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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Marco Stoovelaar, Irene Korpel, Rein Merkx & Org. Indoor Cup)
 Talent Team Holland wins Indoor Cup in 9-inning Final!
Nederlands
 SCHIEDAM (Neth.) -
Talent Team Holland is the winner of the 16th edition of the annual Indoor Softball Cup.
The team remained unbeaten in the tournament, which opened on Friday-evening.
Today (Sunday, January 17), the event closed with an exciting Final, which set a record by lasting nine innings!
In the 49th and last game of the 3-day tournament, Talent Team Holland won 4-3 vs. Roef!.
At the end of the second day, Talent Team Holland was one of three teams that were still unbeaten, the others being Terrasvogels (Netherlands) and Destroyers (USA).
After completion of the Championship Pool, Terrasvogels still was unbeaten in Pool X, like the Talent Team in Pool W.
However, the team from Santpoort had played two games that ended in a tie.
On the other hand, Roef! registered an important win against Destroyers.
When Terrasvogels and Destroyers then ended their game with a tie, meaning these two candidates for the final eliminated each other with this score.
To reach the final, Roef! had to close Pool X with a win vs. Arsenal and that is what the team did to become the second finalist.
Nicole Ferraro, catcher of Arsenal United (USA) was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Malou van Dusschoten of Terrasvogels (Netherlands) won the award for Best Pitcher and Mekenzie Saban, the short stop of Avengers United (USA) was the Best Hitter of this years tournament.
For Evelien Vonk, Sylvie van Rijst and Janny Vonk, this was their final tournament as members of the board of the Foundation Indoor Cup, which was set up in 2003.
They took over in 2012, succeeding Debby van Snek, Jessica Jansen, Yvette van Schie, Heidi Verbeek and Rox van den Hoeven, who had led the event since it was held for the first time in Schiedam.
The new boardmembers are Mariëlle Vleugels, Nancy van der Ham and Hans Vleugels.
The tournament was an initiative of American Kirt Whiteside to enable American players to play in Europe and was initially organized in the French city of Lyon, but transfered to Schiedam after five editions.
(January 17)
Related Articles:
 Talent Team & Terrasvogels unbeaten after Day 2 Indoor Cup. (January 16)
Talent Team Holland opens Indoor Cup with big win. (January 15)
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...Nicole Ferraro (MVP), Malou van Dusschoten (Best Pitcher) and Mekenzie Saban (Best Hitter)...
...receive their awards from Kirt Whiteside...
(© Photos: Organisation Indoor Cup 2016) |
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Destroyers vs. Roef!
The third day began with Roef! registering what would be a very important victory.
The Dutch squad won 1-0 vs. Destroyers and with that handed the American team its first loss.
Destroyers was one of the three unbeaten teams after two days of playing, but now suffered a loss, which would be decisive.
...Britt Remmers...
...scored lone run...
(© Photo: Rein Merkx) |
The lone run in the early Sunday-morning game was scored in the second inning.
Britt Remmers led off with a single and stole second base.
With two outs, she scored on a single by Ilse van Kerkoerle.
Hereafter, Roef! got the bases loaded when Gini Ketelaars reached on a bunt-single and Wies Ligtvoet walked, but the three runners were left behind.
It was to be the lone inning in which Roef! got into scoring position.
In the next innings, 14 of the 16 batters were retired by pitcher Mollie Paulick, who struckout six batters.
Marjolein Merkx went the distance for Roef! and had a great outing.
The righthander struckout five batters and gave up only two basehits.
She retired the first 16 batters she faced, then walked Courtney Claypoole with one out in the sixth.
She stole second base, but then was caught stealing at third base.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, the No-Hitter Merkx ended when Mollie Paulick singled.
She advanced on a single by Lindsey Nunamaker and then suddenly, a tie or even more became a possibility, as there was still some playing time left.
A double-steal brought the two runners to second and third base.
