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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen, Fred Versluis & Marco Stoovelaar)
  Sparks Haarlem in final Premiere Cup
Nederlands
 RONCHI DEI LEGIONARI (Italy) -
Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem has reached the final of the European Premiere Cup in Italy.
On Friday (August 19), the Dutch champion closed the preliminary round with a 4-3 win against Forlì, which suffered its first loss of the tournament.
In the evening, Sparks Haarlem faced Forlì again in the semi-final, which was another thriller.
Sparks Haarlem again registered a one-run difference victory, this time winning 5-4.
With that, Sparks Haarlem qualified for the all-deciding final on Saturday.
In that final, Sparks Haarlem might face Forlì another time, as the Italians face Joudrs Praha (Czech Rep.) in the backdoor-game in the afternoon.
The winner of that game will become the second finalist.
In the first Play-Off today, Joudrs eliminated Bussolengo Specchiasol (Italy) by winning 1-0.
Other scores today:
Lucerne Eagles (Switzerland) vs. Bussolengo Specchiasol (Italy) 1-15; Joudrs Praha (Czech Rep.) vs. Les Comanches (France) 6-5; Lucerne Eagles (Switzerland) vs. Skövde Saints (Sweden) 4-3; Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium) vs. Wesseling Vermins (Germany) 6-10.
Play-Offs
Bussolengo Specchias (Italy) vs. Joudrs Praha (Czech Rep.) 0-1.
Highlights of these games
(August 19)
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Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem vs. Forlì
In its final game of the preliminary round, Sparks Haarlem rallied for three runs in the first inning, saw Forlì come alongside, but won 4-3 in the seventh inning to hand the Italians its first loss of the tournament.
That created a 3-way tie with Bussolengo Specchiasol.
The score of the game between Sparks Haarlem vs. Forlì was then decisive to compile the final ranking based on the Team Quality Balance.
That resulted in first place for Forlì, second for Sparks Haarlem and third for Bussolengo.
That meant that Sparks Haarlem and Forlì were to meet each other again tonight in the semi-final or first Play-Off, while Bussolengo had to play against Joudrs Praha.
In this last game, Joudrs surprised with an 1-0 win to eliminate the Italians.
In the bottom of the first inning, facing starting pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani, Sparks Haarlem rallied for three runs, one of which was unearned.
Kehli Washington and Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with singles, then the first scored when an error was made on a sacrifice bunt by Anne Blaauwgeers.
After the latter stole second base, the bases got loaded when Maxime van Dalen walked, then Virginie Anneveld followed with a 2-run double to make it 3-0.
In the second inning, Emily Vincent took over the pitching for the Italian squad and held Sparks Haarlem scoreless.
Until the seventh inning.
In the third, Virginie Anneveld singled with one out, advanced on a wild pitch, but then stranded.
In the fourth, Kehli Washington singled with two outs, but was left on first base.
Sparks Haarlem stranded two runners in scoring position in the fifth.
With one out, Maxime van Dalen singled and Virginie Anneveld walked.
They moved on a sacrifice bunt by Kiki Draaijer, but then pinch-hitter Chantal Versluis flied out, ending the inning.
...Virginie Anneveld...
...3 hits, double, 3 runs batted in...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Ginger de Weert started for Sparks Haarlem.
With a 3-0 lead, the righthander saw Forlì get two runners in scoring position with no outs in the top of the second inning.
Lead-off hitter Amber Parrish reached second base when her fly was missed in the outfield.
She then could advance only one base when next batter Andrea Montanari doubled.
Both were left behind, as a grounder, strikeout and foul-out followed.
Forlì was retired in order in the third, but then again got its first two batters on base in the fourth when Emily Vincent and Amber Parrish both walked.
This time, a force out, a flyout and foul-out ended this Italian scoring opportunity.
Forlì again got runners on second and third base in the fifth inning, but failed to score.
With two outs, Giulia Mattioli singled, then a throwing error on a grounder by Elisa Grifagno led to runners on second and third base.
A grounder ended the inning.
After having stranded six runners, including five in scoring position, Forlì finally was able to score in the top of the sixth inning.
For the third time, the Italians got their first two batters on base.
Amber Parrish led off with a double and Andrea Montanari walked, then the two moved on a wild pitch.
Moments later, they both scored on two grounders, respectively hit by Carlotta Zauli and pinch-hitter Jessica Moore.
An infield-hit by Miriana Cerioni followed, but she stranded on first base.
However, Sparks Haarlem was still leading, 3-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, Kirsten Scheele took over the pitching for the Haarlem-squad.
She began with a strikeout, but then gave up a triple to Elisa Grifagno, who scored the tying run on a following single by Emily Vincent.
After a foul-out, Scheele closed the inning with a strikeout, but it was a new ballgame.
But Sparks Haarlem recovered immediately and decided the game moments later.
Lead-off hitter Maaike Blaauwgeers reached on an error, then stole second base with two outs.
Hereafter, Virginie Anneveld followed with a walk-off single that gave Sparks Haarlem a 4-3 victory.
Anneveld was 3-for-4 and batted in three runs.
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| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem - Forlì 4-3 |
| R | H | E |
| Forlì (Italy) | 000 | 002 | 1 | - | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 300 | 000 | 1 | - | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| (two outs when winning run was scored in the bottom of the seventh inning) |
| pitchers Forlì | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Ilaria Cacciamani | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
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| Emily Vincent, L (2-1) | 5.2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - |
| pitchers Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Ginger de Weert | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
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| Kirsten Scheele, BS (1), W (3-1) | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Umpires: HP-Zdeněk Židek (Czech Rep.), 1B-Alen Magdalenić (Croatia), 3B-Leanne Gearside (Australia).
