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Day 24: Action in Akron
AKRON (Ohio, USA) - Today, on Day 24, it was a day of action. The Dutch National Softball Team conducted a practice and conditioning session in the morning and in the afternoon, we were able to see action from Europe, as the Dutch Soccer Team defeated Romania 2-0 to become the undefeated leader in Pool-play of the European Championships.
In the morning, the team went to Firestone Stadium, the home of the Akron Racers, the opponent of the Dutch in a 4-game series, which will start on Wednesday-evening.
The Racers themselves were practicing in the nice looking stadium, so the Dutch team did their practice on a field behind rightfield.
During practice, infielders fielded grounders, the outfielders went after fly balls, the pitchers had a throwing session with the catchers and simulated situations were created in an intersquad game.
After completion of the practice, a condition session followed to complete today's outing on the field.
In the afternoon, the Dutch team showed their support for the Dutch National Soccer Team, which played its third and last game in pool-play of the European Championships, currently underway in Switzerland and Austria.
The team of Head Coach Marco van Basten remained unbeaten, as it won 2-0 vs. Romania. The team already clinched a spot in the next round after winning 4-1 vs. France a few days ago. The 'Orange' team opened with a 3-0 win against Italy.
The day ended with a full moon.
| Firestone Stadium |
Historic Firestone Stadium was dedicated on July 25, 1925 by Harvey S. Firestone, Sr., the founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
The stadium was constructed for the recreation of the employees of Firestone and numerous fastpitch and slowpitch softball teams in Akron.
It was owned and operated by the Firestone Company until it was donated to the City of Akron in 1988.
Besides being the home of the Akron Racers softball-game, it also has served as the host site to the Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament from 2002-2005 and also this year.
The stadium, which was renovated in 1999, has seating for 1100 spectators and can accomodate 1500 spectators in bleachers along the first and third base lines.
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| Where are we? |
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The Dutch National Softball Team concludes this American trip in the city of Akron, which has a population of approximately 209.000 and is located on the Cuyahoga River. Akron was founded in 1825 near the Ohio and Erie Canal and became a manufacturing center.
The city has a lot of firsts.
In 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous was founded here, but also the first automobile tires in the United States were made here, as well as the first rubber-wound golf ball.
The first breakfast cereal, US toy company, graded school system, automobile police patrol wagon, space suits made and first American zeppelin built, all were done, created or made in Akron, which also had the first long distance electric railway in the world.
It also is the home of the first National Football League (NFL) champions, the Akron Professionals in 1920 and was once known as the 'Rubber Capital of the World', as the rubber industry started here in the 1800s.
One of the most wellknown companies is Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
People came for jobs in the industry from many places, including Europe. Among them in the 1920s was a young Clark Gable, who later became a famous actor in classic movies like 'Gone With The Wind'.
Goodyear started experimenting with airship development beginning in the early 1910s and created a Zeppelin Company. For two decades, there were two American centers for these types of manufacturing, Akron and Lakehurst (New Jersey).
The latter became famous by the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. Shortly hereafter, Goodyear started the production of blimps, which are nowadays being used for air footage during big sports events.
Amongst those born in Akron were New York Yankees-catcher Thurman Munson (who passed away in 1979), astronaut Judith Resnik (who died in the accident with Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986), singer Chrissie Hynde, basketball-player LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), soul musician James Ingram, figure skater David Jenkins (gold medal 1960 Olympics) and former basketball player Nate Thurmond.
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Firestone Stadium, the home of the Akron Racers, our opponent in the next series
The players walk to the stadium for today's practice
The main entrance of the historic Firestone Stadium
View from the outfield
The team warms up before the practice session
After warming-up, the team meets before start of the practice
Head Coach Liz Kelly follows the action on the field
Saskia Kosterink connects during batting practice
Noémi Boekel (left) and Debby Connor during an infield-drill
Catchers Nina van Huissteden, Nathalie Timmermans and Ellen Venker
Pitchers Rebecca Soumeru, Anouk Mels, Judith van Kampen
and Dagmar Bloeming during their throwing session
Coach Rob Walgien hits fly balls to the outfielders
1B Kim Kluijskens is ready to field
Sandra Gouverneur drills one into the outfield
Marjan Smit is ready to hit one during batting practice
Sandra Gouverneur, Chantal Versluis and Jolanda Kroesen
await their turn to run. At left is Coach Mary-Ann Hatt
Today's practice was done under a blue sky
Sandra Gouveneur scores a run during created situations
Ellen Venker, Marjan Smit, Marloes Fellinger,
Dana Horeman, Sandra Gouverneur, Anouk Mels
and Nina van Huissteden watch the game of the Dutch Soccer Team vs. Romania
On the other end of the room, Nathalie Timmermans and Rebecca Soumeru watch the
European Soccer Championship-game, while Britt Vonk misses the action
In the next room, Debby Connor and Kim Kluijskens show the score
1-0 for the team of Coach Marco van Basten
Tuesday-evening, it was Full Moon
Go back to the schedule of the 2nd USA Tour
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