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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Fred Versluis)
 Talent Team hands Sparks Haarlem first loss
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
The Talent Team Holland opened its new season in the highest league on Sunday (April 17) with a double-header split against reigning champion Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem.
Sparks Haarlem won big in the opener with a 10-2 score, ending the game in five innings due to the mercy-rule.
In the second game, Sparks Haarlem led 5-0 in the second inning and appeared to be en route to another mercy-rule victory.
However, the score was tied at 6-6 after five innings, then the Talent Team won 8-7 in the seventh on a walk-off single by Wies Ligtvoet.
With this, Sparks Haarlem lost its first game of the season after winning the first three, its earliest loss since 2010.
In previous years, Sparks Haarlem dominated and started the seasons with long winning streaks.
Last year, Sparks Haarlem lost its first game of the season on July 11 against FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem after having won 28 games in a row.
Olympia Haarlem then won both games of its double-header, 9-4 and 2-1.
In the opener, Olympia trailed 4-2, but scored four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a 2-run double by Eva Voortman.
In the second game, Olympia trailed 1-0, then scored twice in the third inning, thanks to a single by Dinet Oosting and a caught stealing-situation.
The next day, Sparks Haarlem lost its third consecutive game, as the Talent Team Holland then won 4-1 in eight innings, thanks to a 3-run triple by Annemiek Jansen.
The loss against Olympia Haarlem ended a long winning streak, as Sparks Haarlem had remained unbeaten in 2014, going 30-0.
In 2013, the first loss was registered on June 15 against Terrasvogels, which then ended a 22-game winning streak.
In that game Terrasvogels won 4-2, scoring its four runs in the seventh inning on a single by Marisèla de Wind, basesloaded walk for Robyn Draper and 2-run single by Petra van Heijst.
Terrasvogels went on to win the Dutch championship-title that year.
In the previous three years, it also was Terrasvogels that handed Sparks Haarlem its first loss each time.
In 2012, Sparks Haarlem won the first seven games of the season.
In the second game of its double-header against Terrasvogels, on April 22, Sparks Haarlem led 6-0, but ended up losing.
After Terrasvogels had narrowed the deficit to 6-4, it decided the game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Meike Witteveen then led off with a triple and Marisèla de Wind was hit by a pitch.
Hereafter, Solange Starrenburg, Ashli Holland and Dana Horeman all singled to give Terrasvogels a 7-6 win.
In 2011, Terrasvogels ended a 10-game winning streak of Sparks Haarlem on May 14.
Terrasvogels then won 8-1 in six innings on a 3-hitter by Mercedes Lovato.
The earliest loss in the season for Sparks Haarlem before today was registered on April 10, 2010.
On that day, Terrasvogels opened the season with an 1-0 victory against the Haarlem-squad.
The lone run in that game was scored in the third inning by Femke Haage, who advanced on grounders by Linda Hoenderdos and Marije Schoenmaker, then scored on a single by Christina Rolla.
(April 17)
Standings
Schedule
Team Rosters
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Talent Team Holland vs. Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem (Game One)
In the opener, Sparks Haarlem rallied for seven runs in the second inning to decide the game.
Sparks Haarlem collected 11 basehits, including a homerun by Karin Tuk.
...Karin Tuk is greeted by Head Coach...
...Peter van Dalen after hitting a homerun...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
It was her homerun that opened the score in the first inning.
With two outs, the powerhitter drilled the ball over the leftfield-fence to give Sparks Haarlem an early lead.
This was Karin Tuk's 43rd career homerun, which puts her in a tie for second place with Monique Fris on the All-Time Homerun-list.
She is now only one homerun behind all-time recordholder Debby Connor, who hit 44 homeruns in her career.
In the second inning, Sparks Haarlem recorded seven basehits, resulting in a 7-run rally.
Jenny Kinburn and Kiki Draaijer led off with singles off of starting pitcher Mandy van der Maas.
Tammie Lijbers followed with a runscoring single.
Next batter Desiree Adriaansz also singled and that led to a pitching change.
Lisa Hop took over, but was greeted with a 2-run double by Anne Blaauwgeers.
A no-out fielder's choice-grounder by Maaike Blaauwgeers brought in the next run.
Karin Tuk and Maxime van Dalen followed with RBI-singles.
With one out, an error led to the seventh run and an 8-0 lead.
Sparks Haarlem scored its ninth run in the fourth when Karin Tuk reached on an error, advanced on a passed ball and then scored on another error.
The Talent Team then scored its two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off of starter Kirsten Scheele.
Ismay Poot led off with a walk, then was safe when an error followed on a grounder by Rachel van Veen.
After the two had advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Isa Los, they respectively scored on a grounder by Jeske Meewisse and a single by Rhowan Stuart.
Sparks Haarlem scored its final run in the top of the fifth off of new pitcher Cheyenne Scheffer.
Tammie Lijbers (fielder's choice) then scored on a the second double in the game by Anne Blaauwgeers.
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| ...Karin Tuk connects for her 43rd career-homerun to move into second place on the All-Time list... |
...Winning pitcher Kirsten Scheele... | 
...Kiki Draaijer (14) and Tammie Lijbers (2) have just scored... |
...Closer Rebecca Soumeru...
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...Onaisha Franka steals 2nd base in the 5th inning...
