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Dutch Juniors get into action during indoor series
 Nederlandse tekst
ENSCHEDE (Neth.) - After a few weeks of intensive indoor practice sessions in Veenendaal, it was finally GAME-TIME on Sunday, December 13 for the players of the Dutch Junior Softball Team!
In the nice and spacy Diekman Sports Hall in Enschede, the group of the Dutch Juniors today played a 3-way series.
The large preliminary roster of 27 players was split into three teams, Team Blue, Team Orange and Team White.
The group was completed with the six players, who in October were added to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team: Maaike Blaauwgeers, Kim Donkers, Malou van Dusschoten, Lotte Holvast, Fabienne van Uden and Anne Vlietstra.
With this, all teams consisted of eleven players.
The staff today consisted of Head Coach Craig Montvidas, Pitching Coach Tracy Bunge, Flex Coaches Nathalie Franssen, Sandra Gouverneur and Maaike Zijlstra, Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont, Team Manager Paul Boonstra and Media Officer/Statistician Marco Stoovelaar.
Three umpires were invited and they worked in all three games with a 3-man system.
Therefore, a word of thanks in is its place towards umpires Francine Grotenhoff, Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven and Bert Oosterveld.
But also for Joop Nordsiek, who was the Official Scorer for the first two games, Marco handled the third game as scorer.
Afterwards, everyone looked back with a good feeling to the day.
Of course, we all had to rise very early (thank you parents, who came with the players to Enschede) and there was some waiting, before the clubhouse in the sports hall opened (and we all could enjoy a nice cup of coffee), but eventually, we all enjoyed it.
Today was all about playing, that was the purpose of the day.
While several errors were made, the coaching staff got the opportunity to watch all players in game situations and get a first impression of their abilities and possibilities.
Team White won both games, but we can add to it that they didn't had to play in the first (early) game of the day.......
Game One
Team Orange opende the 3-way series with an 8-0 victory vs. Team Blue.
In the opening game, Maaike Blaauwgeers had two basehits for Team Orange and Anne Vlietstra hit a double.
Sophie Bugter scored twice.
Team Blue was unable to hit a basehit off pitchers Mariëlle Vleugels (5 strikeouts, one walk, 3 innings) and Loes van der Vliet (1 inning).
Marjolein Merkx (1 strikeout, 1 walk, 5 hits, 3 innings) and Inge Tishauser (2 strikeouts, 4 walks, 2 innings) threw for Team Blue.
Game Two
In the second game, Team White wins 6-2 vs. Team Orange.
Laura Treurniet hit two basehits for White, while Kim Donkers scores twice.
In the first inning, Team White opens with three runs on basehits by Fabienne van Uden and Laura Treurniet, a walk and an error.
Orange answered with two runs via two basehits, an error and a walk.
White takes more distance in the third inning and adds another run in the fourth at bat.
For Team Orange, Anne Vlietstra hits two basehits, while Debby Barbé and Kirsten Vierdag each hit one.
Throwing for Team White are Laura Treurniet (3 strikeouts, 3 walks, 3 hits, 2 innings) and Chantal Kradolfer (3 strikeouts, 1 hit, 2 innings).
Loes van der Vliet (1 strikeout, 1 walk, 2 hits, 2 innings) and Eva Voortman (2 strikeouts, 1 walk, 3 hits, 2 innings) throw for Team Orange.
Game Three
The series ended with a 6-1 win for Team White against Team Blue, which initially took the lead in the second inning on a single by Noëmie Brandjes.
In the third inning, White scores for runs on a basehit by Dinet Oosting, grounder by Daphne Endlich and a double by Kim Donkers.
Dinet has a good outing with three basehits.
Cindy van der Zanden, Jessie van Aalst and Kim Donkers all have two basehits.
Team Blue hits two basehits, hit by Noëmie Brandjes and Nadia Bron.
Jessie van Aalst (3 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 hit, 3 innings), Laura Treurniet (2 strikeouts, 1 inning) and Chantal Kradolfer (1 hit, 1 inning) throw for Team White; Malou van Dusschoten (3 strikeouts, 1 walk, 2 hits, 2 innings) and Marisèla de Wind (2 strikeouts, 1 walk, 9 hits, 3 innings) pitch for Team Blue.
By the way, the last game was also the lone one without errors!
Afterwards, the players said goodbye to Tracy Bunge.
The American Pitching Coach contributed a lot the last weeks during the practices and paid a lot of attention to details, which was in the advantage of all.
Of course, all players thank Tracy very much for her contributions during the practices.
| The Quentemeijer Brothers |
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The 3-way series of Sunday was played at the Diekman Sports Hall in Enschede.
In front of the hall, there is a statue of a boxer with a plaquette that reads ''To honor the brothers Bennie, Rudie, Willie, Henk and Frits Quentemeijer. They were of great importance for the sport of boxing''.
Who were the Quentemeijer brothers?
Bennie Quentemeijer was the eldest and taught his brothers boxing at their home.
In 1935, the five brothers decided to found an own boxing club in a time that the sport of boxing wasn't very popular.
The club was named DBO (Door Broerders Opgericht, Founded By Brothers) and the five became big promotors of boxing.
Bennie became an instructor, Rudie was a middleweight, Frits (the youngest) was not boxing up to his talent, according to stories, preventing damage to his face.
Willie and Henk were the most successful.
Welterweight Willie was known for his knockouts and was the Dutch champion in 1940.
Heavyweight Henk (Hennie) was Dutch champion five times and won the European title in 1947.
