NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) - On Wednesday, April 21 and today, April 28, the Dutch National Softball Team added two intersquad games and will play the first official games in this years Holland Tour next Sunday, May 2 at The Hague.
There, the squad will meet the men-softball team of Storks and the Dutch National Men Softball Team.
Joining the team last week and today were four youth players, who were invited by Head Coach Craig Montvidas after completion of the Winter Softball School at Bussum earlier this year.
Laura Goorts, who plays for TIW-Survivors (Diemen), was with the team last week, today three players of Gophers (Maassluis) participated: Lisa Bouwman, Lisa Hop and Michelle Lucardie.
It was a nice day to have practice and play today, as the sun was shining and circumstances were just great to be outdoors.
We thank umpires Marianna Prins-Atanasova and Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven for their participation and assistance in today's game.
There is another thank you for American pitchers Laura Belardinelli (Euro Stars) and Sarah Dooley (UVV), who also were with the team today, to assist during the practice and pitch during the game.
We also thank Bob Gieskens and Albert Jung, who were the umpires on April 21.
The umpires on April 21: Bob Gieskens and Albert Jung
On Wednesday, April 21, Laura Goorts (in the back) joined the Dutch National Team for practice
Here, Laura Goorts participates in a fielding drill with Coach Nancy Evans
Laura Goorts catching a ball during a drill
Looking on are Fabienne van Uden, Nathalie Gosewehr, Anne Blaauwgeers and Junior-player Sophie Bugter
Laura Goorts also took a hitting session with Kirsten Scheele being the pitcher
Head Coach Craig Montvidas introduces American pitchers Laura Belardinelli and Sarah Dooley,
who respectively play for Euro Stars and UVV and will help today with the practice and intersquad game
Youth players Lisa Bouwman, Lisa Hop and Michelle Lucardie are also included in the meeting
Head Coach Craig Montvidas with Lisa Hop, Lisa Bouwman and Michelle Lucardie
Today's umpires Marianna Prins-Atanasova and Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven
Anne Blaauwgeers catches a ball during the infield-practice
Head Coach Craig Montvidas hits another grounder
Laura Belardinelli works with pitcher Femke van Dusschoten
Another meeting before game-time
Head Coach Craig Montvidas addresses the players
Standing at right are alternate Petra van Heijst and Merel Oosterveld
Listening at left are Dutch Junior-players Dinet Oosting and Noëmie Brandjes
Lisa Hop during a running drill with Sarah Dooley and Laura Belardinelli
Here, Lisa Bouwman runs with Sarah Dooley
And here, Michelle Lucardie is running with Chantal Versluis
While the game was being played, the three youth players took grounders
At left is Michelle Lucardie, at right is Lisa Hop
And here, Lisa Bouwman goes after a grounder
Lisa Hop and Lisa Brouwer during a fielding drill
Anouk van den Heuvel and Sarah Dooley work with the youngsters
More grounders for Lisa Hop, Lisa Bouwman and Michelle Lucardie
At left, pitcher Dagmar Bloeming looks on
Petra van Heijst at bat with Solange Starrenburg doing the catching
Marianna Prins-Atanasova is the home plate umpire
Pitchers Dagmar Bloeming and Rebecca Soumeru in action
3B Virginie Anneveld and SS Chantal Versluis look on at right
Karin Tuk at bat with Nadine Marinus running at third base
Here, Virginie Anneveld is the runner, with Dinet Oosting playing at third
Lisa Bouwman gets outfield-instructions from Merel Oosterveld
Anne Vlietstra at bat with Dinet Oosting being the runner
Noëmie Brandjes waits for a pitch
Anne Vlietsta just rounded third base en route to score a run
Femke van Dusschoten delivers a pitch
In the back is Chantal Versluis ready for action
Virginie Anneveld tags out a sliding Merel Oosterveld
Nathalie Gosewehr at bat with Karin Tuk behind the plate
Solange Starrenburg is ready to make contact
Laura Belardinelli also threw some of the innings today
Standing in the back is Anne Vlietstra
And Sarah Dooley also participated in the game as a pitcher
Standing in the back are Noëmie Brandjes (2B) and Solange Starrenburg (RF)
Nadine Marinus at bat with Anne Blaauwgeers doing the catching
Meike Witteveen, who was unable to play due to an injury,
prepares for her conditioning program
American pitchers Sarah Dooley and Laura Belardinelli
A relaxing moment after the game for Solange Starrenburg and Chantal Versluis
The team poses with youthplayers Lisa Hop, Michelle Lucardie and Lisa Bouwman
Physiscal Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink gives instructions during the conditioning session
The three youthplayers also participated in the conditioning program
Dinet Oosting, Virginie Anneveld, Rebecca Soumeru
and Nathalie Gosewehr during a running drill
Meike Witteveen performs her own conditioning program
Michelle Lucardie in action during a running drill
And here, Lisa Hop does the same
Then it's Lisa Bouwman's turn
More conditioning drills...
...and more...
Meike Witteveen and Virginie Anneveld sign a softball
Chantal Versluis hands the three youthplayers a signed softball
The day ends with the team-yell
It has been a long and exhausting day for the three players of Gophers
After the practice, Rebecca Soumeru had to do some more pitching for a tv-report
(special thanks to Ben Goorts and Rien Bouwman for sending in several photos)