In an attempt to come alongside, Paulick took off to steal home, but was eliminated, then Nunamaker was doubled up moments later at third base.
The time then expired, making this the lone 7-inning game of the event to be played within the 50 minutes playing time.
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...Mariëlle Vleugels...
...RBI-double & save...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Team France vs. Talent Team Holland U22
Talent Team Holland remained unbeaten by winning 2-1 in the early Sunday-morning game vs. Team France, the winner of last years tournament.
With this result, both France and Euro Stars were eliminated for first place in Pool W and thus also for the Final.
The Talent Team opened the score with two runs in the top of the first inning.
Brenda Beers and Shareday Christina both reached on an error, then scored when Mariëlle Vleugels followed with a double.
France got one run back in the third inning.
Pauline Prade led off with a single, stole second and scored on a following double by Aurélie Bacelon.
The Talent Team added another run in the fourth inning.
Maxime van Dalen then led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Isa Los and a single by Annemiek Jansen, then scored on a single by Brenda Beers.
However, the run didn't count for the final score, as the game ended with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Starting pitcher Daniëlle ten Donkelaar gave up only one basehit, then Mariëlle Vleugels completed the game to earn a save.
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Arsenal United vs. Terrasvogels
Terrasvogels remained unbeaten by winning 7-3 vs. Arsenal.
Terrasvogels scored two more runs in the fifth inning, but that was an incomplete inning, meaning the runs only counted in the statistics, but not in the final score.
Terrasvogels collected 15 basehits, including three by Ella Krommendijk and Jessie van Aalst.
The latter batted in three runs, as did Lisa Waasdorp.
Terrasvogels opened with three runs in the top of the first inning.
With one out, Lizzie Clarijs, Jessie van Aalst and Kimberly Jones all singled to load the bases.
Jeske Meewisse followed with a runscoring single.
With two outs, Lisa Waasdorp also singled in a run, which was followed by a runscoring error.
Arsenal anwered with one run in its first on a single by Nicole Ferraro, but Terrasvogels got the run back immediately when Ella Krommendijk singled and scored on a grounder by Jessie van Aalst.
Arsenal then narrowed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the second inning when Nicole Ferraro this time delivered a 2-run single.
Hereafter, Terrasvogels took more distance in the following innings.
In the third, Ella Krommendijk singled in a run, then Lisa Waasdorp contributed with a 2-run single in the fourth to make it a 7-3 score.
In the fifth, Rhowan Stuart singled and Ella Krommendijk doubled, then both scored on a 2-run double by Jessie van Aalst.
But these only counted for the tournament statistics.
...Lisa Waasdorp... | 
...Winning pitcher Nienke Verhofstad... |
...Jessie van Aalst... | 
...Ella Krommendijk... |
| (© Photos: Irene Korpel) |
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Team Great Britain vs. Gryphons
Great Britain won 5-0 vs. Gryphons to open Pool Y.
Amie Hutchison went the distance for the British team and did great, as she threw a Perfect Game.
It was the second No-Hitter of the tournament, as Cheyenne Scheffer (Talent Team Holland) threw the first one on Saturday.
Hutchison struckout six batters.
The British squad scored its first two runs in the second inning.
Ella Henson led off with a walk and Chelsie Robison reached on a bunt-single.
With one out, they scored on basesloaded singles by Esmee Toet and Emma Harris.
Three runs were added in the third inning via a walk for Bobbi Scheurkogel, an error and a wild pitch.
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Velocity United vs. Euro Stars
In Pool W, Velocity won 3-2 vs. Euro Stars to remain in the race for a spot in the all-deciding final.
...Onaisha Franka...
...run & stolen base...
(© Ph: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Initially, Euro Stars held a 2-0 lead, but the American opponent turned the game around from the second inning on.
Euro Stars scored its first run in the top of the first inning.
With one out, Onaisha Franka walked and stole second base.
She advanced when Eliza van 't Zelfde reached on an error, then scored in a double steal-situation.
The lead was doubled in the second inning.
