 Dutch Softball Pioneer Riet Vermaat passed away
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Former Dutch National Softball Team-player Riet Vermaat passed away on Saturday, May 7 at the age of 83.
The memorial service was held on Thursday, May 12 at Zorgvlied Cemetary in Amsterdam.
Mrs. Vermaat, who was born in Rotterdam, became a teacher in physical education in Amsterdam and started playing softball after World War II for De Pinguïns in Heemstede.
In the years after the war, she was part of a small group of players that continued playing after the sport was introduced during the war.
After the Dutch Women Softball Association (which later was renamed Dutch Amateur Softball Assocation) was formed on December 15, 1951, she went on to play an active role.
In 1954, she became the first female chairman of the board for the Association.
In the fifties, Riet Vermaat also was one of the first players to play for the Dutch National Softball Team.
In those days, she was a powerhitting outfielder and pitcher.
It is known that in May 1959 she hit two homeruns in one game against HHC and also hit a homerun for the National Team against Wiesbaden Comets on June 28, 1959.
In the late sixties, she did a lot of work to realize the official game rules in Dutch softball and from 1967-1970, she chaired the Game Rule Committee of the Dutch Softball Association.
Since 1982, a trophy is named after her, which is given annually to the Best Dutch Youth Pitcher.
For her contributions to Dutch softball, Riet Vermaat was decorated by the Dutch Baseball and Softball Association.
(May 11)
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