In 1948, he participated in the Olympic Games in London.
One of the staffmembers in London for the Dutch Boxing Team was Dr. Wout Posthuma, who later became the Chairman of the then Royal Dutch Baseball Federation (KNHB).
During World War II, the five brothers Quentemeijer were all active in the resistence and later remained involved in boxing, giving instructions.
When DBO started to fell apart in later years, Boksclub Twente was founded in March 1972 as the successor of the famous boxing club in Enschede.
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Team Blue
Back: Nadia Bron, Kiki Draaijer, Marjolein Merkx, Rosanne de Vries, Lotte Holvast and Cheryl Hiele
Front: Inge Tishauser, Malou van Dusschoten, Noëmie Brandjes, Marisèla de Wind and Beau van Gelder
Team Orange
Back: Laura Bakker, Mariëlle Vleugels, Eva Voortman, Kirsten Vierdag, Sophie Bugter and Loes van der Vliet
Front: Rebecca Duindam, Suzanne Meiring, Debby Barbé, Anne Vlietstra and Maaike Blaauwgeers
Team White
Back: Dinet Oosting, Jessie van Aalst, Kim Donkers, Kimberly Jones, Marit van Vulpen and Daphne Endlich
Front: Laura Treurniet, Cindy van der Zanden, Fabienne van Uden and Chantal Kradolfer
Umpires Francine Grotenhoff, Bert Oosterveld and Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven
Official Scorer Joop Nordsiek, who did the first two games of the series
Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar scored the third game
Head Coach Craig Montvidas addresses the team before the first game
Mariëlle Vleugels hitting and pitching
Cheryl Hiele is the catcher; Bert Oosterveld the umpire
A meeting between catcher Cheryl Hiele and pitcher Marjolein Merkx
Lotte Holvast hitting for Team Blue
Sophie Bugter is the catcher; Bert Oosterveld the umpire
Concentration at bat for Sophie Bugter and Loes van der Vliet
Flex Coach Sandra Gouverneur looks to with Maaike Blaauwgeers in the batter's box
Moments later, Maaike Blaauwgeers steals second base successfully
Noëmie Brandjes is the short stop; umpire Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven makes the call
Inge Tishauser leaves first base after a wild pitch,
but then is eliminated later at third base, tagged out by 3B Anne Vlietstra
Umpire Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven is about to call Inge out; Kirsten Vierdag covers the action
A meeting between Sophie Bugter, Laura Bakker and Loes van der Vliet
Suzanne Meiring at bat and later as baserunner
First baseman Marjolein Merkx is ready for action
Cheering from second baseman Noëmie Brandjes
Catcher Cheryl Hiele is ready for a new pitch
and umpire Bert Oosterveld for a new judgement
Flex Coach Sandra Gouverneur has a talk with Team Blue
The 3-way series was played in the Diekman Hall in Enschede
In front of the hall, there is a boxing statue honoring the brothers Bennie, Rudie, Willie,
Henk and Frits Quentemeijer, who were of great importance to the boxing sport in Enschede
Concentration at bat for Dinet Oosting
Head Coach Craig Montvidas notes, checks and watches
But other staffmembers also closely follow the games
In front is Flex Coach Nathalie Franssen; behind her
Flex Coach Sandra Gouverneur and Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont;
Behind the table are Pitching Coach Tracy Bunge and Official Scorer Joop Nordsiek
Head Coach Craig Montvidas is standing in the background
Also a lot of attention from family members in the stands
Laura Treurniet delivers a new pitch
Eva Voortman at bat and pitching
Dinet Oosting is the catcher; Francine Grotenhoff the umpire
Third baseman Kimberly Jones keeps her eye on the batter
Debby Barbé (nr. 7) and Sophie Bugter (nr. 69)
are the baserunners; Daphne Endlich is the second baseman
Maaike Blaauwgeers watches the situation as baserunner;
Kimberly Jones is playing third; Kim Donkers at first
Daphne Endlich overlooks the situation
Rebecca Duindam hitting with Dinet Oosting behind the plate;
Francine Grotenhoff is the home plate umpire
Kim Donkers (with helmet), Kimberly Jones, Fabienne van Uden, Laura Treurniet,
Marit van Vulpen and Dinet Oosting celebrate when Team White scores a run
Team Orange is ready to charge
Chantal Kradolfer throwing for Team White
Standing in front is first baseman Kim Donkers
Daphne Endlich gets instructions from Flex Coach Nathalie Franssen;
Kirsten Vierdag is the second baseman
Rosanne de Vries, Kiki Draaijer, Beau van Gelder, Marisèla de Wind,
Inge Tishauser, Nadia Bron and Lotte Holvast (in front) listen to instructions
Pitchers Jessie van Aalst and Malou van Dusschoten in action
Marit van Vulpen did not play due to an injury and was first base-coach
A moment of fun for Flex Coaches Sandra Gouverneur and Nathalie Franssen
Marisèla de Wind starts her wind-up; Cheryl Hiele is playing at first
Hitter Rosanne de Vries awaits a pitch
Several photos were made in Enschede, for instance by Dolf Treurniet, the father of Laura
Cindy van der Zanden reaches second base safely;
Short stop Debby Barbé has no chance; Umpire Francine Grotenhoff will make the call
Head Coach Craig Montvidas closes the series
Applause for Pitching Coach Tracy Bunge, who said goodbye today
Pitching Coach Tracy Bunge gave a lot of handy advices during
her five week stay at the practices of the Dutch Junior-group
The team ends the day with a team-yell
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