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Day 10: Last practice in Japan
SENDAI CITY / KAMI AYASHI, AOBA-KU, SENDAI-SHI (Japan) - On Friday-morning of another cloudy day, the Dutch Olympic Softball Team held its last practice session in Japan. The next practice is scheduled for next Wednesday with the location being the Olympic Softball Stadium in Beijing. On Saturday, the Dutch team will play an additional scheduled game, then has the day off on Sunday. On Monday, the team travels to Narita where it will stay overnight close to the airport for the flight on Tuesday to Beijing.
In today's training session, the team held a batting practice, while there were also defensive drills in thee Miyagi Hirose Ballpark, our home for this week in Sendai.
After lunch, everyone had the day off, so it was time to do some shopping, check e-mails or the Internet, walk around or just have some resting moments.
In the afternoon, the Dutch Olympic Baseball Team played its first exhibition game in Chuncheon (Korea) and won 2-1 vs. the minor league-team of the professional DooSan Bears.
Four Dutch pitchers combined on a No-Hitter.
Starter Leon Boyd threw six innings, then Diegomar Markwell, Michiel van Kampen and Loek van Mil each threw one inning, but kept the No-Hitter intact.
Sidney de Jong scored the first Dutch run in the second inning on a grounder by Dirk van 't Klooster.
The second run was scored in the fifth inning by Percy Isenia, who had two of the six Dutch basehits.
The lone Korean run was scored in the ninth inning as a result of a walk, stolen base, balk and sacrifice fly.
The Dutch team plays five exhibition games in Korea, before traveling to Olympic Beijing, where two more games will be played.'
Later in the day, the Dutch Baseball Team attended a party, hosted by the Dutch Ambassador in Korea.
In the evening, the second All Star Game of Nippon Professional Baseball was broadcasted live from Yokohama.
In the very productive game, in which several homeruns were hit, the Central League won, 11-6.
Masahiro Araki of the Chunichi Dragons was named Most Valuable Player.
On Thursday-evening, the Pacific League won, 5-4.
The Olympic Games are now getting closer day by day.
In one week, Games will be officially opened in Beijing!
The players warm up before the start of practice
Sandra Gouverneur swinging at a hitting station
Coach Mary-Ann Hatt and Kim Kluijskens are in the back
Batting practice was done in the outfield today
Pitcher Kristi de Vries concentrates during a wind-up
Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru throws in the bullpen
In the back is pitcher Judith van Kampen
Catchers Ellen Venker and Nathalie Timmermans
Marloes Fellinger playing in the outfield with the Dutch flag waving in the background
Marjan Smit takes a swing in a hitting drill
Britt Vonk and Petra van Heijst at the hitting station
Head Coach Liz Kelly hits a grounder during infield-drills
Coach Linda Wells also hits grounders
On the left, Jolanda Kroesen does the catching
Kim Kluijskens fields and throws
An overview of the infield-drills
Physical Therapist Rob Oskam handles the cooling down afterwards
Coach Rob Walgien thanks the local field crew for their assistance
In the bus, back to the hotel
At Chuncheon (Korea), the Dutch Baseball Team is joined by the Dutch Olympic rowing-team
on the party hosted by the Dutch Ambassador in Korea
(photo taken by Rienette van Zetten)
Go back to the schedule of the Japan Tour
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