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Dutch Team visits Embassy and defeats Czechs
 Nederlandse tekst
CARACAS (Venezuela) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Monday continued its preparations for the upcoming World Championship with an exhibition game against the Czech Republic, which arrived on Sunday in Caracas.
The Dutch Team won the 6-inning game, 10-3, which was the 25th international confrontation between the two countries.
The Team started the day with a visit to the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Venezuelan capital.
The Team was welcomed by Dutch Ambassador Hans van Vloten Dissevelt, who is the Ambassador in Venezuela since July 2009 after having been the Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Qatar for four years.
Team Captain Rebecca Soumeru presented the Ambassador with some gifts.
Everyone enjoyed the stay at the Embassy and made some good contacts.
Of course, the Team thanks the Ambassador and his personnel for their warm hospitality.
As in earlier days, our police escorts again put all traffic to a hold when the bus drove to the streets.
The Dutch Team is getting more popular by the security guards and motorpolice escorts, as we are the only team (at the moment) that gives away gifts, such as the small famous orange wooden shoes.
Several of our escorts and guards are proudly wearing these orange items on their uniform.
As a result, several of their colleagues now come to the team, as they want to be part of our squad and of course want to add an orange wooden shoe to their decorations.
The Team arrives at the Embassy
The entrance of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Caracas
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Business Manager Rich Hooff at the entrance
Head Coach Craig Montvidas with one of the security officers
Of course, Team Manager Paul Boonstra also has to pose with the security officer
The Team poses with the security guards at the Embassy
Nathalie Gosewehr joins the security officers
...as does Meike Witteveen
Nathalie Gosewehr decorates one of the security guards with an orange wooden shoe
And more posing
In the back: Britt Vonk, Fabienne van Uden, Solange Starrenburg and Dagmar Bloeming
In the front: Anne Blaauwgeers, Virginie Anneveld, Lindsey Meadows and Kirsten Scheele
Ambassador Hans van Vloten Dissevelt welcomes the team
Ambassador Hans van Vloten Dissevelt and his secretary Dominique Wienk with
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Team Manager Paul Boonstra
And of course a teamphoto with the Ambassador with his colleagues and personnel
Team captain Rebecca Soumeru presents the Ambassador with some gifts
Ambassador Hans van Vloten Dissevelt enjoys his gifts
The Ambassador has a talk with the Head Coach
And then, it's time to have a drink...
...walk around or have a talk in the garden
Business Manager Rich Hooff with the Ambassador
Nathalie Gosewehr signs the guestbook, while
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Máxima look on
| Where is the team at the moment? |
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Since Saturday-evening, the team is in Caracas, the capital and largest city of Venezuela which has over 3 million inhabitants in the Metropolitan Area.
The official name of Caracas is Santiago de León de Caracas and it is located in the north of the country near Caracas Valley on the coastal mountain range, Cerro Ávila.
More than 500 years ago, in 1562, a series of coastal towns was founded in the Caracas Valley by Francisco Fajardo, who also established a plantation, which however was destroyed shortly after. But on July 25, 1567 Captain Diego de Losada laid the foundations of Santiago de León de Caracas.
The cultivation of cocoa stimulated the development of the city, which became the capital of Venezuela in 1777. On July 5, 1811, the Declaration of Independence was signed in Caracas. Since then, July 5 is a National Holiday and next year Venezuela will celebrate its 200th year of independence.
Francisco de Miranda and Simón Bolivar ('El Libertador'), two leading figures during the Venezuelan War of Independence, were born in Caracas. The War ended on June 24, 1821 when Bolívar gained a decisive victory.
Since the twentieth century, Caracas became an economic center in Latin America. Caracas has its own anthem, 'Marcha a Caracas', with the lyrics being inspired by the heroism of the Caracas people.
Caracas has a Tropical savanna climate with an average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius (74 Fahrenheit). In June, the average high temperature is 30,3 (86,5).
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When the team arrived at the stadium in the afternoon for the game against the Czechs, the field was somewhat wet from an earlier rainshower.
To dry up the field, the sand infield was filled up with little stones.
Another problem arose as there were no pins to put the bases into the ground, meaning the bases were put on the corners without being connected.
When the field was prepared for the game, there another problem.
