 SANTPOORT (Neth.) - Dutch champion Terrasvogels opened the new season with a double victory against Euro Stars, winning 10-3 and 2-0, but in the opener, the knowledge of the game rules was tested.
Did Terrasvogels won convincingly in the opener, there was a much-talked about situation in the second inning which 'highlighted' the game. Terrasvogels had just taken an 1-0 lead when there was some commotion at home plate, which eventually resulted in the ejection of Head Coach Glen Roff and player Dagmar Bloeming being declared not-eligible to play in the remainder of the game. What happened? It started with an error on the line-up form. Shanna van der Kaaij should have been listed in the number 8 position as the designated player and Dagmar Bloeming was to be in the tenth position as the starting pitcher. Instead, Van der Kaaij was listed as nr. 10 and pitcher and Bloeming in the number 8 slot as the DP. During the pre-game meeting at home plate, Terrasvogels announced that Van der Kaaij was to be the starting pitcher, what she already was according to the line-up sheet which was delivered to the umpires. Realizing the mistake, Van der Kaaij was then brought to bat for herself in the number 8 slot, replacing Bloeming. So far, so good. But then things went wrong in the second inning.
But let's first go the first inning. With one out, Euro Stars reached base twice then off Shanna van der Kaaij, who made her first official appearance for Terrasvogels, after having played for Amsterdam Pirates last season. But two outs followed, ending the at bat. With two outs in its first, Olga Kleinlooh singled for Terrasvogels, but then was thrown out trying to advance to third base on a single by Dana Horeman.
In the second inning, Annemiek van Riessen led off for Terrasvogels with a double, then Solange Starrenburg reached on an error. After the latter stole second base, Marieke Jansen followed with an infield-hit, which enabled Van Riessen to score the first run. This brought up the number 8 batter, which, according to the announced change at the start of the game, should have been Shanna van der Kaaij, but instead Dagmar Bloeming stepped to the plate. In this case, Bloeming, who is known not to hit, would re-enter the game, replacing Van der Kaaij, but this change reportedly was not announced to the umpire-in-chief. After one pitch, Euro Stars appealed that the wrong batter was at the plate. As a result of the not-announced replacement, Dagmar Bloeming was declared non-eligible for the remainder of the game, while Head Coach Glen Roff was ejected (which in this game-rule situation probably was done so wrongly). Let's be clear, the report of this situation is compiled out of several reports concerning this situation. Anyhow, Van der Kaaij came back in and took over the at bat of Bloeming with an 1-0 count, while Roff, who was making his big league-debut as a coach, had to take a seat outside the playing field. When the game resumed, Van der Kaaij grounded out, but enabled Starrenburg to score the second run. Next, Nathalie Gosewehr singled to make it 3-0.
In the third inning, Terrasvogels rallied for five runs to take a commanding lead. Euro Stars-starter Rebecca Antonissen walked lead-off batter Femke Haage, then gave up singles to Olga Kleinlooh and Dana Horeman, resulting in a run. After a sac-bunt by Annemiek van Riessen, Solange Starrenburg singled in another run. An error on a sac-bunt by Marieke Jansen then loaded the bases, then two more runs were scored on a throwing error by Antonissen on a grounder by Shanna van der Kaaij. A grounder by Nathalie Gosewehr produced another run and gave Terrasvogels an 8-0 lead.
After having retired nine batters in a row, Shanna van der Kaaij gave up an one-double to Letticia Horstman in the fourth Euro Stars at bat. With two outs, three consecutive singles followed by Manon Schol, Davinia de Kwant and Marsha-Ann Krul, with the second producing the first Euro Stars-run. With the bases loaded, the inning ended when Kim Donkers fouled out.
Terrasvogels increased its lead with two runs in the fourth off new pitcher Mariëlle Vleugels. Femke Haage led off with a bunt-single, then Olga Kleinlooh (who was 3-for-3) also singled. An error on a fly by Dana Horeman enabled Haage to score from second base. Another error followed on a fly by Annemiek van Riessen, loading the bases. Next, Kleinlooh tried to score on a wild pitch, but was thrown out at the plate, then another wild pitch resulted in Horeman scoring a run and make it 10-1.
In its fifth at bat, Euro Stars scored twice. With one out, Shulaika Balentina (who made her comeback in the big league after not having played last season), Anouk van den Heuvel and Lettitia Horstman all walked. A force play-grounder by Bianca Hageraats (who played in her first game since 2003) then didn't produce an out, but a run instead. A non-caught infield-fly with an error followed with batter Manon Schol being called out, but Van den Heuvel scored on the error. Chrissy Autry was then brought in as new pitcher. She struckout Davinia de Kwant, ending the game, as the 7-run difference was kept intact.
Game Two
In Game Two, Kirsten Scheele threw a complete game 3-hit shutout and struckout eleven batters. Euro Stars, which played its first games under new Head Coach Willy van der Lee (who was named a week earlier), reached second base only twice.
Terrasvogels scored the deciding runs right away in the first inning. With one out, Dana Horeman singled and stole second base, then scored on a 2-out single by Linda Hoenderdos. Next, Annemiek van Riessen doubled to make it 2-0.
In the remainder of the game, Terrasvogels stranded five runners and reached second base only two more times. Euro Stars-starter Mariëlle Vleugels, who after last season won the Riet Vermaat Trophy for Best Junior Pitcher, gave up singles in the second, third and fourth inning, but didn't ran into problems. With a runner on first and one out in the fifth inning, she was replaced by American pitcher Linden Jones, who retired all five batters she faced in het big league-debut and struckout four.
(April 12)
Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
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