|
Day 12: Another day of practice
Thursday was another day on the field for the Dutch National Softball Team.
On Day 12 of the second American Tour as preparation for the Olympic Games another practice session was scheduled.
Not on 'our' home field at ECTB Stadium, as that was unavailable due to rain the previous night, but on a softball field, located at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and South Tenth Street, but closeby our hotel in Allentown.
It was a long, but enjoyable and productive training session, which started and ended with conditioning drills.
In between, defensive drills were done, pitchers threw and a batting practice was held.
In the evening, we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant, the second of fine restaurants we've been in and both are located in 'our' street, the other being BrewWorks, where we've been three times so far.
After dinner, the team watched videos to end the day.
For the record:
New England Riptide tonight defeated Philadelphia Force, 12-3 in Game Two of their 4-game series
Earlier this week, the softball-team of Arizona State University (ASU) captured its first NCAA title by winning 3-0 and 11-0 vs. Texas A&M in the best-of-three final of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. Current Dutch National Team Coach Linda Wells was the Head Coach at ASU until 2005.
For your information, in the Dutch big league baseball, league-leader DOOR Neptunus won only 1-0 (on a wild pitch) vs. ADO, while Corendon Kinheim shutout Konica Minolta Pioniers 2-0. L&D Amsterdam also registered a shutout, winning 10-0 vs. Sparta/Feyenoord and Mr. Cocker HCAW escaped a late comeback by MediaMonks RCH and won 11-10.
As always, the practice starts with a team-meeting
Every practice starts with a warming up, led by Physical Therapist Rob Oskam
Dagmar Bloeming, Judith van Kampen and Debby Connor
change shoes for the defensive drills
Another workout, another meeting
Business Manager Caroline Theunissen cuts a watermelon...
...and Physical Therapist Rob Oskam 'checks' the taste
Assistant Coach Mary-Ann Hatt hits a pop-fly for the infielders
Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru during a pitching drill
Marloes Fellinger and Jolanda Kroesen are ready to hit
Noémi Boekel throws a grounder towards first base
2B Lynn Geertman receives a ball, covering first base
A firetruck races by the field
An outfield-view of the practice field
In the back is PPL Building, which is opposite our hotel
Noémi Boekel and Debby Connor during a break in the action
During the break, players enjoy some pieces of watermelon
A relaxing moment for Anouk Mels, Nathalie Timmermans (in the back),
Judith van Kampen, Petra van Heijst and Marjan Smit during the break
After the break, Conditioning & Strenghth Coach Rob Oskam conducts his 30-minute conditioning drill
Go back to the schedule of the 2nd USA Tour
| 
