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A long outing on the field
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (USA) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Tuesday had a long outing on the field in the evening.
The team was off for the day, but in the evening it conducted an almost 3-hour practice session on one of the fields of the softball complex at the site of the ASA Softball Hall of Fame.
The main site, the Don E. Porter Stadium, was off-limit, as it was prepared for the upcoming World Cup of Softball, which opens on Thursday.
Today was another hot day, but 'only' 36 degrees Celsius, which is five degrees lower than yesterday.
The team started its practice around 7 PM and left the field towards 10 PM.
Despite the heat, the players did a great job on the field, batting, throwing, pitching and catching.
The Team was driven back and forth from the hotel to the field by Phil McSpadden, who met the Dutch Team during the Holland Tour when he was coaching Kansas Express USA, which played against the Dutch Team on June 17 at Oldenzaal.
Phil is coach at Oklahoma City University and drove the Dutch Team with the team bus of his own team.
The Dutch Team thanks Phil for transporting us today and tomorrow.
On Wednesday, another practice is scheduled and then it's on to the opening day of the World Cup of Softball on Thursday.
The Dutch Team opens against reigning European champion Italy, then meets reigning world champion USA in the evening.
Schedule World Cup of Softball
| ASA Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium |
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ASA (Amateur Softball Assocation) Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium was built in 1987.
The NCAA Women's College World Series were held in the stadium every year since 1990.
Also, all three previous World Cup of Softball-tournaments were held here, as well as the ASA Girl's 18-Under Gold National Championships and the Oklahoma State High School Championships.
The Amateur Softball Association was founded in 1933 and is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee.
ASA represents over 240.000 teams and more than three million members.
The ASA moved its Head Office to Oklahoma City on January 1, 1966 from Newark, New Jersey.
Also located on the complex is the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame, which was established in 1957.
The decision to establish a Hall of Fame Building was made in January 1965.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Hall of Fame and Museum in Oklahoma City were held on December 19, 1970.
It was officially dedicated on May 26, 1973 and opened on July 1 the same year.
The ASA Hall of Fame has 337 members, including 182 players.
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ASA Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium
The Team during practice
The players on their way to the bus
Coaches Tiffany McDonald and Nancy Evans and Physical Therapist Anouk Fermont leave the hotel
Phil McSpadden assists with the stowing of the luggage in the bus
The team in the bus of Oklahoma City University on its way to the field
Almost there
And then all the equipment of course has to be carried again to the field
Players check one the fields that is being used for the practice...
...and start the warming-up
A lot of drinking was done, as is shown by Nadine Marinus
And where is Britt Vonk putting the ice cubes?
A brief break for Virginie Anneveld
The batting screens are placed for the batting session of the practice
Nathalie Gosewehr standing in leftfield
The sun sets behind Remington Park, the closeby horse track stadium
Pitcher Kirsten Scheele has a break
Pitcher Dagmar Bloeming
Coach Nancy Evans
Pitchers Dagmar Bloeming, Femke van Dusschoten and Rebecca Soumeru
Coach Nancy Evans looks on at left
Catchers Karin Tuk, Anne Blaauwgeers and Nathalie Timmermans
Meike Witteveen during a hitting drill
Nathalie Gosewehr takes a refreshment
Head Coach Craig Montvidas keeps an eye on the action
Assistant Coach Tiffany McDonald throws batting practice
Saskia Kosterink drills one during batting practice
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