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Dutch Women completes Holland Tour
 Nederlandse tekst
ALKMAAR (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team concluded its Holland Tour 2010 today with a double-header against the Foreign All Star Team.
The Dutch squad won 6-0 and 7-3, meaning they swept the All Stars in this years Tour.
The two teams met each other in four games.
With today's games, the Dutch Team ended its Tour, which was part of the preparations for the upcoming World Championship in Caracas (Venezuela), which opens June 23.
In this years Tour, the Dutch Team played eight of the ten scheduled games.
The first two games rained out.
Hereafter, the Dutch Women won six of the next eight games, including the last six in a row.
It was a dark, clouded and sometimes rainy Sunday, but both games could be completed.
Today's games were played at the site of First Divisionist Alcmaria Victrix at Alkmaar, which currently has 13 of its players on the rosters of the Dutch Junior Teams.
The Dutch Team thanks Alcmaria for its hospitality of today's games and cooperation.
Game One: Netherlands vs. Foreign All Star Team, 6-0
In the opener, the Foreign All Star Team got the bases loaded in the first inning off starting pitcher Rebecca Soumeru, but failed to score.
With one out, JJ Hartung (who plays for Centrals and played in her first game for the All Stars) walked.
With two outs, Lindsey Meadows singled and Karlene Headley-Cooper walked to load the bases, but then the three stranded as next batter Andee Lindgren flied out.
Lindsey Meadows became the first player to have appeared in all 12 games the Foreign All Star Team has played since last year.
She shared the record with Amanda Hess, but she was unable to be with the team today, as she had to play with her clubteam DSS against the Dutch Junior Team.
In its first at bat, the Dutch Team rallied for five runs off starting pitcher Laura Belardinelli.
With one out, Fabienne van Uden singled, then scored when Britt Vonk followed with a triple.
She then scored on an infield-hit by Saskia Kosterink, who joined the team today after having returned from Italy where she plays for Sanotint Bollate in the Italian Softball League.
Nathalie Timmermans, who joined the team earlier in the week after coming back from the USA, followed with another single to put runners on first and second base.
Both Saskia and Nathalie then scored when Areke Spel doubled.
After Areke stole third base, Virginie Anneveld also doubled to make it 5-0.
In the second inning, the Dutch added two basehits, as Anne Blaauwgeers and Britt Vonk both singled, but no runs were added.
In the third and fourth inning, the Dutch Team was retired in order by new pitcher Lisa Sweeney, who then gave up the sixth run in the fifth at bat.
With one out, Britt Vonk (who was 3-for-3) reached on a bunt-single and stole second base, then scored on a 2-out double by Nathalie Timmermans.
Hereafter, Areke Spel walked, but then centerfielder JJ Hartung made a great catch on a line drive by Virginie Anneveld to end the inning.
Ashley Smuda of Twins (who also made her first FAST-appearance) finished the game for the All Stars throwing the seventh inning.
The Dutch pitching got some great support from their defense.
After starter Rebecca Soumeru retired the side in the second inning, she was supported with a double play in the third at bat, then saw 2B Britt Vonk make a nice catch on a hit by Jessica Beaver to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, Andee Lindgren and Lisa Sweeney singled for the All Stars with two outs, but then a grounder ended the at bat.
In the fifth inning, Kirsten Scheele took over the pitching and got some nice support in the sixth.
Rightfielder Areke Spel made a nice catch on a drive by Morgan Parkerson, then short stop Chantal Versluis had a nice play on a grounder by Andee Lindgren.
Kirsten retired the last seven batters she faced.
Besides JJ Hartung and Ashley Smuda, Lauren Supak (Amsterdam Pirates) also made her debut in the Foreign All Star Team.
Box Score Game One
The Dutch Softball Team poses for a teamphoto before the game
Today's members of the Foreign All Star Team
Back Row: Caroline Powell (coach), Morgan Parkerson, Karlene Headley-Cooper, Jessica Beaver,
Andee Lindgren, Ashley Smuda, Lauren Supak and Karly McCormack (coach)
Front Row: Martina Lackner, JJ Hartung, Lisa Sweeney, Lindsey Meadows and Laura Belardinelli
Head Coach Craig Montvidas is interviewed by Radio Television Noord-Holland (RTVNH)
...And so is pitcher Rebecca Soumeru
Today's umpires Peter Vonk and Carolien Stadhouders
who both will officiate during the upcoming World Championship in Venezuela
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Coach Tracy Bunge address the players
Fabienne van Uden scores the first Dutch run...
