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Dutch Women Softball Team |
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biography |
Who is Who? |
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| # 9 - Petra van Heijst - Short Stop/2nd Base |
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|  | | Birthdate | December 31, 1984 |
| | Birthplace | Enschede (Netherlands) |
| | Residence | Enschede (Netherlands) |
| | Occupation | Teacher Physical Education
at Het Stedelijk Lyceum, Enschede |
| | Height | 1,71 m |
| | Weight | 57 kg |
| | Bats | Right |
| | Throws | Right |
| | Position | Short Stop/2nd Base |
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| | National Team | 2004; 2006 - March 2010; Nov. 2011 - current |
| | Games National Team | 44 |
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| | Clubs | Tex Town Tigers (Enschede, 1992-2003)
Amsterdam Pirates (Amsterdam, 2004)
Terrasvogels (Santpoort, 2005-2008)
Tex Town Tigers (Enschede, 2009-current)
(Dutch Major League: 2004-current) |
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| ...Tournaments Participated In... |  
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with Tex Town Tigers
European Cup
2009 (Legnano, Italy), 2010 (Haarlem, Netherlands), 2011 (Caserta, Italy)
International Mastenbroek Tournament
2001, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010 (Enschede, Netherlands)
with Amsterdam Pirates
2004 - International Indoor Cup (Schiedam, Netherlands)
with Terrasvogels
European Cup
2005 (Macerata, Italy), 2008 (Prague, Czech Republic)
Cup Winners Cup
2006 (Caronno Pertusella, Italy), 2007 (Prague, Czech Rep.)
International Indoor Cup
2005, 2006, 2007 (Schiedam, Netherlands)
International Mastenbroek Tournament
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 (Enschede, Netherlands)
with Dutch Junior Softball Team
2001 - Kingdom Games (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
2002 - European Championships Juniors (Chocen, Czech Republic)
World Championships Little League (Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA)
2003 - World Championships Juniors (Nanjing, China)
with Dutch National Softball Team
2004 - 5-game series vs. Greece (Almere/Bussum/Santpoort/Haarlem, Neth.)
ISF Prague Cup (Prague, Czech Republic)
World University Games (Plant City, Florida, USA)
2006 - Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
World Championships (Beijing, China)
Japan Cup (Yokohama, Japan)
2007 - Australia Test Series (Enschede/Oosterhout/Haarlem, Netherlands)
European Championships (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Ronchi/Castions/Staranzano, Italy)
2008 - American Tour I (California/Hawaii, USA)
American (NPF) Tour II (Pennsylvania/Illinois/Ohio, USA)
Holland Tour (Santpoort/Groningen/Oldenzaal, Netherlands)
Tri-Nation Exhibition Series (Sendai, Japan)
Olympic Games (Beijing, China)
2009 - Holland Tour (several sites, Netherlands)
Canada Cup (Surrey, Canada)
World Cup of Softball (Oklahoma City, USA)
European Championships (Valencia, Spain)
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| ...Awards... |
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2007 - Most Valuable Player, Holland Series
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| Miscellaneous |
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| When did you start with softball? | | | When I was seven |
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| Why did you start playing softball? | | | Through a classmate (Mikkel Oosterveld), who played peanutball |
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| What was your first club? | | | Tex Town Tigers in Enschede |
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| Career Highlights | | | MVP Holland Series 2007
Second place CupWinners Cup 2007, Dutch championship 2007
2nd place European Championships 2007,
Winning Olympic Qualifier in Italy in 2007
Participating in the Olympic Games in Beijing |
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| Biggest Accomplishments | | | Winning the Olympic Qualifier and qualifying for the Olympic Games |
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| Biggest blunder | | | During my first game in the senior-team, tripping over
my shoelaces on the moment that I wanted to throw the ball |
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| Which persons do you most admire? | | | My parents |
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| Which persons would you like to meet? | | | Paul Walker |
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| Three people you would love to have dinner with? | | | Three people who are sociable |
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| Dreamjob? | | | Professional softball-player |
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| From who did you learn the most? | | | My parents |
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| Biggest turn-off? | | | People who are unfair |
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| Talent you wish you had? | | | Singing |
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| Pets | | | Cat |
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| Exotic pet you would like to have? | | | Panda beer |
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| Hobbies or Interests | | | Snowboarding |
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| When you wouldn't have been involved in
softball, what other sport would you have done? | | | Skating |
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| What does the Olympic Games means to you? | | | A dream come true |
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| Why does softball has to return to the Olympics? | | | Because it is a sport which is played a lot worldwide and therefore
belongs to the Olympic Games |
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| Describe your playing style | | | Relaxed, athletic |
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| ...My Favorite / Best... |
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| Movie | | | The Notebook, Remember the Titans |
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| Actor | | | Paul Walker, Brad Pitt |
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| Actress | | | Sandra Bullock |
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| TV Channel | | | Net 5 |
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| TV Show | | | Friends, Sex and the City |
