(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
   Dutch Team closes preliminary round with loss vs. Japan
Nederlands
 SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (Canada) -
On Thursday (July 2), the Netherlands Men Softball Team closed the preliminary round of the Men's World Championship in Canada winless.
In Saskatoon, the Orange men suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
Japan won 9-1 to qualify for the Play-Offs.
On Day 3, Japan had won 5-4 vs. USA and with today's win, it ended up in a tie with the Americans.
Because of the head-to-head win, Japan qualifies for the Play-Offs.
And so, Team USA had another disappointing Championship.
Two years ago, it qualified for the Play-Offs, but then finished in eighth place.
Joining Japan in Pool B for the Play-Offs are the Dominican Republic (which finished in first place), Australia and Venezuela.
The qualifiers in Pool A are Canada (the lone team to remain unbeaten), reigning World champion New Zealand, Czech Republic and Argentina.
Reigning European champion Czech Republic closed the preliminary round with a 5-2 record.
Two years ago, the Czechs finished in eleventh place.
Samoa, which two years also qualified for the Play-Offs, did not participate this time.
The Dutch squad now meets Great Britain on Friday in the second round.
A loss means that the team is eliminated, a win means a next game on Saturday.
(July 2)
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