|
Players Dutch Junior Teams get together; new staffmembers introduced
 Nederlandse tekst
VEENENDAAL (Netherlands) -
On October 31, a total of 93 players got together in Veenendaal for the first meeting of the Dutch Junior Red and White Softball Teams for 2011.
Also, four new staff members were introduced, while the staff for the 2011 season of the two youth-teams also were announced.
Towards the end of October, 49 players were named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch Junior Red Team, including 14 of the 17 players, who participated in July in the European Junior Championship in Vienna (Austria).
The three players, who were not invited are no longer eligible for this team, due to their age.
Also included in the 49 players for the Red Team are most players who were on the 2010 roster of the Junior White Team.
For the newly formed Dutch Junior White Team, 44 players were invited for this meeting.
Besides the get-together and the introduction of the staffmembers, photos were taken of all players, which will be used for the individual pages of all players on this website.
From these two groups, two teams will be formed in 2011 to participate in two events.
In July, the Kingdom Games will be staged on Curaçao, one of the Antillian islands in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Most players for this team will come from the Red Team.
In August, the European Cadets Championship will take place in Deurne (Belgium).
The players for this event will come from the White Team.
During the meeting, four new staffmembers were introduced.
Former Dutch National Team pitcher Judith van Kampen, who participated in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (China) was introduced as the Pitching Coach for the Junior White Team.
Former Dutch National Baseball Team player Peter van Dalen will be one of the two Hitting Instructors, who will work with both Junior-squads.
The other Hitting Instructor is Sandra Gouverneur, who was the Head Coach of the Juniors in Austria.
Marco Molleman was introduced today as the Team Manager of the Junior White Team.
The fourth new staffmember is Jeroen van de Wiel, who will be the video analyst for both Junior-teams, as well as the National Team.
Also today, the staff compilation for the two Junior Teams was announced.
Mireille Gill'ard will be the Head Coach of the Junior Red Team in 2011.
She will be assisted by Nathalie Franssen and Pitching Coach Maaike Zijlstra.
Marjan Smit was introduced as Head Coach of the Junior White Team, which will participate in the European Championhip in Belgium.
Judith van Kampen will be the Pitching Coach of this team, while an Assistant Coach will be named later.
Marco Molleman will handle the administrative and organisational affairs for this squad as its Team Manager.
In 2010, Mireille, Nathalie, Maaike and Marjan all were so-called Flex Coaches, who handled the coaching and training of both the Red and White teams.
Mireille, Nathalie and Marjan all acted as Head Coach during several regular season games of the Dutch Junior Red Team during the Major League-competition, while Maaike was the Pitching Coach.
Marjan and Maaike also were members of the coachingstaff during the European Championship in Vienna.
Besides these team staffs, the two Junior-squads have a supporting staff.
Craig Montvidas, the Head Coach of the Dutch National Team, will oversee the teams as the National Team Supervisor.
Anouk Fermont and Sanne Oude Egberink are returning as the Physical Therapists for both teams, as well as the National Team.
Marco Stoovelaar will be the Media Officer for both teams, as well as the National Team and of course compiles the official website of the Dutch National Softball Teams.
As mentioned above, Jeroen van de Wiel will be the video analyst.
Craig Montvidas (far right) addresses the parents of the players
of the Dutch Junior White Team, who are seated on the front rows
Craig Montvidas (left) with staffmembers Paul Boonstra (Team Manager National Team),
Marco Molleman (Team Manager White), Anne Blaauwgeers (player National Team, guest instructor),
Marjan Smit (Head Coach White), Judith van Kampen (Pitching Coach White),
Jeroen van de Wiel (video analyst) and Maaike Zijlstra (Pitching Coach Red)
Players of the Junior White Team during the practice session
Left to right: Maxime van Dalen, Ingemarie Rumai and Gabi Obia
Pitching Coaches Maaike Zijlstra and Judith van Kampen instruct the pitchers
The players of the White-squad listen to Craig Montvidas
More instructions from Craig Montvidas
Left to right: Craig Montvidas (Supervisor Dutch Youth Teams), Paul Boonstra (Team Manager
National Team), Mireille Gill'ard (Head Coach Red) and Maaike Zijlstra (Pitching Coach Red)
Jeroen van de Wiel checks the video-images
Instructor Anne Blaauwgeers (second from left) with Junior Red-players
Marjolein Merkx, Rosanne de Vries, Eva Voortman and Deion van der Voort
Left to right Junior Red-players Eva Voortman, Mariëlle Vleugels, Jessie van Aalst,
Sophie Bugter and Amanda van der Linden during a running drill
Left to right: Nathalie Franssen (Coach Red), Anne Blaauwgeers (instructor),
Red Player Cindy van der Zanden and Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont
More running drills for Red-players Kim Buizer, Loes van der Vliet, Lynn Dollekamp, Shadeney Castillo,
Tessa Rijken, Amber Krijgsman, Melissa de Greef, Daphne Endlich, Gini Ketelaars and Merel Zandvliet
Looking on are Sophie Bugter, Kiki Draaijer, Kimberly Jones, Noëmie Brandjes,
Rebecca Duindam, Instructor Anne Blaauwgeers and Coach Nathalie Franssen
(thanks to Bart van Leersum for the above photos)
| 
