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Dutch Team suffers double loss
 Nederlandse tekst
PUERTO ORDAZ (Venezuela) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Thursday played two games in the Triangular de Softbol Femenino.
The team first met Cuba, then closed the evening vs. Venezuela.
The squad did not had its best day, as both games were lost.
Team Orange lost 7-3 to Cuba, then 8-2 to Venezuela.
It was a long outing on the field and the team returned around 11:20 PM back in the hotel, then still had to have dinner.
Thereafter, everyone had to start packing, as the team will have breakfast at 8 AM on Friday-morning, then travel to the airport of Ciudad Guayana for the one-and-a-half-hour flight to Barinas.
With today's games, the first part of the Venezuela International Series in Puerto Ordaz ended, as the three participating teams will fly to Barinas on Friday-morning, leaving at 10 AM, for the second part of the event.
A few hours after arriving in Barinas, the Dutch Team will be back on the field again in the afternoon to meet Venezuela for the third and last time in this tournament.
On Saturday, the Dutch will close the event against Cuba, then will fly to Caracas on Sunday, where the World Championship opens on June 23.
Game vs. Cuba
Cuba took a quick lead in this game, scoring four runs in three innings off starting pitcher Kirsten Scheele, who gave up five hits.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first at bat, Yuselis Acosta singled in the second inning, then scored the first Cuban run when Mailín Sánchez singled.
In the third inning, Kirsten gave up three consecutive singles and was relieved by Lindsey Meadows (who struckout nine batters and gave up four additional hits).
The three hits, combined by a following error and a passed ball gave Cuba three additional runs and made it 4-0.
The Dutch Team came back in the game in the home of the third inning by scoring three runs.
First, Nathalie Gosewehr walked and Meike Witteveen was hit by a pitch.
The bases were loaded when Britt Vonk followed with a single.
Next, after a pitching change, Saskia Kosterink (who was 2-for-3) singled to bring in two runs.
A grounder by Lindsey Meadows accounted for another run and made it 4-3.
Cuba took more distance in the next at bats.
In the fifth, Yanitza Avilés homered, then three hits and a wild pitch resulted in another run and a 6-3 score.
In the sixth, Diamela Puentas walked, then a single plus error made it 7-3.
The Dutch got another scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when it got the bases loaded with two outs.
With one out, Meike Witteveen singled and advanced to third base when an error was made on a grounder by Britt Vonk, who herself was able to reach second base.
After a pop-fly, the bases were loaded when Lindsey Meadows walked, but then the third out followed, leaving three runners behind.
Yanitza Avilés, Lidibet Castellón and Katia Cuello all had two hits for Cuba.
The line-up vs. Cuba was as follows:
Pitcher-Kirsten Scheele (2 innings + 3 batters), Lindsey Meadows (5 innings);
Catcher-Anne Blaauwgeers, Fabienne van Uden (pinch-runner);
1st Base-Nadine Marinus;
2nd Base-Meike Witteveen;
3rd Base-Nathalie Timmermans;
Short Stop-Britt Vonk;
Left Field-Nathalie Gosewehr;
Center Field-Saskia Kosterink;
Right Field-Areke Spel;
Designated Player-Lindsey Meadows.
Box Score Netherlands vs. Cuba
Game preparations
Virginie Anneveld takes a refreshment
As does Coach Tracy Bunge
Accompanied by vuvuzela music from Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink
Nathalie Timmermans and Nathalie Gosewehr are checking out something
Rebecca Soumeru is being interviewed by a local TV-station
Today's umpires
Another interview, this time for Britt Vonk
A relaxed Anne Blaauwgeers is ready for the game
Yes, Business Manager Rich Hooff stands in attention for the National Anthem
Action from the Cuba-game
Nathalie Gosewehr connects
Meike Witteveen turns for a bunt
Lindsey Meadows swings with Saskia Kosterink running at first base
A look at the Cuban dug-out and the stands
Young softball-fans
The ever-presence security guards
Game vs. Venezuela
Venezuela registered eight basehits off Dutch starter Rebecca Soumeru in 3 innings, including four homeruns.
With one out in the first at bat, Venezuelan centerfielder Yaicey Sojo hit a solo-homerun, then Yuruby Alicarte singled and went on to score the second run.
In the second inning, Maybes Rodríguez led off with a homerun and moments later, Yaicey Sojo again homered to make it 4-0.
In the third, Miriam Jimenez also homered, then Maybes Rodríguez added an RBI-double, enabling Ana Coscorrosa (who had singled) to score and lift the lead to 6-0.
Dagmar Bloeming took over the pitching in the fourth inning, walked three batters, then gave up a single to Geraldine Puertos, which produced two more runs and increased the lead to 8-0.
In the remaining three innings, Dagmar (who gave up only two basehits) wouldn't give up more runs.
Winning pitcher Mariangee Bogado struckout seven batters and gave up only two hits in the 6 1/3 inning she pitched.
The two Dutch runs were scored in the home of the fourth off Bogado's successor.
Areke Spel reached on an error, then Lindsey Meadows (who played in the outfield in this game) walked.
The two runners advanced on a grounder by Nadine Marinus, then scored both on a 2-run single by Solange Starrenburg.
After the second out, Bogado returned as pitcher and completed the inning, as well as the game.
The line-up vs. Venezuela was as follows:
Pitcher-Rebecca Soumeru (3 innings), Dagmar Bloeming (4 innings);
Catcher-Solange Starrenburg;
1st Base-Nadine Marinus;
2nd Base-Meike Witteveen;
3rd Base-Virginie Anneveld;
Short Stop-Chantal Versluis;
Left Field-Fabienne van Uden;
Center Field-Merel Oosterveld;
Right Field-Lindsey Meadows;
Designated Player-Areke Spel.
Box Score Netherlands vs. Venezuela
Media coverage
During the Venezuela International Series (or Triangular de Softbol Femenino), there is a lot of attention from local and national media, including coverage of the games played by the Dutch Team.
The Dutch Softball Team in the Venezuelan Media
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