...thanks to a triple by Britt Vonk, who is greeted by Head Coach Craig Montvidas
Moments later, Saskia Kosterink also scores in the first inning
Dutch starting pitcher Rebecca Soumeru
Kirsten Scheele threw the last three innings
1B Nadine Marinus and 2B Britt Vonk
Short stop Chantal Versluis
Nathalie Gosewehr hitting for the Dutch squad
Catching for the All Stars is Anne Blaauwgeers
Game Two: Netherlands vs. Foreign All Star Team, 7-3
In the second game, Dutch starter Dagmar Bloeming gave up a lead-off infield-hit in the first inning to JJ Hartung, but then was supported with a double play on a grounder by Jessica Beaver.
In its first at bat, the Dutch Team again opened the score, this time scoring twice off starter Lindsey Meadows.
Anne Blaauwgeers led off with an infield-hit, but was forced out on a grounder by next batter Meike Witteveen (who was 3-for-4), who then stole second base and scored on a single by Britt Vonk.
A single by Areke Spel then enabled Britt to score the second run.
In the second inning, the Foreign All Stars got the bases loaded, but didn't score.
Karin Tuk, who caught for the All Stars, led off with a double, then Karlene Headley-Cooper walked.
With one out, Lisa Sweeney singled to load the bases, but then Dagmar Bloeming ended the at bat by striking out the next two batters.
The Dutch Team added a run in its second at bat.
Merel Oosterveld led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Chantal Versluis and scored on a 2-out single by Meike Witteveen.
The lead was increased to 5-0 when two more runs were scored in the third inning off new pitcher Martina Lackner.
With one out, Areke Spel walked, stole second and scored on a 2-out triple by Fabienne van Uden, who then scored herself on a passed ball.
Femke van Dusschoten took over the pitching for the Dutch team in the fourth inning, saw five runners reach base in the fourth and fifth inning, but didn't gave up a run.
On the other hand, the Dutch Team added two more runs.
In the fourth, Chantal Versluis singled with one out, advanced on an infield-hit by Solange Starrenburg, then stole third and scored on a throwing error.
In the fifth, Fabienne van Uden (who was 3-for-3) singled with one out, moved on a single by Kim Donkers and a walk for Merel Oosterveld (which loaded the bases), then scored on a sac-fly by Chantal Versluis.
Trailing 7-0, the Foreign All Star Team scored its first run in the sixth inning off new pitcher Ginger de Weert.
Karlene Headley-Cooper led off with a double, then scored on an one-out single by Lisa Sweeney.
Hereafter, Morgan Parkerson also singled, but then a strikeout and groundout followed.
In the seventh, the All Stars added two more runs.
Jessica Beaver led off with a single and Lindsey Meadows walked, then both scored on a 2-out single by Andee Lindgren to make it 7-3.
Next, Lisa Sweeney walked, but Ginger de Weert then ended the inning and the game with a strikeout.
Box Score Game Two
Anne Blaauwgeers reaches first base safely with an infield-hit
leading off the first inning
Anne Blaauwgeers at first base after her lead-off infield-hit
At right are Coach Nancy Evans and 1B Andee Lindgren
Meike Witteveen successfully steals second base in the first inning
Short stop Jessica Beaver has no play
Moments later, Meike Witteveen scores the first run
Catching for the All Stars is Karin Tuk
Areke Spel steals second base in the third inning
2B Lauren Supak is just too late with the tag
Chantal Versluis makes contact
Dutch starter Dagmar Bloeming
Femke van Dusschoten took over in the fourth inning
Chantal Versluis at first base getting advice from Coach Nancy Evans
Lindsey Meadows, who started for the Foreign All Stars
Meike Witteveen makes contact for an infield-hit in the 4th inning
Ginger de Weert completed the game for the Dutch Team
At left is 3B Nathalie Timmermans.
End of the game
(special thanks to Fred Versluis for taking today's photos)
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