Amy Gielen then led off with a bunt-single and stole second and third base.
With two outs, she scored on a single by Manon Hogenes.
Velocity then came alongside in its second at bat.
With two outs, Alyssa Blake walked.
Hereafter, Dana Parker and Kirsten McLeod followed with RBI-doubles to make it a 2-2 score.
In the top of the third inning, Euro Stars got the bases loaded.
Britt Amersfoort led off with a single and Davinia de Kwant walked, then Kim van der Valk singled with two outs, but all were left behind.
In the fourth inning, Velocity decided the game.
Makayla Stoner led off with a walk, moved on a sacrifice bunt and went on to score on a 2-out single by Carli Eiger.
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Joudrs Praha vs. Twins
In Pool Y, Joudrs Praha won 1-0 against Twins to win its second game in this group.
The lone run was scored in the first inning.
With one out, Katerina Klimplová walked, moved on a single by Julie Coufalová and scored on a 2-out double by Sara Zachová.
Twins left a runner in scoring position in the first and second inning, then got a big chance of doing something back in the fourth when it got the bases loaded with no outs!
Sophie Bugter then led off with a single, Minke Blok reached on a bunt-single and Michelle van Bodegom walked.
A force out at the plate then followed on a grounder by Kelly De Lannoy.
Hereafter, pitcher Adela Linková retired the next two batters to secure the minimal lead.
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Terrasvogels vs. Destroyers United
The game between unbeaten Terrasvogels and Destroyers ended in a 2-2 tie.
With this, Terrasvogels remained unbeaten, but the tie also was decisive in the end for the first place in Pool X and thus a spot in the final.
Because of this result, Destroyers, which had started the day with an 1-0 loss vs. Roef!, was eliminated, as was Arsenal.
Terrasvogels remained in the race for the final, but that now all would depend on the last game in this group to be played later today.
Terrasvogels opened the score in the second inning, scoring both of its runs.
With two outs, the bases got loaded when Sanne Korpel singled, Jessica Waasdorp was hit by a pitch and Ella Krommendijk walked.
A run was then scored when Lizzie Clarijs singled, which was followed by an error, resulting in the next run.
Clarijs had two of Terrasvogels' three basehits in this game.
Destroyers came alongside in the top of the third inning.
With one out, Courtney Claypoole walked and Brittany Grannis singled, then both scored on a double by Alyson Harrell.
In the remainder of the game, three more runners got into scoring position, but the teams were unable to break the tie.
...Sanne Korpel... | 
...Lizzie Clarijs... |
| (© Photos: Irene Korpel) |
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Impact United vs. Birds
The American squad of Impact shutout Birds 7-0 in its second game in Pool Z and registered its second consecutive shutout.
For Birds, this was its second shutout-loss in a row, after having opened this pool with a shutout-win of their own on Saturday.
Impact scored all runs in the third inning on five hits.
With one out, Impact got the bases loaded, then scored its first run when Anita Bates was hit by a pitch.
Hereafter, Mary Gavriloff and Taylor Mendicino delivered runscoring singles, but three runs were also scored on errors.
Birds collected only three hits, including two by Dayenne Sluijter.
The team left five runners behind, but scored twice in the top of the fourth.
With one out, the bases got loaded when Kelsey Huijzers, Jacqueline de Hoog and Lisa Bouwman all walked.
A bunt-single by Dayenne Sluijter and a stolen base accounted for the two runs, but they were dropped from the score, as they were scored in an incomplete inning.
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Chaos United vs. Avengers United
Chaos won 3-2 vs. Avengers in this game between these two American squads.
Chaos scored its three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
With two outs and Bailey Fialkovich (single) on second base and Annie Campbell (fielder's choice) on first base, the bases got loaded when Katelynn Hurley reached on an error.
Two runs were then scored on a single by Kristie Radvan and double-steal situation resulted in the third run.
Avengers answered with two runs in the top of the third inning.
