|
Dutch Team's first practice in Caracas
 Nederlandse tekst
CARACAS (Venezuela) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Sunday conducted its first practice session on its first full day in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, where the World Championship will open on Wednesday, June 23.
The Dutch Team had just completed its practice and returned in the hotel when it started to rain heavily.
The Team had planned to attend the exhibition game between Great Britain and Venezuela in the evening, but that was canceled, as the field was unplayable.
,,Everyhting here is arranged very, very well. We feel very safe and comfortable here'', said Dutch Head Coach Craig Montvidas today after practice.
Regarding the six games played during the Triangular de Softbol Femenino (in Puerto Ordaz) and Cuadrangular Internacional (in Barinas), Montvidas stated: ,,Defensively we're playing very sharp, offensively we left too much runners. We are really looking forward to our first game against Great Britain.''
On Monday, the Dutch squad will visit the Dutch Embassy in Caracas in the morning, then face the Czech Republic in an exhibition game in the afternoon, to be followed by a match-up vs. Canada on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the team will have another practice session in the afternoon.
In the evening, the World Championship will be officially opened, most likely by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías himself.
On Thursday, the squad will play its first game against Great Britain.
Today, the team was having practice on the same field (Estadio Las Mayas) which was used a two days ago for a slowpitch softball-game in which President Hugo Chávez participated and was broadcasted live on national television.
The Venezuelan President is a big softball-fan and has two daughters who play the sport.
He frequently participates in a team which is formed by government personnel.
Especially for the World Championship, two modern and big stadiums were constructed.
On Friday, President Chávez, Defense Minister Carlos Mata Figueroa and Sports Minister Victoria Mata attended the inauguration of the Fuerte Tiuna Softball Complex (which has four fields) in Caracas.
Hereafter, two slowpitch softball-games were played in which Chávez participated.
One of the game was played between military and navy personnel, the other between members of La Guardia Nacional Bolivariana and Aviación Militar.
Ready to go to the field for practice
Arrival at the practice site
Some talking...
..and the on to the field to start practice
Head Coach Craig Montvidas during a fielding drill
Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink also is ready
Head Coach Craig Montvidas continues his drill
Dark rain clouds start building up
Time for batting practice
The entrance to the Presidential Stands
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
| 
