(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Rein Merkx & Jeroen van de Wiel)
 New Zealand-pitcher for Roef!
Nederlands
 MOERGESTEL (Neth.) -
Roef! has added New Zealand-pitcher Jasmin Kaiaruna to its roster.
The righthander arrived last week and made her debut in the team last weekend during the annual Pre-Season Tournament, which was organized by her new club.
...Jasmin Kaiaruna...
(© Photo: Rein Merkx) |
The 21-year old pitcher appeared in two games during the event.
In her first game, she was the winning pitcher in a 5-0 shutout vs. Hamburg Knights from Germany.
She struckout 10 batters, walked one batter and gave up only two hits.
She then also went the distance against Ban-Topa Future Stars, whom the team also will meet in the regular season of this years Silver League.
In this game, she struckout seven batters in 3 2/3 inning, walked one, gave up three hits and an unearned run, which led to a 1-0 loss.
...Jasmin Kaiaruna pitching...
...in her debut for Roef! during...
...the Pre-Season Tournament...
(© Photo: Jeroen van de Wiel) |
Jasmin Kaiaruna, nicknamed 'Jazzy', gained international experience in the last few years, as she played for the National Junior Team of New Zealand.
With the 'Junior White Sox', she participated in the World Junior Championship in Brampton (Canada) in 2013.
At the same event, Gini Ketelaars, Eva van Knegsel and wies Ligtvoet participated with the Netherlands Junior Team and they are now her teammates at Roef! in Moergestel.
Jasmin Kaiaruna, who is from Wellington, also participated with the National New Zealand-squad in the Gilley's Shield Series in Australia in 2012 and 2013.
Also playing for the team in 2013 was Katrina Nukunuku, who played in the Dutch big league in 2008 winning the championship-title with Tex Town Tigers.
She plays softball since she was four years old and has played for several clubs in her home country.
Through the years, she represented Wellington in several events, then was selected for the New Zealand Development Team, with whom she played in Sydney (Australia).
The team of Roef! remained intact after last season and then also added infielder Ennia Ballardini, who had played for Gryphons in the Dutch big league.
Besides Ennia Ballardini, Roef! has several other players with big league-experience, including pitcher Marjolein Merkx, catcher Charlotte Haen and infielders Sophie Mollee and Ilse van Kerkoerle.
Merkx and Mollee played in the highest level in the past for Gryphons, while Haen and Van Kerkoerle had played for Twins.
Eva van Knegsel, Wies Ligtvoet and Gini Ketelaars also have played in the big league, playing in the highest division with the Netherlands Junior Team.
Roef! will be led this season by Belgian Jeroen Swers.
He succeeded Jeroen van de Wiel, who stepped down after last season after having coached the team for five years.
(March 29)
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