Alyssa Chadwick led off with a single and Trinity Thompson followed with a walk.
The two then scored when an error followed a single by next batter Mekenzie Saban, but hereafter two runners were left behind.
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Talent Team Holland vs. Velocity United
Talent Team Holland trailed with 2-0 vs. Velocity, but came alongside.
The game ended in a 2-2 tie and with that, the Talent Team not only remained unbeaten, but also finished in first place in Pool W to qualify for the all-deciding final, while Velocity became the last team in this pool to be eliminated.
...Maxime van Dalen...
...2-run double...
(© Ph: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Velocity took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when the defense of the Talent Team committed three errors.
Kirsten McLeod led off with a walk and moved on a grounder.
She then scored when Kayla Matway reached on an error.
The next run was scored when Cassidy Rowe also reached on an error.
Hereafter, Mercedez McLeod became the third batter in a row to reach on an error, but this time, a run was prevented, as Rowe was eliminated at the plate when she tried to score.
The Talent Team was retired in order in the first and second inning (four strikeouts) by Alyssa Blake, but then came alongside in the third.
With two outs, Brenda Beers doubled and Shareday Christina singled.
The bases then got loaded with a walk for Mariëlle Vleugels, who was named Most Valuable Player in last years Golden League, the highest Dutch softball-league.
Beers and Christina scored when Maxime van Dalen followed with a 2-run double.
After giving up the two runs in the first inning, TTH-starter Cheyenne Scheffer retired the side in the next two innings.
In the fourth, she gave up a lead-off double to Mercedez McLeod, but she was caught stealing later.
Mandy van der Maas pitched the fifth inning for the Talent Team.
The Talent Team got two runners in scoring position in the fourth, but was unable to add runs.
Isa Los led off with a bunt-single and Tammie Lijbers walked.
The two then stole the next base, but the next three batters were retired in order.
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Roef! vs. Arsenal United
The final game in Pool X was decisive for both Roef! and Terrasvogels.
In the game against Arsenal, Roef! had to win to finish in first place and reach the final.
In case of a loss or a tie, Terrasvogels would end up in first place and become a finalist.
...Naftely Pietersz...
...2 hits, double, 2 RBI's...
(© Photo: Rein Merkx) |
Roef! won 5-1 and with that decided the ranking in Pool X.
Terrasvogels, which had won the event for the fourth time in 2014, was eliminated, as a result of playing two ties in this pool.
Arsenal took an 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a 2-out single by Jessica Wilson.
Roef! reacted with a 4-run rally in its first at bat.
With one out, Britt Remmers singled and Eva van Knegsel walked.
The bases got loaded when Charlotte Haen reached on an error.
With two outs, Naftely Pietersz doubled in two runs.
Gini Ketelaars followed with a runscoring single to make it 3-1.
Moments later, Pietersz scored the fourth run in a fielder's choice-situation.
Roef! added another run in the second inning.
Wies Ligtvoet led off with a single, stole second and third base, then scored on a following error.
Arsenal registered only one basehit off of two pitchers.
Nina De Permentier threw the first 1 1/3 inning for Roef!, while Sophie Mollee completed the game and threw the remaining 2 2/3 inning.
Roef! collected seven hits, including two by Naftely Pietersz.
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Euro Stars vs. Team France
The final game in Pool Z between Euro Stars and Team France ended in a 2-2 tie.
Euro Stars opened the score with one run in the bottom of the second inning.
With two outs, Kim van de Valk doubled and scored on a following single by Amy Gielen.
Starting pitcher Olka Grzeszczak silenced France in the first three innings, allowing only one batter to reach base.
But in the top of the fourth, France scored two runs.
Raina Hunter led off with a double, moved on a wild pitch and Camille Riera walked.
With one out, both scored when an error was made on a hit by Carrie Pitcher, giving France a 2-1 lead.
But hereafter, two runners were left behind.
Euro Stars then also stranded two runners in their fourth at bat, but came alongside in the bottom of the fifth, just before the time expired.