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| TV Sports Show | | | Holland Sport, NOS Studio Sport |
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| TV Personality | | | Wendy van Dijk |
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| Radio Channel | | | Radio 538 |
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| Radio Show | | | NOS Langs de Lijn |
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| Radio Personality | | | Jensen |
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| Music Genre | | | R&B, Soul, Hip Hop |
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| Singer (male) | | | Jack Johnson |
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| Singer (female) | | | India Arie, Joss Stone |
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| Group / Band etc. | | | The Police, Sting |
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| Song | | | 'Summer' by India Arie |
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| Vacation Spot / Country | | | Australia (summer), Austria (winter) |
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| Food | | | Italian |
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| Drink | | | Baccardi raspberry |
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| Animal | | | Dog |
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| Newspaper | | | De Telegraaf |
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| Book | | | Thrillers |
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| Magazine | | | Psychologie |
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| Internet Sites | | | Hyves, MySpace |
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| Sport (besides softball) | | | Snowboarding |
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| Olympic Sport (besides softball) | | | Baseball, Track & Field |
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| (Professional) Sports Team | | | The Dutch Softball Team! |
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| Athlete (male) | | | Theo Bos |
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| Athlete (female) | | | Anni Friesinger |
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| Softball Player | | | Natasha Watley |
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| Career |
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2012 --- On January 8, Petra initially gets her former uniform 12 back.
Petra wore the number from 2006 through 2008, then switched to number 13 in 2009.
In November 2011, Petra returned on the roster after a 2-year absence ---
However, on January 20, as uniform number 12 is not available after all, Petra switches to number 9.
2011 --- In August, Petra wins the European Cup-tournament in Caserta (Italy) with Tex Town Tigers ---
In the regular season, Petra misses the first part, due to a surgery related to her illness, but she recovers fine and returns to action on June 11, going 2-for-3 in the first game of a double-header vs. Sparks Haarlem ---
She finishes playing in 10 regular season-games, hitting .321, scoring seven runs, hitting nine basehits (one triple) and has five RBI's ---
On November 2, Petra re-joins the Dutch Softball National Team, as she is invited to participate in the winter practices as a non-roster player.
2010 --- On January 18, Petra is one of 21 players named to the preliminary roster for this years World Championships ---
On March 10, Petra decides to temporarily leave the team and will not play for the national squad this season to focus on her recovery after an illness that bothered her in the off-season. However, she remains eligible for the team in the future ---
In August, Petra participates in the European Cup Tournament in Haarlem (Netherlands) with Tex Town Tigers, which for the first time in history captures this Cup. Petra is unable to play, but is with the team as an assistant coach ---
In the regular season, Petra plays in 27 games and hits .265, while scoring 14 runs and having seven RBI's.
2009 --- Petra changes her uniform number in the Dutch National Team from 12 to 13, which was last worn by Lynn Geertman ---
On May 3, in the second game of the Holland Tour vs. Euro Stars, Petra scores a run and has one RBI ---
On May 6, Petra hits a 2-run triple in the second game against the Dutch Juniors ---
On May 10, Petra hits two triples, reaches base three times, scores once and has four RBI's in the second game vs. Centrals ---
Petra has two singles, scores once and has two RBI's in the double-header vs. the Dutch Juniors on May 20 ---
On May 27, Petra is one of the 17 players who is named to the final roster for the Dutch National Team to participate in this years international events ---
On May 31, Petra is 1-for-4 and scores twice in the opener, then goes 3-for-4 with a double, one run and two RBI's in the second game of the double-header vs. Robur '58 ---
Also on May 31, Petra is elected one of the three captain's of the team by the players, the others being Saskia Kosterink and Rebecca Soumeru ---
Petra adds two RBI's in the second game vs. the Dutch Juniors on June 3 ---
On June 17, Petra is 2-for-4, scores three runs and has an RBI in the double-header vs. Kansas Express USA ---
On June 19, Petra is 1-for-3, scores once and has two RBI's in the game against Great Britain ---
On July 28, Petra is 1-for-1 and scores in the game vs. Russia during the European Championships ---
On July 29, Petra is 1-for-1, has an RBI and scores twice in the game vs. Germany during the European Championships ---
On July 31, Petra scores one of two runs in the semi-final of European Championships vs. Great Britain ---
On August 1, Petra is a member of the Dutch Team which brings the European title back to the Netherlands for the first time in 19 years ---
Two weeks later, Petra participates with Tex Town Tigers in the European Cup Tournament in Legnano (Italy), which is her fifth EC-event ---
On September 2, Petra, Anne Blaauwgeers, Saskia Kosterink and Rebecca Soumeru, accompanied by Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar, travel to Papendal to participate in the final of a fundraising for Right To Play ---
In the regular season, Petra hits .277, scores 17 runs and has 18 runs batted in (third highest of her team) ---
After completion of the season (her first back with her former club Tex Town Tigers), Petra reaches the Holland Series with Tex Town Tigers, which wins the Dutch championship title.
