OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (USA) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Friday-afternoon played another good game on Day 2 of the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, losing 6-1 to Australia, the bronze medal team from the Beijing Olympics.
The Dutch took the lead, but trailed only 2-1 in the sixth inning when the Aussies rallied for four runs to decide the game.
Dutch Umpire Rob Veldkamp officiated at third base in this game.
Australia, where Belgian Brenda De Blaes (former player of Twins in the Dutch league) and pitcher Aimee Murch (currently playing in the Dutch league for Iber Lengua Terrasvogels) are on the roster, took over the lead in the third inning.
With one out, Clare Warwick and Stacey Porter singled to put runners of first and third base.
Next, Porter was caught stealing in a run-down, but that enabled Clare to score the go-ahead run.
A walk and a single followed, but they eventually did no harm, as the Dutch defense eliminated another runner in a rundown.
The Dutch Team got two runners on base in the third inning with two outs, but were unable to score.
In the fourth, off new pitcher Aimee Murch, Virginie Anneveld singled with one out, but stranded.
In the fifth, Britt Vonk reached on an infield-hit with two outs, but was left at first base.
In the seventh, two more batters reached base.
With one out, Chantal Versluis reached on an error and with two outs Meike Witteveen singled, but a groundout then ended the game.
Dutch Umpire Rob Veldkamp was the 2B Umpire in the Italy vs. USA game
The Team is ready for the game against Australia
Nadine Marinus looks on to the preparations
Everything is stored in the dug-out boxes and ready to play
Nathalie Gosewehr brings in some of the equipment
Meike Witteveen and Virginie Anneveld before the start of the field drills
Solange Starrenburg returns to the dug-out before the game
The ASA Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium
A photo of the Dutch Team wearing the BackSoftball-shirts to promote
the campaign for reinstatement of softball on the Olympic Games
Head Coach Craig Montvidas also is a magician
Head Coach Craig Montvidas during the field drills; Anne Blaauwgeers is the catcher
The Umpire Crew for the Netherlands vs. Australia game:
2B Katrina Kershaw (USA), 3B Rob Veldkamp (Netherlands),
HP Hiroyuki Tsuchie (Japan) and 1B Kevin Broomhall (Australia)
The Head Coaches of both teams meet with the umpires before the game
Our host Robert Pittman has a front row seat cheering for the Dutch squad
The Dutch players are being introduced
Coaches Nancy Evans and Tiffany McDonald go over the scouting details
The Team lines up for the national anthem
Catcher Anne Blaauwgeers and her teammates look on from the dug-out
Dutch pitchers Dagmar Bloeming, Rebecca Soumeru and Femke van Dusschoten
Australian pitchers Justine Smethurst and Aimee Murch
Australian 2B Brenda De Blaes, who played in the Dutch League some years ago
1B Britt Vonk and 2B Petra van Heijst are ready to field
Chantal Versluis fielding at short with the huge
tournament-logo in the background behind leftfield
Australian Stacey Porter at first base after hitting a single
The short stop went 3-for-3, including a double
The Dutch run in the making
Areke Spel leads off the second inning with a grounder...
...and reaches first base safely on a fielding error
Australian starter Justine Smethurst then faces Chantal Versluis with two outs
Areke Spel takes her lead from second base...
...while Chantal Versluis connects for a double...
On Chantal's double, Areke crosses home plate to give the Dutch an 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning
At the same moment, Chantal slides into second base to complete her RBI-double
Dutch starting pitcher Dagmar Bloeming
3B Virginie Anneveld barely misses catching a line drive in the second inning
Leah Parry steals second base in the second inning before SS Chantal Versluis can tag her
The same action from a different angle
Head Coach Craig Montvidas coaching at third base
Nathalie Gosewehr leads off the third inning with a single
Britt Vonk follows with a grounder to short...
...but Nathalie Gosewehr is back in time on second base
Head Coach Craig Montvidas has a talk with his infield in the 3rd inning
3B Virginie Anneveld makes a diving attempt to catch a foul ball and just misses
Head Coach Craig Montvidas goes over the stats with Scorekeeper/Media Officer Marco Stoovelaar
Coach Nancy Evans checks the action
Assistant Coach Tiffany McDonald handles the camera in centerfield
Dagmar Bloeming delivers to Stacey Porter
In the sixth, Areke Spel connects again, but ends up short
Australian closer Aimee Murch, who throws in the Dutch League for Iber Lengua Terrasvogels
Solange Starrenburg, Aimee's teammate at Terrasvogels, playing in rightfield
Australia leads only 2-1 in the sixth inning
The crucial moment in the sixth inning
2B Petra van Heijst clearly has her foot on the base after a throw from 1B Britt Vonk
Batter Leah Parry is called safe and hereafter Australia rallies for four runs
Dutch umpire Rob Veldkamp officiated on third base in this game
Anne Blaauwgeers pinch-hits in the seventh inning
End of the game, the players shake hands
End of the game, Australia wins 6-1
After the game, Head Coach Craig Montvidas is interviewed by Gary Leland of Fastpitch.tv
Dutch hold on vs. Australia