With one out, Onaisha Franka walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Eliza van 't Zelfde.
Hereafter, she stole third base, then Davinia de Kwant walked.
A following single by Anna Prins then tied the score, but also ended the game.
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Joudrs Praha vs. Team Great Britain
Joudrs Praha won 2-0 vs. Team Great Britain to remain unbeaten in Pool Y.
The Czechs scored their first run in the third inning.
Veronika Klimplová led off with a walk and stole second base.
Apolena Výborná then also walked and a double-steal followed.
A fielder's choice-grounder by Julie Coufalová then resulted in the first run.
The lead was doubled in the next at bat.
With two outs, Veronika Klimplová singled, moved on a passed ball, then scored again.
This time on a double by Apolena Výborná.
Great Britain got a big chance to score in the top of the fourth inning when it got the bases loaded.
With one out, Sian Wigington singled, but was caught stealing.
Hereafter, Chelsie Robison singled, then Rachael Watkeys and Ella Henson walked, but three runners were left behind.
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Twins vs. Gryphons
The game between Twins and Gryphons, both from the Dutch province Noord-Brabant, ended in a 2-2 tie.
In the second inning, it was Twins that opened the score.
Sophie Bugter and Michelle van Bodegom both singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly De Lannoy.
With two outs, the first run was scored on a single by Mandy van Alebeek.
Gryphons came alongside in the top of the third inning.
Charlotte Drijvers led off with a single and moved on a fielder's choice-grounder by Kim Donkers.
The two advanced on a passed ball.
With two outs, Drijvers scored the tying run on a fielder's choice-grounder by Manya Krijgsman.
In the fifth inning, it was Gryphons that took a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, Manya Krijgsman reached on an error and her pinch-runner Linda van Dijk went on to score on a double by Jasmijn Besselink.
In the bottom of the fifth, Twins tied the score.
With one out, Noor Godefroy singled, then advanced on a fielder's choice-grounder by Sophie Bugter and a single by Michelle van Bodegom, which loaded the bases.
Kelly De Lannoy followed with a runscoring single, but three runners stranded when the time expired with two outs.
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Avengers United vs. Impact United
Pool Z ended with a 6-5 win for Avengers against Impact.
Avengers came from behind three times.
Impact took an 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a grounder by Sierra Gilmore.
But in the bottom of the first, Avengers scored twice, thanks to a double by Mekenzie Saban and a single by Devan Smith.
Impact reacted with a 3-run rally in the top of the second to take a 4-2 lead.
First, the tying run was scored on a wild pitch, then Mikala Swearingin added a 2-run single.
Again, Avengers came back.
In the bottom of the second, a run was scored on a single by Mekenzie Saban, who was 2-for-2, scored twice and batted in two runs.
In the third, Avengers came alongside on a double by Olivia Graff.
Impact took the lead for the third time by a run in the top of the fourth inning when Mikala Swearingin delivered a runscoring single.
She was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.
Trailing for the third time, Avengers again turned the game around in its fourth at bat.
With one out, Mekenzie Saban and Trinity Thompson walked and both stole the next base.
With one out, Tessa Winebark delivered a walk-off single that plated Saban with the tying run.
Thompson was able to score the winning run when an error followed.
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Final: Talent Team Holland vs. Roef!
The tournament ended with an exciting and suspenseful final between Talent Team Holland and Roef!, which lasted nine innings!
With that, it became the longest game in Indoor Cup-history.
...Tournament-winner Talent Team Hollland...
...Back row: Daniëlle ten Donkelaar, Brenda Beers, Maxime van Dalen,...
...Annemiek Jansen, Cheyenne Scheffer, Mariëlle Vleugels...
...and Mandy van der Maas; Front row: Tammie Lijbers, Ismay Poot,...
...Isa Los, Damishah Charles & Shareday Christina...
...Not pictured: Laura Wissink and Jennie Kinburn...
