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Dutch Team plays first game on 'new field' in Amsterdam
 Nederlandse tekst
AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) -
The Dutch National Softball Team opened this years Tulip League Indoor Season today with its first of a series of weekly intersquad-games.
The game also marked the acquaintance with the new floor in the Sporthallen Zuid, its indoor facility in Amsterdam.
During the past Summer, the entire floor in the big sports complex was renewed and was also accomodated for indoor softball.
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar had several meetings with the 'floor-people' of Sporthallen Zuid to discuss possibilities.
Later, Montvidas and Hans Meijer, the director of the KNBSB Head Office, finalized the talks.
As a result, a home plate was placed in the floor and foul lines were placed in the line-system for the several indoor sports that are played in the main hall.
Besides that, a structure was designed to put regular indoor bases and a pitching plate into the floor.
This means that bases no longer have to be taped onto the floor.
While the tape prevented the bases from getting out of place, the new bases are stuck into the floor and therefore create the 'real thing'.
The same with the pitching plate.
In previous years, it was not possible to put a pitching plate into the field, meaning pitchers were unable to make proper wind-ups.
But with the new field, this problem is also solved.
And, there also is a new mat-construction to serve as a proper backstop.
So, a big word of thanks and appreciation has to go to the developers of the new floor, led by Jan de Boer of Sporthallen Zuid to further improve the conditions in the hall.
With this successful cooperation between Sporthallen Zuid and the KNBSB, we are almost sure that the location in Amsterdam is the first indoor facility in Europe where softball can be played under ideal circumstances.
Afterwards, there were positive sounds from both players and officials concerning the new floor.
And so, at 11:08 AM, the first pitch of this years Tulip League was tossed by Lindsey Meadows, the starting pitcher of Team Black.
Five pitches later, lead-off hitter Meike Witteveen became the first runner of the year, as she was hit by a pitch.
The first intersquad game was a lowscoring one and was won 3-1 by Team Black.
The game had some fine defensive plays, which prevented both teams from scoring in the early innings.
And so, the scoring was done in the sixth and seventh inning.
Team Grey opened the score in the top of the sixth when Dinet Oosting singled with two outs (which was the first hit of the team) and later scored on a single by Marisèla de Wind.
Team Black, which saw two runners being eliminated at the plate in the fifth, reacted with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With one out, Saskia Kosterink and Anne Blaauwgeers singled, then scored when an error was made with two outs.
Team Black scored its third run in the seventh at bat, when Fabienne van Uden scored on another error.
Veteran umpire Albert Jung officiated today's game and of course, we thank him for coming to Amsterdam.
Today, Pitching Coach Karen Marr returned from Australia, but wasn't in Amsterdam yet.
However, in the evening, she was in Schiedam for the opening games of the International Indoor Cup, where two teams of the Dutch Junior Red Team participated.
The day started with a warming-up
Preparing for the first intersquad game of the year
Real bases and a real home plate are now part of the indoor facility in Amsterdam
Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru assists with some adjustments of the pitching plate
Coach Berend Mannessen looks on in the back
The new backstop is in place
Time to announce the starting line-ups for the first indoor-game of this years Tulip League
Time to play ball!
Lindsey Meadows launches the first pitch of the season
Players look on from the dug-out
In the first inning, Meike Witteveen is the first runner of the season
Saskia Kosterink playing at first base for Team Black; running in the back is Meike Witteveen
Chantal Versluis hitting for Team Grey
Catcher Anne Blaauwgeers looks to the action
Team Grey-pitchers Femke van Dusschoten and Dagmar Bloeming
Head Coach Craig Montvidas keeps a close eye to the activities
As does Flex Coach Berend Mannessen
Petra van Heijst in her first at bat for the Dutch Team since 2009
Rebecca Soumeru and Ginger de Weert followed Lindsey Meadows as Team Black-pitchers
Areke Spel running at first base for Team Grey
The first at bat of rookie Kayleigh Adelina, who joined the National Team two days earlier
Areke Spel steals third base in the second inning
Areke beats the tag by short stop Yonina Sint Jago, while 3B Virginie Anneveld looks on
Marisèla de Wind connects for Team Grey in the 2nd inning
Anne Blaauwgeers is the catcher, Albert Jung the umpire
Virginie Anneveld singles for Team Black in the bottom of the 2nd inning
Rookie Laura van Essen in her first at bat for the Dutch squad, since joining the team last Sunday
Lindsey Meadows at third base in the 5th inning, before being eliminated at home
Dinet Oosting singled and scored in the top of the 6th inning for Team Grey
Saskia Kosterink steals second base in the bottom of the 6th, before Chantal Versluis can tag her
Nathalie Gosewehr walks in the 6th to load the bases for Team Black
Veteran umpire Albert Jung officiated in today's game
A team-meeting ends the first game of the season
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