Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem vs. DSS (Game One)
Before the start of the opening game, the season was officially opened with the player-introductions.
The players of Sparks Haarlem were accompanied by youth-players from the club.
Hereafter, Merijn Snoek, the Alderman for Sports, Youth Affairs and Education of the Municipality of Haarlem threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
A short time earlier, Alderman Snoek also officially opened the new dressing rooms of Sparks Haarlem, together with the club's chairman Sandra Nypels.
In the opening game, Sparks Haarlem broke a 3-3 score in the fifth inning and went on to win 5-3.
In this game, Sparks Haarlem faced righthander Dagmar Bloeming, who had pitched for the team in six previous seasons.
She made her big league-debut in 2007, pitching for Terrasvogels, then moved to Sparks Haarlem after the 2008 season.
Since 2009, she pitched for the Haarlem-squad, except for 2013 when she was active in Italy.
Last year, she missed part of the season, as she then made her professional debut in the American National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), pitching for Pennsylvania Rebellion.
In the top of the first inning, DSS left two runners behind off of Leonella Elizabeth, who made her debut with Sparks Haarlem.
She didn't play in the Netherlands last season, but played for Alcmaria Victrix in 2013-2014.
In the inning, lead-off hitter Nathalie Gosewehr reached on an error and moved on a sacrifice bunt by Annemiek de Rover.
Hereafter, Morgan Sampson was hit by a pitch and the two runners advanced on a wild pitch.
And so, DSS had two runners in scoring position with powerhitters Areke Spel and Belinda White coming up.
But Spel flied out and White struckout to end the inning.
Sparks Haarlem then opened the score in the bottom of the first inning.
Newcomer Kehli Washington led off with a walk, stole second base with one out and moved on a wild pitch, then scored on a sacrifice bunt (squeeze) by Anne Blaauwgeers.
In the second inning, DSS was more successful and scored twice.
Noa Brand led off with a single and Denice van Dijk walked with one out.
After they had moved on a grounder, they scored when Nathalie Gosewehr delivered a 2-run triple.
DSS tried to add another run in the top of the third inning.
With two outs, Belinda White walked and advanced on a wild pitch.
She then tried to score on an infield-hit by Noa Brand, but was eliminated at the plate.
...Alderman Merijn Snoek throws the ceremonial first pitch...
...Looking are DSS-players Areke Spel, Morgan Sampson, Annemiek de Rover...
...and Nathalie Gosewehr and umpires Rob Veldkamp and Peter Vonk...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
Belinda White, who plays for the National Team of Australia, made her debut in the highest Dutch league.
She became the fifth Australian player to play in the Dutch big league after Felicity Witt (2009, Euro Stars), Aimee Murch (2009-2010, Terrasvogels), Kym Turnell (2011-2012, Alcmaria Victrix) and Leigh Godfrey (2013, Sparks Haarlem).
Brenda De Blaes also played in the Dutch big league for Twins, but at that time, she had the Belgian nationality.
In the bottom of the third inning, Sparks Haarlem re-took the lead.
With one out, Maaike Blaauwgeers singled, then Karin Tuk walked with two outs.
They both scored on a following double by Maxime van Dalen.
After Sparks Haarlem had left two runners behind in the fourth, DSS came alongside in the fifth inning.
Nathalie Gosewehr led off with her second triple in the game, which led to a pitching change.
Rebecca Soumeru took over, began with a strikeout, but then gave up a double to Morgan Sampson that made it a 3-3 score.
Sparks Haarlem answered with two runs in its fifth at bat.
Anne Blaauwgeers led off with a bunt-single, then moved on a grounder and scored on a single by Maxime van Dalen.
Hereafter, Damishah Charles walked, then Jenny Kinburn reached on an error, which enabled Van Dalen to score and make it 5-3.
In the top of the seventh inning, DSS came close to tying the score, but left three runners behind.
After already having hit two triples, Nathalie Gosewehr now led off with a double, then Annemiek de Rover was hit by a pitch.
Last year, De Rover set a big league-record by being hit 15 times.
De Rover was replaced by pinch-runner Melissa de Greef, then the two runners moved on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan Sampson.
An intentional walk followed for Areke Spel to created a force play.
That worked, as Gosewehr was forced out at the plate on a grounder by Belinda White.
A following grounder by Noa Brand then ended the game.
With that, Dagmar Bloeming started the season with a loss for the first time since 2010.
On April 10 of that year, she started for Sparks Haarlem, but then lost 1-0 to her former team Terrasvogels.
In 2010 and today, Peter Vonk was the Home Plate Umpire.
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Sparks Haarlem wins twice against DSS
HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Reigning Dutch champion Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem opened the new season on Saturday (April 16) with two victories against DSS.
Opening Day Season 2016.