(© Photo: Organisation Indoor Cup 2016) |
Last year, the Talent Team (then Dutch Juniors Blue) also played in final, but lost 3-1 to France.
Roef! was leading 2-0 in the fourth inning, but the Talent Team came alongside by scoring in the fourth and fifth inning.
As the score was tied after seven innings, extra innings followed.
In the top of the tenth inning, Roef! re-took the lead, but the Talent Team reacted with two runs in its tenth to become the tournament champion for the first time!
Roef! opened the score in the top of the third inning.
Gini Ketelaars led off with a single and stole second base.
She then advanced on a bunt-single by Wies Ligtvoet.
But in a double-steal situation, she was eliminated at the plate.
Ligtvoet advanced to second base, then scored when an error followed.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, the Talent Team got a scoring opportunity after already having stranded a runner on third base in the previous at bat.
Annemiek Jansen led off with a double, but was tagged out trying to stretch it into a triple.
Hereafter, Shareday Christina walked with two outs, but stranded on second base.
Roef! doubled its lead in the fourth inning off of starter Mandy van der Maas.
With one out, Nathalie Hosten doubled and scored on a 2-out single by Gini Ketelaars.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Talent Team got one run back.
With one out, Damishah Charles doubled.
With two outs, she advanced when Annemiek Jansen reached on an error.
Jansen then moved to second base on another error, which enabled Charles to score.
In the sixth inning, the Talent Team tied the score, but failed to take the lead, leaving three runners behind.
With one out, Isa Los reached on an error, stole second base and moved on a passed ball.
Hereafter, Annemiek Jansen also reached on an error and that led to a 2-2 score.
With two outs, Shareday Christina singled to put runners at the corners.
To set up a force play and also to avoid pitching to powerhitter Mariëlle Vleugels, an intentional walk followed that loaded the bases.
Hereafter, the inning ended when Christina was called out for interference on a grounder by Ismay Poot.
After leaving two runners in the bottom of the seventh, the Talent Team again left the bases loaded in the eighth.
Tie-break runner Brenda Beers advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Shareday Christina, but then Mariëlle Vleugels was walked intentionally again.
With two outs, Maxime van Dalen also received an intentional pass, which loaded the bases.
This decision worked out, as a grounder ended the inning, moving the game into the ninth inning.
...Roef! won the Silver Medal...
...Back row: Karen Marr (coach), Marcel Swarttouw (coach), Charlotte Haen,...
...Naftely Pietersz, Britt Remmers, Nathalie Hosten, Sophie Mollee,...
...Marjolein Merkx, Nathan van der Reijden (coach) & Jeroen Swers (manager)...
...Front row: Hannie Mulders (scorer), Nina De Permentier, Wies Ligtvoet,...
...Ilse van Kerkoerle, Maureen van Poorten, Gini Ketelaars & Eva van Knegsel...
...Not pictured: Shauni Thys & Griet De Schrijvere...
(© Photo: Rein Merkx) |
Roef! then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth inning.
With one out, tie-break runner Charlotte Haen moved to third base on a single by Gini Ketelaars, then scored on a single by Wies Ligtvoet.
The two runners then advanced on a passed ball and the bases got loaded when Britt Remmers walked.
But three runners were left behind when a flyout and strikeout followed.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Talent Team decided the long game with one out.
Tie-break runner Damishah Charles moved on a bunt-single by Isa Los.
Annemiek Jansen then struckout, but the third strike was in the ground and was followed by an error.
That enabled Charles to score the tying run and brought Los to second base.
The two runners moved into scoring position on a grounder by Brenda Beers.
With first base open, Shareday Christina walked, loading the bases.
Hereafter, Mariëlle Vleugels placed a perfect squeeze-bunt, which resulted into a throw to the plate, but there, Los beat the throw to score the winning run.
With, Vleugels also became the winning pitcher, as she had taken over the pitching in the fifth and threw the final five innings.
Relive the Final again by watching this replay of the livestream
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