out, Anne Blaauwgeers reached on a bunt-single, then moved on a grounder and stole third.
The Dutch Team then broke open the game with a 5-run rally in the fifth inning on four basehits, while the defense of the former nationals added three errors.
Pinch-hitter Solange Starrenburg led off with a single, then Nathalie Gosewehr walked.
After the two advanced on a wild pitch, Solange scored the first run when next batter Meike Witteveen singled, which was followed by a throwing error, leading to another run.
An error on a grounder by Anne Blaauwgeers brought Meike to third, who then scored when a throwing error followed a stolen base by Anne.
With one out, Saskia Kosterink added a single to bring Anne to third base, who then scored on a grounder by Nathalie Timmermans.
Next, Saskia scored the fifth run in the inning on a single by Virginie Anneveld, who played another great game defensively at third base to support the Dutch pitching.
After Dagmar Bloeming had retired eight batters in a row after giving up the single in the second inning, Rebecca Soumeru took over the pitching in the fifth and retired all six batters she faced, including a great play by 3B Virginie Anneveld on a line drive by Noémi Boekel.
The seven-run difference was reached in the home of the sixth.
Chantal Versluis first led off with a bunt-single.
After being sidelined with a leg-injury for awhile, Chantal made her comeback today and made some nice defensive plays again as short stop.
Chantal went on to score as Nathalie Gosewehr followed with a triple.
After a groundout and strikeout, Nathalie scored the seventh run on an infield-hit by Britt Vonk to end the game.
Afterwards, the players of both teams enjoyed a meal at the clubhouse. The players and staff of both squads thank Birds for its fine hospitality today.
Box Score Game Netherlands vs. Former Nationals
Coaches Craig Montvidas, Rob Walgien and Mary-Ann Hatt
meet with umpires Albert Tolen and Rob Veldkamp
Former Nationals Marloes Fellinger and Noémi Boekel are waiting to be introduced
Starting pitcher Judith van Kampen is the last player to be introduced for the Former Nationals
The team of Former Nationals lines up
Lead-off hitter Meike Witteveen is the first player to be introduced
for the Dutch National Softball Team
The Dutch Team lines up after introductions
At left, the lead-off hitters shake hands to start the game
The staff in the Dutch dug-out: Head Coach Craig Montvidas, Coach Nancy Evans,
Assistant Coach Tiffany McDonald and Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont
Dutch pitchers Dagmar Bloeming and Rebecca Soumeru
Throwing for the Former Nationals were Judith van Kampen and guest-player Chelsea Engle
Marloes Fellinger at first base after walking in the first at bat
Britt Vonk is playing at first base for the Dutch Team
Meike Witteveen at third and Anne Blaauwgeers at second base in the first Dutch at bat
Short stop Anouk van den Heuvel and 3B Noémi Boekel check the situation
Kim Kafoé after reaching second base for the Former Nationals in the second inning
Kim registered the lone basehit for her team in this at bat and was the second and last baserunner
2B Petra van Heijst catches a pop-fly by Chelsea Engle to end the 2nd inning
Virginie Anneveld takes off from third base after her lead-off triple in the 2nd inning
In the back, the beautiful tree-surrounding of the field
Chantal Versluis checks the signs, while catcher Kim Kafoé looks on
The two were teammates while playing for Birds in 2003-2005; Currently, both play for Sparks Haarlem
...Next, Chantal connects on the pitch
Former National Team Coaches Rob Walgien and Mary-Ann Hatt
Anne Blaauwgeers successfully puts down a bunt in the third inning
Head Coach Craig Montvidas keeps an eye on the action from third base
Marieke Jansen, one of two players on the Former National-squad who is not active this season
Anne Blaauwgeers steals third base in the third inning
3B Noémi Boekel receives the ball too late
A look into the Dutch dug-out
During the game, it somewhat darkened, but it remained dry
and the temperatures again were very warm
The team meets between innings
Umpires Albert Tolen and Rob Veldkamp wait to start another at bat
Meike Witteveen connects for a single in the fifth inning
Nathalie Gosewehr races home to score after a throwing error
in the fifth which followed Meike's single
Saskia Kosterink singles in the 5-run fifth inning
In the 5th, Head Coach Craig Montvidas goes over the details with batter Nathalie Timmermans...
...while Saskia Kosterink stands at first base with Coach Nancy Evans
Nathalie Timmermans grounds out, but runner Anne Blaauwgeers would score
Nathalie Timmermans is greeted by teammates after batting in the run in the 5th inning
In the sixth, Chantal Versluis scores on a triple by Nathalie Gosewehr
Nathalie Gosewehr arrives at third base after her stand-up RBI-triple in the 6th
Game over, players give each other high fives
The Former National Team
Back Row: Chelsea Engle, Judith van Kampen, Rob Walgien (Coach), Mary-Ann Hatt (Coach),
Marieke Jansen, Annemiek van Riessen and Anouk van den Heuvel
Front Row: Linda Hoenderdos, Noémi Boekel, Marloes Fellinger,
Daisy de Peinder and Kim Kafoé
The former and current national team players pose together...
...and with the bat-girls, who presented all players with a rose
Former Birds-player Chantal Versluis pose with current member of the club,
while her father Fred takes a photo
And this is how it looked from the other side
Former Coach Rob Walgien with ESF-President André van Overbeek
Chantal Versluis signs autographs
...and so does former national Daisy de Peinder
Former national team-pitcher Anouk Mels (left) performs with The Groove Coverband in the evening
(thanks again to Fred Versluis for submitting several photos)
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