(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Roster Netherlands Team announced for European Championship
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
The roster for the Netherlands Women Softball Team for the upcoming European Championship has been announced over the last few days.
The 17-player roster includes five players who will make their official debut in the national squad.
Reigning champion Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem has eight players in the team, while five are coming from vice-champion Terrasvogels.
There have been some changes in the team, as opposed to the last few seasons.
Pitcher Dagmar Bloeming and Infielder Virginie Anneveld are not available, as they are currently playing professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).
A few other players are not available due to various reasons.
Returning in the team is veteran pitcher Rebecca Soumeru, who last year was not on the roster for the World Championship.
Five players will make their official Orange-debut, being pitcher Ilona Andringa and infielders Damishah Charles, Maxime van Dalen, Suka Van Gurp and Manoa Weijgertse.
Except for Van Gurp, all have played in exhibition games of the Dutch Team in previous years when they were added as additional players or were swapped in games against the Dutch Junior Team.
This season, Andringa, Charles, Van Dalen and Weijgertse all play for the Talent Team Holland (or Dutch Junior Team) in the Dutch big league.
Andringa is the only player on the Dutch roster, who is not playing in the highest league on club-level (Golden League).
She plays for UVV, which plays in the second highest league (Silver League).
In the last three events (2009, 2011, 2013), the Dutch Team captured the European Championship-title by remaining unbeaten.
In the same period, the team climbed on the world ranking from the twelfth to sixth place during the World Championships played since 2010.
The European Championship will be held July 19 through 25 at the site of Gryphons in Rosmalen (Netherlands).
In total, 20 national teams will participate in the event.
The Dutch Team opens the event playing in Pool A in the preliminary round and plays its first game on Sunday-evening, July 19 vs. Germany, starting at 8 PM.
On Monday, the Orange squad meets Israel (11:15 AM) and Sweden (6:30 PM).
The team closes the preliminary round on Tuesday vs. Denmark (2 PM).
The roster looks as follows:
Pitchers:
Ilona Andringa (UVV), Lindsey Meadows (plus OF)(Tex Town Tigers), Rebecca Soumeru (Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem), Eva Voortman (plus OF)(FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem) and Ginger de Weert (Terrasvogels).
Catchers:
Dinet Oosting (plus IF)(FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem), Anne Blaauwgeers and Karin Tuk (both Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem).
Infielders:
Jessie van Aalst (plus OF), Suka Van Gurp, Britt Vonk (all Terrasvogels), Damishah Charles (plus OF), Maxime van Dalen and Manoa Weijgertse (all Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem).
Outfielders:
Saskia Kosterink, Chantal Versluis (both Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem) and Marisèla de Wind (Terrasvogels).
Coaching Staff:
Tracy Bunge (Co-Head Coach), Juni Francisca (Co-Head Coach), Karen Marr (Pitching Coach), Marcel Schippers (Coach), Mary-Ann Hatt (Coach).
Supporting Staff:
Ingrid Holstege (Physical Therapist), Paul Boonstra (Team Manager).
(July 17)
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