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Day 3: Another practice in the books
On Tuesday, the Dutch National Softball Team conducted its second practice session of this trip, but it was the first at ECTB Stadium at Earl F. Hunsicker Bi-Centennial Park.
This stadium will be the site for the upcoming 4-game series against the Philadelphia Force, the professional team from the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).
Before practice, the team got a stadium tour from Erin Statmore, the Assistant General Manager of the Philadelphia Force.
The first game between the two teams is scheduled for Thursday-evening. All four games can probably be watched live on the website of the Force, but more details about that will be added later when available.
After visiting the locker rooms, the picknick area and the stands, the team started the practice around 11:00 AM.
Today, besides batting practice, drills and pitchers throwing in the bullpen, an intersquad game was played.
It was another sunny day, but also very moist as if it was to rain any moment. But that didn't happen and we got another fine and dry day and practice in the books.
Eventually, we got our rain around 7:00 PM, right at the moment we went out for dinner.
| ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park |
ECTB stands for Elite Championship Tournament Baseball and the 5500-seat stadium is not only being used by the Phildelphia Force professional softball-team, but also for youth baseball games.
The original ballpark at the location opened in 1939 as Fairview Field and was the home of the Allentown Dukes, which were affiliated with the Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves). In 1940, the St. Louis Cardinals took over the team and renamed it Allentown Fleetwings and then Cardinals. After the 1948 season, the team moved to another stadium in Allentown.
Fairview Field was renovated in the mid-70s and re-opened in 1976 as Bi-Centennial Park and was named after Earl F. Hunsicker, who led the drive to build Bi-Centennial Park as a living memorial to the 200th anniversary of the United States.
From 1997-2003, the stadium was the home of the professional baseballteam Allentown Ambassadors, which played in the Independent Northeast and Northern Leagues. By the way, professional baseball has been played in Allentown since 1884.
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The team arrives at ECTB Stadium, the home of the Philadelphia Force
The locker room the Dutch Team will use at the stadium
The players choose their seat in the locker room
Erin Statmore, the Assistant General Manager of the Philadephia Force,
gives the team a tour of the stadium
The stadium rules
Physical Therapist Rob Oskam looks around in the Trainer's Room
The team listens to Physical Therapist Rob Oskam explaining a drill
Double Batting Pratice: At left. Debby Connor takes a swing on a pitch of Coach Mary-Ann Hatt;
At right, Kim Kluijskens awaits a pitch from Coach Rob Walgien
Dana Horeman makes contact during batting practice
Kim Kluijskens, Noémi Boekel and Marloes Fellinger during a break in action
Noémi Boekel (left) and Sandra Gouverneur enjoy practice
Jolanda Kroesen during a break
A big supply of the Webmaster's favorite drink arrived at the stadium
Pitchers Judith van Kampen (left) and Anouk Mels in action during an intersquad game
Britt Vonk (left) and Ellen Venker at bat during the intersquad game
Go back to the schedule of the 2nd USA Tour
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