2008 --- Hits 3-for-4, including a grand slam homerun, scores twice and has five RBI's on February 16 vs. St. Mary's College in the opening game of the first American Tour by the Dutch National Team, which is part of the preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing ---
On March 2, Petra is 3-for-4, including a doubles, scores two runs and has four RBI's in the second game vs. Chaminade University of Honolulu ---
On May 29, Petra enters the first game vs. Philadelphia Force as a pinch-hitter and delivers a single to open the second American Tour ---
On June 20, Petra, who makes some fine defensive plays at short and second base in previous games, is 2-for-3 and scores once in the final game of the trip vs. Akron Racers ---
Back home, she is 2-for-3, including an RBI-triple, and scores a run in a 5-1 win in the opener of the Holland Tour vs. Terrasvogels ---
On July 14, Petra is one of the player named to the roster for the Olympic Games ---
After playing in two games during the Japan Tour, Petra makes her Olympic debut on August 12 in the opening game of the Olympic Games vs. host China when she is used as a pinch-runner ---
In the regular season, Petra is the lone player to play in all games of her team Terrasvogels, with she also participates in the European Cup-tournament in Prague (Czech Republic). Her 22 runs scored are the second highest of her team, trailing Dana Horeman, and equals for fifth place in the league ---
In November, Petra returns again to her former team Tex Town Tigers, where she has played before making her big league-debut in 2004, while playing for Amsterdam Pirates ---
On December 11, Petra is one of 28 players being named to the preliminary roster of the Dutch National Team for 2009 and is invited to start practice in January.
2007 --- On May 31, during the European Championships in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Petra is brought into the game against Italy as pinch-runner and went on to score the tying run. The Dutch win the game, 4-3 ---
On June 2, she is 1-for-2 and has a sac-bunt in the semi-final vs. Russia, which is won 6-0 ---
Later in the day, she walks and scores in the final vs. Italy, which wins 9-3 ---
On June 9, Petra is 2-for-3 and has an RBI in a 14-0 win against Slovakia on the first day of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in italy ---
In her third year with Terrasvogels, Petra scores 13 runs and has nine RBI's ---
In the Holland Series, Terrasvogels wins the Dutch title and Petra is named MVP of the series ---
Earlier in the year, she finishes in the second place with Terrasvogels on the CupWinners Cup Tournament in Prague (Czech Republic).
2006 --- On July 5, Petra plays 2nd Base in the game against Florida Quicksilver (USA) in the Canada Cup Tournament, as she returns in the Dutch National Team ---
Later in the year, she participates with the Dutch squad in the World Championships in Beijing (China) and makes her international debut on August 29 against Botswana ---
The international season is completed with the participation in the Japan Cup in Yokohama ---
In the regular season, Petra scores 24 runs and has 12 RBI's.
2005 --- In her first season with Terrasvogels, Petra participates in the European Cup Tournament in Macerata, finishing in third place.
2004 --- Playing for Amsterdam Pirates, Petra makes her debut in the Dutch Major League, finishing with a .254 average --- This year also has an international flavor, as she participates in the World University Games in Plant City, Florida (USA) ---
Earlier in the year, she makes her debut in the Dutch National Team, while playing during a 5-game series vs. Greece and later plays with the Dutch squad on the Prague Cup.
2003 --- With the Dutch Juniors, Petra participates in the World Championships in Nanjing (China).
2002 --- This year, Petra plays with the Dutch Juniors on the European Championships in the Czech Republic, but also travels to the USA to play in the Little League World Series for big league softball-teams.
2001 --- Petra makes her international debut, as she participates with the Dutch National Junior Team in the Kingdom Games in Rotterdam (Netherlands).
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| Family |
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| PETRA is the daughter of Jon and Gerry van Heijst and has one brother, Frank, who plays baseball for Amsterdam Pirates and made his big league debut in 2008. |
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