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Dutch shuts out South Africa!
 Nederlandse tekst
CARACAS (Venezuela) - The Dutch National Softball Team continued its series of strong outings on Sunday with a 7-0 shutout-win in five innings vs. South Africa to win their fourth game of the World Championship.
While the team is now 4-1, a play-off spot is not secured yet, as Cuba ended the day with a 4-1 win vs. Great Britain, meaning that a 3-way tie is still one of the possibilities.
On Monday, the Dutch Team meets Chinese Taipei.
The victory was registered in a historic game, as the Dutch National Team today played its 500th official international game.
Fifty years ago, on May 29, 1960, the Dutch Team played its first international game when it played against Italy in Haarlem and won 4-3.
The day started relaxed for the Dutch Team, as it had the day off in the morning.
After having lunch, the team had some more time off, as the game started at 5:00 in the afternoon.
Dagmar Bloeming went the distance for the Dutch Team and threw a 5-inning No-Hitter, while striking out six batters and walking only one in this game which was attended by some 7000 spectators!
The Dutch Team collected seven basehits, including a 2-run homerun by Areke Spel in the fifth inning, which lifted the lead to 7-0 to end the game with the mercy-rule.
Areke was 3-for-3 and also scored three runs.
Virginie Anneveld was 2-for-2 and had three RBI's.
Nathalie Gosewehr and Chantal Versluis accounted for the other two Dutch basehits.
In the first inning, the Dutch got its first two batters on base right away, but didn't score.
Nathalie Gosewehr led off with a walk, then advanced to third base when a throwing error was made on a grounder by next batter Anne Blaauwgeers.
But then Anne was caught stealing and a hit by Britt Vonk ended in a double play.
The Dutch team then scored two runs in the second at bat off starting pitcher Nicolene Jones, who in 2003 played in the Dutch big league for Zwijndrecht.
In the inning, Saskia Kosterink (who played in her 90th international game) walked and Areke Spel singled, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Solange Starrenburg and scored on a single by Virginie Anneveld.
Three runs were added in the fourth inning.
Areke Spel led off with a single and moved on the second sacrifice bunt by Solange Starrenburg.
Areke then scored on another RBI-single by Virginie Anneveld.
After Nadine Marinus (who played in her 25th game) was retired, Virginie scored when Chantal Versluis also singled.
Next, a double by Nathalie Gosewehr (who played in her 60th game) enabled Chantal to score the third run in the at bat and make it 5-0.
In the fifth inning, Saskia Kosterink walked and then Areke Spel then followed with her 2-run homerun to make it 7-0.
Winning pitcher Dagmar Bloeming allowed only five South African players to the bases.
After having retired the first seven batters in order, Dagmar walked a batter, then a fielder's choice and hits batter followed.
In the fourth inning, two players reached on an error.
The line-up vs. South Africa was as follows:
Pitcher-Dagmar Bloeming;
Catcher-Anne Blaauwgeers;
1st Base-Nadine Marinus;
2nd Base-Britt Vonk;
3nd Base-Virginie Anneveld, Fabienne van Uden (pinch-hitter);
Short Stop-Chantal Versluis;
Left Field-Solange Starrenburg;
Center Field-Saskia Kosterink;
Right Field-Areke Spel;
Designated Player-Nathalie Gosewehr.
Box Score Netherlands vs. South Africa
KNBSB-boardmember Caroline Theunissen and ISF Vice-President for Europe André van Overbeek
attended the game vs. South Africa
It was a sunny day in Caracas, so lots of spectators went to the stadium to watch softball
A view of the stadium during the game of Canada vs. Japan
The Dutch players look on
Head Coach Craig Montvidas during the game vs. South Africa
Anne Blaauwgeers in the batter's box
South African starter Nicolene Jones
Dutch pitcher Dagmar Bloeming, who went the distance
Nadine Marinus playing at first base
An South African tries to bunt for a basehit, but is not successful
Areke Spel lines her first basehit in the second inning
Shortly before, Saskia Kosterink had walked
Solange Starrenburg bunts Saskia and Areke to the next base
Saskia and Areke then score the first two runs on a single by Virginie Anneveld...
...who is greeted at first base by Coach Nancy Evans
Head Coach Craig Montvidas checks the action
At right is 3B Shannen Danbermann
Chantal Versluis connects
Nadine Marinus running at first base
Nathalie Gosewehr singles
Dagmar Bloeming on her way completing her No-Hitter
Saskia Kosterink swings
Smiles for pitchers Lindsey Meadows and Kirsten Scheele
Areke Spel is greeted after her 2-run homerun in the fifth
A big smile for Areke
Celebration time!
The enthousiastic spectators are thanked again
Estadio Independencia and its 7000 spectators
o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o
Also on Sunday:
Chinese Taipei vs. Argentina, 6-3
After both teams scored once in the first inning, Chinese Taipei rallied for four runs in the third at bat to take, what appeared to be, a decisive 5-1 lead.
However, Argentina came back with two runs in the fifth inning to cut back the deficit to 5-3, but then the Asians added an insurance run in the sixth.
The Taipei-squad registered six basehits, including three by Hsueh-Mei Lu, who also scored once and had one RBI.
Argentina also hit six basehits and also had a player who got three, being Agustina Godoy, who also tripled and scored twice.
USA vs. Australia, 9-2
Team USA won its fifth game in a row and scored at least once in each of the five innings played.
In the first at bat, they scored three runs, highlighted by RBI-doubles by Alissa Haber and Jessica Mendoza.
In the second inning, Haber added a 2-run double.
The USA increased the lead to 7-0 in the third inning when Jessica Mendoza doubled and Jennie Finch homered.
In the fourth, Haber added another RBI-single and in the fifth, the 7-run difference was reached on a triple by Natasha Watley.
New Zealand scored its two runs in the fourth inning when Brenda De Blaes walked and scored on an one-out double by Stacey Porter, who scored when Tracey Mosely followed with a single.
Winning pitcher Cat Osterman struckout ten batters and gave up only two basehits.
With this, the USA became the first team to qualify for the play-offs.
Japan vs. Canada, 2-1
Both teams were undefeated before the start of this game.
After Canada got the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, but didn't score, Japan took an 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Canada came alongside in the fifth on a single by Jennifer Yee, but then Japan re-took the lead immediately in the home of the fifth.
With the win, Japan clinched a spot in the next round, while Canada is now tied with the Netherlands for second place.
Dominican Republic vs. China, 0-7
China shutout the Dominicans on seven basehits, including two by Jia Guo.
Pitchers Li Qi and Lan Wang combined on a 6-hitter and struckout nine batters.
Czech Republic vs. Botswana, 5-4
The Czechs scored runs in the first and second inning, then added two in the third for a 4-0 lead, but Botswana suddenly came back in the fourth inning and tied the score thanks to RBI's by Marea Modutlwa, Ntibi Onalenna, Kooganne Thatayotihe and Morake Masego.
The Czechs then decided the game in the fifth inning by making it 5-4.
Venezuela vs. New Zealand, 5-2
Venezuela came back from an 1-0 deficit and scored three runs in the third inning, then added two more in the next at bat to also qualify for the play-offs.
Yurubí Alicart contributed with a homerun.
Cuba vs. Great Britain, 4-1
Stacie Townsend homered the British team to an 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but then gave up a 2-out grand slam-homerun to Maritza Toledo in the bottom of the fourth that gave Cuba the win.
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