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Dutch ends preparations with loss vs. Canada
 Nederlandse tekst
CARACAS (Venezuela) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Tuesday played its last exhitbion team as part of its preparations for the upcoming World Championship.
In this game, the Dutch Team met Canada and was shutout 12-0.
For Wednesday, the team's schedule has slightly been changed.
In the morning, the team will go to the Caracas Sports Club on an invitation by the Netherlands Club in Caracas.
At the Sports Country club, a softball field is located, so the team will conduct a practice there, which was originally scheduled for the afternoon.
After the practice, there is some time to relax at the Club.
After returning from the country club, the team plans to rest in the hotel.
In the evening, the Opening Ceremony of the 12th World Championship will take place to be followed by the opening game.
The Dutch will play their first game on Thursday, meeting Great Britain.
It is rumored that the Opening Ceremony will be a big event with a 30-minute show and will be attended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías.
In Tuesday's game, Canada took charge with a 6-run rally in the second inning off starting pitcher Lindsey Meadows.
In the at bat, ten batters stepped up to the plate, who produced six hits and six runs.
The rally started with a triple by Jennifer Salling, who connected after a third strike wasn't called by the home plate umpire.
Next, she scored on a single by Kaleigh Rafter.
From then on, it went quickly.
Heather Ebert followed with a bunt-single, then Melanie Matthews walked and Jennifer Yee followed with a triple.
Next, an error was made and Danielle Lawrie then hit the third triple in this at bat, resulting in the sixth run.
In the third, Lindsey Meadows retired the side, then Dagmar Bloeming took over the pitching in the fourth inning and would give up three more Canadian runs in both the fourth and fifth at bat, which increased the lead to 12-0.
Offensively, the Dutch Team produced only three basehits in this game off Ashley Lanz, which also accounted for the lone baserunners.
In the first inning, Britt Vonk reached on an bunt-single.
In the fourth, Meike Witteveen also reached on a bunt-single and Solange Starrenburg singled, but that was to be all.
Initially, it was agreed to play a 7-inning game, but it lasted only 4 1/2 innings.
The Dutch Team, which played at home, was unable to go to bat in its fifth at bat, as the game had to be ended, because the umpire had to attend a technical meeting.
When the Team returned to the hotel, they had dinner and then had a cozy sit-together as the first birthday was celebrated of Nils, the son of Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink. Happy Birthday!!!
The line-up vs. Canada was as follows:
Pitcher-Lindsey Meadows (3 innings), Dagmar Bloeming (2 innings);
Catcher-Nathalie Timmermans, Anne Blaauwgeers;
1st Base-Britt Vonk, Nadine Marinus;
2nd Base-Meike Witteveen;
3rd Base-Virginie Anneveld;
Short Stop-Chantal Versluis;
Left Field-Nathalie Gosewehr, Merel Oosterveld;
Center Field-Saskia Kosterink, Fabienne van Uden;
Right Field-Areke Spel, Solange Starrenburg;
Designated Player-Lindsey Meadows.
Box Score Netherlands vs. Canada
The day started with the Technical Meeting, which was presided by ISF President Don Porter (center)
The motor-escorts are getting more and more part of the Dutch Team
Note the stickers on their helmets and their motors
Preparing for the game against Canada
Coach Nancy Evans
Starting pitcher Lindsey Meadows warms up
The coaches meet the umpires
The team is ready to take the field
Lindsey Meadows delivers a pitch
Britt Vonk connects for a bunt-single in the first inning...
...then is leaving first base on the next play
Rightfielder Areke Spel
Head Coach Craig Montvidas and Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink look on,
while Coaches Nancy Evans and Tracy Bunge (in the back) make notes
The security guards relax in the shade
Hey, a turpial, the national bird of Venezuela
Starting pitcher Lindsey Meadows
Short stop Chantal Versluis
Britt Vonk, who played at first base in this game,
wearing her protectional face mask as part of her recovery from her broken jaw back in April
Umpire
Dagmar Bloeming took over the pitching in the fourth inning
A concentrated Virginie Anneveld at third base
Rebecca Soumeru hands Physical Therapist Sanne Oude Egberink a cake,
to celebrate the first birthday of her son Nils
Of course, everyone was present, including teamguard Pedro
And then Sanne has to cut the cake
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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