There were no umpires! And so, everyone had to wait an hours for umps to arrive, but then the game could be played.
Oh, something else, in the fourth inning it started to rain somewhat, but that didn't influence the (6-inning) game, which could be completed.
The Czech Team opened the score in the second inning when Petra Kriklanová doubled and later scored.
But the Dutch squad reacted with three runs in the top of the third inning.
Nadine Marinus (who yesterday earned her graduation as Physical Therapist, congratulations Nadine!) walked, then Chantal Versluis followed with an infield-hit.
The two advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Nathalie Gosewehr.
A grounder by Fabienne van Uden then resulted in Nadine being eliminated at the plate, but the bases got loaded when next batter Britt Vonk was walked intentionally.
The option by the Czech coach to create a force play failed however, as Nathalie Timmermans followed with a baseclearing, 3-run triple to give the Dutch a 3-1 lead.
The Czechs got one run back in the home of the third inning, thanks to an error and triple, but in the fourth inning, the Dutch added three more runs to take more distance.
Areke Spel singled and scored on a triple by Virginie Anneveld, who then scored on a following single by Nadine Marinus, who advanced on an outfield-error.
Next, a bunt by Chantal Versluis was misplayed, enabling Nadine to score a run and increase the lead to 6-2.
In the fifth at bat, the lead was lifted to 8-2 when two more runs were scored.
Lindsey Meadows and Areke Spel singled, then both scored on the second triple by Virginie Anneveld.
Two singles, a passed ball and an RBI-grounder gave the Czechs their third run in the home of the fifth, but then the Dutch Team added two more runs in the sixth.
First, Chantal Versluis doubled.
Then, Fabienne van Uden grounded back to the pitcher, who got Chantal in a rundown between second and third base.
But in the end, Chantal ended up on third base and Fabienne on second base.
Singles by Britt Vonk and Nathalie Timmermans then enabled the two to score and make it 10-3.
Kirsten Scheele started the game for the Dutch and threw four innings in which she gave up four hits and struckout two.
Rebecca Soumeru completed the game and struckout one batter in two innings, giving up two more Czech hits.
The line-up vs. Czech Republic was as follows:
Pitcher-Kirsten Scheele (4 innings), Rebecca Soumeru (2 innings);
Catcher-Nathalie Timmermans;
1st Base-Nadine Marinus;
2nd Base-Britt Vonk;
3rd Base-Virginie Anneveld;
Short Stop-Chantal Versluis;
Left Field-Nathalie Gosewehr;
Center Field-Fabienne van Uden;
Right Field-Areke Spel;
Designated Player-Lindsey Meadows.
Box Score Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
When the team arrived, the field looked muddy due to the rain
The security guards supported the Dutch Team
Time to prepare for the game
Catcher Anne Blaauwgeers and Nathalie Timmermans
Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink takes a swing
Will she make the final roster for the World Championship.......?
Then some waiting, where are the umpires?
...and what about the bases?
Yes, Virginie Anneveld has a stolen base!
Nadine Marinus shows a new way of stretching at first base
and always be in contact with the base!
Game Time!
Fabienne van Uden makes contact
Starting pitcher Kirsten Scheele who threw four innings
Hey, first base is stolen.....
The Dutch Team is getting more and more popular with the security guards...
...who even performed a wave for us
Nadine Marinus has a talk with Coach Nancy Evans
...then takes her position as runner at first base, which is not there...
Nathalie Timmermans at third base after her 3-run triple in the 3rd inning
Chantal Versluis, Fabienne van Uden and Britt Vonk are greeted by teammates
after scoring on the baseclearing triple by Nathalie Timmermans
From the fourth inning on, it started to rain
The Cuban team looks on, as they played a game after our game
Short stop Chantal Versluis checks the action
End of the game
There are a lot of motorcycles in Caracas
(photo taken by Solange Starrenburg)
Caracas by night
(photo taken by Solange Starrenburg)
Media coverage
During the Venezuela International Series (Triangular de Softbol Femenino and Cuadrangular Internacional), there was a lot of attention from local and national media, including coverage of the games played by the Dutch Team.
For a lookback to these publications, visit The Dutch Softball Team in the Venezuelan Media
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