...Short stop Jenny Kinburn puts on the tag... |
| (© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
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| Talent Team Holland - Oolders Omaco Sparks H'lem 2-10 (5 inn.) |
| R | H | E |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 170 | 11 | | - | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| Talent Team Holland | 000 | 20 | | - | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| pitcher Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Kirsten Scheele, W (1-0) | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - |
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| Rebecca Soumeru | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
| pitchers Talent Team | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Mandy van der Maas, L (0-1) | 1 (*) | - | - | 6 | 5 | 5 |
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| Lisa Hop | 3 | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | 2 |
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| Cheyenne Scheffer | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| (*) - Van der Maas pitched to four batters in the second inning |
| Homerun: Sparks Haarlem: Karin Tuk (1)(1st,solo,off Van der Maas). |
Umpires: HP-Arjan de Wever, 1B-Martin Lemstra.
Official Scorer-Leo van den Brun.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Jeanette van Drunen.
Public Address Announcer-Wouter Hoos.
Starting Time-2:00 PM.
Time-1:23 hr.
Game Notes:
 Opening Day Season 2016.
Game played at Noordersportpark in Haarlem, home-site of Sparks Haarlem.
Weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 10,7#176; C (51,3° F); wind direction northwest;
wind speed 18 kmh (11,3 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 56%. |
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Talent Team Holland vs. Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem (Game Two)
In the second game, both teams collected 12 basehits, including three by Anne Blaauwgeers (Sparks Haarlem) and Isa Los (Talent Team).
The latter also scored three runs.
In the top of the first inning, Sparks Haarlem rallied for four unearned runs off of starter Daniëlle ten Donkelaar.
Lead-off hitter Kehli Washington reached second base on a throwing error, then scored on an one-out single by Anne Blaauwgeers.
With two outs, Damishah Charles walked, then Jenny Kinburn singled in the next run.
Cindy van der Zanden followed with a 2-run triple that gave Sparks Haarlem an early 4-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Dutch champion added a run.
With one out, Kehli Washington singled and moved to third on a single by Maaike Blaauwgeers.
Hereafter, Cheyenne Scheffer took over the pitching, but gave up an RBI-double to Anne Blaauwgeers.
And so, Sparks Haarlem was leading comfortable with a 5-0 score.
In the bottom of the second at bat, the Talent Team scored twice off of Leonella Elizabeth.
Isa Los and Laura Wissink led off with singles.
After the two executed a double-steal, they scored on a grounder by Annemiek Jansen and a single by Eva van Knegsel.
In the fifth, Sparks Haarlem scored again off of reliever Mandy van der Maas.
With one out, the bases got loaded when Jenny Kinburn singled, Cindy van der Zanden reached on an error and Tammie Lijbers also singled.
Hereafter, Kinburn was forced out at the plate on a grounder by Desiree Adriaansz, but when an error followed, Van der Zanden was able to score.
Sparks Haarlem now led 6-2, but then the Talent Team struck with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning off of reliever Rebecca Soumeru.
This year, the Talent Team is not made up of players of the Netherlands Junior Team.
Instead, it now is the Netherlands National Under-22 Team.
In the fifth, Lizzie Clarijs led off with a single and Onaisha Franka followed with a bunt-single.
The two moved on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel van Veen, then scored on a following triple by Isa Los, who scored herself when Laura Wissink singled.
Wissink was replaced by pinch-runner Britt Remmers, who went on to score the tying run when an error was made on a force play-grounder by Manon van Alebeek.
In the top of the seventh, Sparks Haarlem re-took the lead.
Cindy van der Zanden then reached on an error, moved on a sac-bunt by Tammie Lijbers and a grounder by Desiree Adriaansz, then scored on a single by Kehli Washington.
This led to a pitching change, as starting pitcher Daniëlle ten Donkelaar re-entered and went on to become the winning pitcher.
In the bottom of the seventh, Isa Los led off with a single and advanced on a sac-bunt by Laura Wissink.
Annemiek Jansen followed with a single to put runners at the corners.
A force play was then created by walking Eva van Knegsel intentionally, which loaded the bases.
Manon van Alebeek then did hit a grounder, but the only out that could be made was at first base and that enabled Los to score the tying run.
Hereafter, Wies Ligtvoet delivered a walk-off, runscoring single that gave the Talent Team an 8-7 victory.
With that, Sparks Haarlem experienced its first walk-off loss since Terrasvogels win 7-6 on April 22, 2012.
|
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| ...Isa Los steals 3rd base in the 2nd inning; Short stop Cindy van der Zanden ends up short a few inches... |
| (© Both Photos: Fred Versluis) |
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| Talent Team Holland - Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem 8-7 |
| R | H | E |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 410 | 010 | 1 | - | 7 | 12 | 1 |
| Talent Team Holland | 020 | 040 | 2 | - | 8 | 12 | 4 |
| (two outs when winning run was scored in the bottom of the seventh inning) |
| pitchers Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Leonella Elizabeth | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
|
| Rebecca Soumeru | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
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| Kirsten Scheele, L (1-1) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| pitchers Talent Team | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Daniëlle ten Donkelaar | 1.1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
|
| Cheyenne Scheffer | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | - |
|
| Mandy van der Maas | 3.1 | 1 | - | 5 | 2 | 1 |
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| Daniëlle ten Donkelaar, W (1-0) | 0.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
Umpires: HP-Martin Lemstra, 1B-Arjan de Wever.
Official Scorer-Leo van den Brun.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Jeanette van Drunen.
Public Address Announcer-Wouter Hoos.
Starting Time-3:50 PM.
Time-2:08 hr.
Game Notes:
Opening Day Season 2016.
Game played at Noordersportpark in Haarlem, home-site of Sparks Haarlem.
Weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 10,5° C (50,9° F); wind direction west-northwest;
wind speed 18 kmh (11,3 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 57%. |
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Copyright © 1997-2016 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.
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