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Dutch Team is 'on the right track'
 Nederlandse tekst
AMERSFOORT (Netherlands) -
The Dutch National Softball resumed its practice schedule on Sunday, January 8 with its first indoor session in Amersfoort.
After a series of conditioning practices in November and December, the team now will get together three times a week to practice.
Also, starting on Friday, January 13, the team starts its annual Tulip League with weekly indoor games at Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam.
Today, Head Coach Craig Montvidas briefed the team on the latest developments, then the players (divided in five groups) had to conduct several tasks in a teambuilding-session.
The game-session was created by Maaike Zijlstra, who is the Pitching Coach of the Dutch Juniors Red Team.
Maaike was with the team today, as she will be part of the coachingstaff when the squad travels to Tennessee and Florida in February.
Maaike today also filled in for Pitching Coach Karen Marr, who was home in Australia for the Christmas-holiday.
Karen returns to the Netherlands on January 13.
The team today was joined by Laura van Essen (Amsterdam Pirates), who was officially added to the preliminary roster.
Coming Wednesday, Kayleigh Adelina (UVV) will join the squad, becoming to 25th player on the winter roster.
Also today, Tjerk Smeets, the marketing manager of the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association (and Bullpen Coach/Team Manager of the National Baseball Team), informed the team concerning the financial situation.
Several options were discussed to gain earnings from sponsoring or activities.
The Dutch Softball Team is 'On The Right Track'.
That's the theme for this year.
In 2010, the theme was 'The Future is Now' and in 2011, it was 'Step by Step'.
The new year started with the first practice
From the beginning, the mood was good, as Femke van Dusschoten and Lindsey Meadows show
Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Head Coach Craig Montvidas brief the players
Head Coach Craig Montvidas also handed out some practice clothing
The players also were informed of the preliminary schedule for this year
Petra van Heijst, Nathalie Gosewehr, Ginger de Weert, Areke Spel, Femke van Dusschoten,
Lindsey Meadows, Dinet Oosting, Marisèla de Wind and Mariëlle Vleugels go over the information-sheets
As do Meike Witteveen, Fabienne van Uden, Rebecca Soumeru, Saskia Kosterink,
Yonina Sint Jago, Laura van Essen, Anne Blaauwgeers and Dagmar Bloeming
Head Coach Craig Montvidas stated he was proud of the team, his staff
and the accomplishments reached since he returned as coach of the National Team in November 2008
,,This is where we do it for'', Montvidas stated, showing a photo after the team (again) captured
the European title last year in Italy
Head Coach Craig Montvidas introduces KNBSB's Marketing Manager Tjerk Smeets
Tjerk Smeets informs the players about the financial situation
As the photo shows ''It's All About The Money''
Flex Coach Berend Mannessen and player Nathalie Gosewehr prepare balloons
Nathalie Gosewehr and Pitching Coach Maaike Zijlstra continue the preparations for the game session
The wall of balloons that was part of the game-session
Maaike Zijlstra explains the game-order and tasks the players have to perform
The game-session goes underway
Throwing at the balloons
And another task
Blowing up balloons was part of the game-session
The team of Mariëlle Vleugels, Anne Blaauwgeers, Rebecca Soumeru and Areke Spel
is leading and performs the next task...
...while others are doing theirs
The five teams had to form a square from several pieces
The team of Yonina Sint Jago, Karin Tuk, Dagmar Bloeming and Petra van Heijst
are puzzling with their pieces
Chantal Versluis, Fabienne van Uden, Lindsey Meadows and Laura van Essen
are closing in on their square
The square of the team of Saskia Kosterink, Femke van Dusschoten, Virginie Anneveld
and Meike Witteveen is also getting shape
Bursting the balloons ended the series of tasks/games
Team Five finished in first place after completing all tasks
Mariëlle Vleugels, Areke Spel, Anne Blaauwgeers and Rebecca Soumeru
Finishing in second place
Lindsey Meadows, Laura van Essen, Fabienne van Uden and Chantal Versluis
Finishing in third place
Virginie Anneveld, Meike Witteveen, Saskia Kosterink and Femke van Dusschoten
Finishing in fourth place
Yonina Sint Jago, Dagmar Bloeming, Petra van Heijst and Karin Tuk
Finishing in fifth place
Dinet Oosting, Merel Oosterveld, Marisèla de Wind and Ginger de Weert
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