Terrasvogels vs. FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem (Game One)
The 10-inning game was exciting from the beginning and offered some nice plays from the Terrasvogels-defense.
At the end, after three hours of playing, famous British film director Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud of what he had just seen.
For those who don't know Hitchcock, he was nicknamed 'Master of Suspense' and directed a lot of classic movies, which were full of suspense and unexpected twists.
It also was an interesting pitching-duel between Malou van Dusschoten (Terrasvogels) and Eva Voortman (Olympia Haarlem), who both went the distance.
According to new rules for this season, a pitcher is allowed to pitch only seven innings in a double-header, however, innings pitched in the tie-break don't count in this rule and so, both threw ten innings in the exciting opener.
Both pitchers struckout nine batters, but both also issued several walks.
Van Dusschoten walked ten and Voortman walked seven, but she also hit three batters, including a very important one.
Van Dusschoten gave up only four hits, while Voortman gave up five.
It was Olympia Haarlem that opened the score in the first inning.
Lead-off hitter Eva Voortman reached second base on a throwing error and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dinet Oosting.
After being retired in order in the first two at bats, Terrasvogels took the lead in the third inning by scoring two runs.
Lead-off hitter Gabi Obia was hit by a pitch in her first at bat of the season.
She moved on a passed ball, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Lisa Waasdorp, then scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly on foul territory by Rhowan Stuart.
Hereafter, Kimberly Jones homered down the leftfield-line to make it 2-1.
This was her second consecutive game in which she homered, as she also homered in Game 2 of last Saturday against Tex Town Tigers.
Olympia Haarlem came alongside in the fourth inning.
Dinet Oosting led off with a single and Mariëlle Vleugels walked, but then the first was forced out at third base on a force play-grounder by Stephanie Ruiter.
Moments later, Ruiter also was forced out on a grounder by Maranca Ham.
That brought Vleugels to third base and she scored when Tyla Morrison followed with a single, but hereafter, two runners stranded.
Hereafter, the game would remain tied until the tenth inning.
Both teams did get runners in scoring position, but were unable to score.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with two outs, Jessica Waasdorp doubled.
Hereafter, Jeske Meewisse was hit on her arm and had to leave the game.
Her arm was somewhat swollen and in the hospital, a bruise was diagnosed.
A grounder followed, meaning two runners stranded.
...Kimberly Jones...
...homerun...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In the top of the fifth, Olympia Haarlem got the bases loaded.
With two outs, Brenda Beers doubled, then Dinet Oosting and Mariëlle Vleugels walked.
But hereafter, Van Dusschoten closed with a strikeout to end the threat.
Olympia got the bases loaded again in the top of the seventh inning.
Eva Voortman led off with a walk, but was forced out on a grounder by Brenda Beers.
After she had stolen second base, a flyout followed, then a force play was created by walking Mariëlle Vleugels intentionally.
A walk for Stephanie Ruiter then loaded the bases, but Malou van Dusschoten again had a strong finish and closed with another strikeout.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Terrasvogels also got into scoring position.
With one out, Lisa Waasdorp walked and moved on a sacrifice bunt by Rhowan Stuart.
Hereafter, Kimberly Jones was walked intentionally and this time, Eva Voortman closed with a strikeout.
That meant that the game went into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, Olympia's tie-break runner Pauline Prade moved to third base on a passed ball, but later was eliminated in an inning-ending double play that began with a grounder by Rachel van Veen, who also was eliminated.
In the bottom of the eighth, with tie-break runner Ella Krommendijk on second base, Jessie van Aalst was walked intentionally, then the next three batters were retired.
Both teams scored a run in the ninth inning.
In the top half, Olympia's tie-break runner Rachel van Veen moved on a sacrifice bunt by Judith Buschman, then scored on a fielder's choice-grounder by Eva Voortman.
The latter moved to second base on the play at the plate, but then was caught stealing at third base moments later.
...Winning pitcher Malou van Dusschoten...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Terrasvogels came close to the winning run.
With one out, tie-break runner Sanne Korpel moved to third base on a grounder by Lisa Waasdorp, then scored when Rhowan Stuart followed with a triple.
Hereafter, an intentional walk was given again to Kimberly Jones, who stole second base, but a flyout ended the at bat.
With that, the tenth and finale inning began.
In the top of the 10th inning, Brenda Beers was the tie-break runner, then the bases got loaded when Dinet Oosting and Mariëlle Vleugels both walked.
Hereafter, Stephanie Ruiter hit the ball into leftfield and that would end in a double play.
Ruiter flied out, then leftfielder Lisa Waasdorp made a great throw to catcher Rhowan Stuart, who tagged out Beers.
A grounder ended the at bat.
In the bottom of the 10th, Ella Krommendijk was the tie-break runner for Terrasvogels.
To set up a force play, Jessie van Aalst was walked intentionally.
Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch, which was followed by another intentional walk, this time for Lizzie Clarijs.
An infield-fly then accounted for the first out.
Hereafter, Eva Voortman got a 2-2 count on next batter Sanne Korpel, but she then hit her with her next pitch.
And with that, Krommendijk scored the winning run on this walk-off hit batter!
It ended one of the most exciting and attractive games and it will go into the books as a Hitchcockian classic!
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Terrasvogels wins thriller in Santpoort
SANTPOORT-ZUID (Neth.) -
Three weeks ago, Terrasvogels and FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem met each other for the first time this season.
In that double-header, two games full of suspense were played.
Both were won by Terrasvogels with an one-run difference, highlighted by a 3-run, walk-off, inside-the-park-homerun by Jessie van Aalst in the opener.
Official Scorer Brendy De Smet makes her debut in the Golden League (highest Dutch league).