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Dutch Team starts series of outdoor intersquad games!
 Nederlandse tekst
NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team today played its first outdoor game of the year, an intersquad game at its 'home site' in Nieuwegein at the complex of Nieuwegein Diamonds.
Starting today, four intersquad games are scheduled on the Wednesday-afternoons in April.
On May 2, the Dutch Team opens its 3rd Holland Tour with two games against the Dutch National Men Softball Team and men softball-team Storks.
Both games will be played at The Hague.
On February 26, the national squad ended its series of indoor games, which were played in Amsterdam.
A week later, on Friday, March 5, the team practiced outside for the first time at Voorthuizen.
In today's intersquad game, three mini-squads were formed, called Red, White and Blue, all existing of five players, who batted around, while the other players played defensively.
In total, the three teams had four offensive at bats, making this a game of 12 different innings.
For the first time this year, the weather cooperated greatly today, as there was a comfortable temperature, there was sun, almost no wind and just fine circumstances to play a game.
Last weekend, the weather was horrible, rainy and very cold when several games were played in the traditional tournaments which form the final preparations for the upcoming new season, which opens on Saturday, April 10.
Participating in today's intersquad game were 15 players.
Six players didn't participate, including pitcher Ginger de Weert, catcher Nathalie Timmermans (who both currently play in the American college-competition) and outfielder Saskia Kosterink, who will play in Italy.
One player had a minor injury, while another one was sick.
Also missing was infielder Britt Vonk, who sustained a double jaw fracture last Friday, just prior before an exhibition game of her clubteam Computer SOS Tex Town Tigers, the day before the start of the annual Mastenbroek Tournament at Enschede.
Britt will be out of action for at least six weeks.
Of course, everyone of the Dutch National Team wishes Britt all the best and a quick recovery.
The team again got the support of two umpires, today being Louis Rohan and Jac van Riel.
We thank both for their participation in today's game.
A half hour after completion of today's intersquad game, the coaching and supporting staff were joined by the five Flex Coaches, as the players of the Dutch Junior Red and White Teams had a joined pratice session in the evening.
Today's umpires Louis Rohan and Jac van Riel
Head Coach Craig Montvidas talks with the team before the start of the game
Karin Tuk and Areke Spel go over some details in the dug-out
Pitcher Femke van Dusschoten with short stop Chantal Versluis in the back
Anouk van den Heuvel at bat with Solange Starrenburg behind the plate;
Jac van Riel makes the calls as home plate umpire
Dagmar Bloeming winds up for a delivery with Chantal Versluis looking on
Coach Nancy Evans and pitcher Kirsten Scheele check the action from behind the backstop
Today, there was a nice blue sky above the playing field
Here, Anne Blaauwgeers bats with Karin Tuk doing the catching
Virginie Anneveld just before making contact
Kim Donkers and Anouk van den Heuvel score a run
The props for today's game
Anne Blaauwgeers running on first base
Playing at first is Nadine Marinus, at second Solange Starrenburg and in rightfield Areke Spel
Keeping an eye on the action is umpire Louis Rohan
While Head Coach Craig Montvidas has a talk with outfielders Nathalie Gosewehr,
Fabiënne van Uden and Anne Blaauwgeers, pitcher Dagmar Bloeming
meets with 3B Virginie Anneveld and 1B Kim Donkers
Merel Oosterveld and Nadine Marinus have a chat
Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink keeps an eye on the players
Fabiënne van Uden on deck and Meike Witteveen at bat
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