Official Scorers-Tamara Cossar (Italy), Marco Battistella (Italy).
Technical Commissioner-Mike Jennings (Great Britain).
Starting Time-1:30 PM.
Time-2:00 hr.
Site-Stadio Giordano Gregoret, Ronchi dei Legionari (Italy).
Game Notes:
Weather conditions at game time: Sunny, 27° C (80,6° F); wind direction northwest;
wind speed 8 kmh (4,2 mph); wind force 1 Bft; humidity 60%. |
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Forlì vs. Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem (Play-Offs)
In the evening, Sparks Haarlem met Forlì for the second time today.
And won for the second time today.
As is custom in Italy, most evening games start late around 8:30 or later during its regular season or during tournaments.
During this tournament, the final evening games of each day of competition starts at 9 PM.
And so, the Play-Off between Sparks Haarlem and Forlì went underway at 9 PM.
And it ended just before midnight.
Not because of the length of the game, but because of a technical problem.
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning and Forlì leading 2-1, there was light-failure, which caused a delay in the game.
After some 35 minutes, the game resumed again and could be completed thereafter.
Facing American pitcher Jessica Moore, Sparks Haarlem opened the score with one run in the second inning.
Initially, Moore retired the side (two strikeouts) in the first inning, but in the second, she gave up three basehits.
The righthander pitched for the University of Oregon and is a member of the American National Team since 2013.
With Team USA, she last month won the title at the World Championship in Canada.
In the final, the USA won 7-3 vs. Japan and (pitching in relief) Moore was the winning pitcher.
She also was a member of the American squad that won the Silver at the World Championship in 2014, held in Haarlem (Netherlands).
Moore joined Forlì earlier this month for this tournament.
...Jessica Moore pitching for Team USA...
...during the 2014 World Championship...
...in Haarlem (Netherlands)...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the second, Maxime van Dalen led off with a single, then moved to third base when an outfield-error followed a single by next batter Virginie Anneveld, who herself advanced to second base.
Hereafter, Jenny Kinburn also singled to bring in the first run.
With two outs, Sparks Haarlem got the bases loaded when Cindy van der Zanden walked, but Moore then closed with a strikeout.
Sparks Haarlem again got into scoring position in the third.
Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with a single, then Virginie Anneveld reached on an error with two outs.
That brougt Blaauwgeers to third base, but two runners were left behind.
Leonella Elizabeth started for Sparks Haarlem and saw Forlì leave two runners behind in the first at bat.
With one out, Elisa Grifagno reached on an infield-hit, then an error followed on a possible double play-grounder by Emily Vincent.
Two runners were the left behind when a flyout and force out followed.
Elizabeth retired the side in the second, then gave up two runs in the third.
Martina Laghi led off with a single, then her pinch-runner Elda Ghilardi moved on a sacrifice bunt by Carlotta Onofri and scored the tying run on a following triple by Elisa Grifagno.
With two outs, Forlì took a 2-1 lead on a single by Amber Parrish.
In the top of the fourth, Karin Tuk was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Cindy van der Zanden.
Hereafter, the game was interrupted due a problem with the light-installation.
After some 35 minutes, the game resumed, but Tuk then stranded on second base.
...Leonella Elizabeth...
...winning pitcher...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
After Leonella Elizabeth had retired the side in the bottom of the fourth, Sparks Haarlem struck with a 4-run rally in the top of the fifth inning.
Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with a walk, then Anne Blaauwgeers singled and Maxime van Dalen followed with a runscoring double that tied the score at 2-2.
With one out, Anne Blaauwgeers appeared to be eliminated in a rundown after a pick-off at third base, but an error was made and so, she scored the go-ahead run.
With two outs, pinch-hitter Chantal Versluis and Karin Tuk delivered back-to-back RBI-doubles to lift the lead to 5-2.
Forlì left a runner behind in the top of the fifth, but then came back again in the sixth.
Amber Parrish led off with a double and moved on a grounder, then Carlotta Zauli walked.
With runners at the corners, Kirsten Scheele took over the pitching for Elizabeth and was greeted with a runscoring single by Jessica Moore.
Hereafter, Zauli and Moore both moved on a wild pitch, which gave Forlì runners on second and third base.
Next, Zauli tried to score on a grounder toward third base by Ilaria Cacciamani, but was eliminated at the plate by 3B Virginie Anneveld.
Scheele then closed the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, Maxime van Dalen reached on an error, but was eliminated in a double play after a line drive by Virginie Anneveld was caught in centerfield.
Next batter Jenny Kinburn doubled, but stranded on second base.
When the bottom of the seventh inning began, Sparks Haarlem led 5-3, but there was still some suspense ahead.
With two outs, Emily Vincent was hit by a pitch and Amber Parrish singled.
Hereafter, Andrea Montanari (who had been very productive this week) delivered a runscoring single that narrowed the deficit to 5-4.
With runners on first and third base, veteran Rebecca Soumeru was brought in to close the game for Sparks Haarlem.
And that is what she did.
The righthander got a grounder from Carlotta Zauli, which ended the game.
With that, Sparks Haarlem won 5-4 and Soumeru earned a save.
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| Forlì - Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem 4-5 |
| R | H | E |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 010 | 040 | 0 | - | 5 | 9 | 1 |
| Forlì (Italy) | 002 | 001 | 1 | - | 4 | 9 | 4 |
| pitchers Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Leonella Elizabeth, W (2-0) | 5.1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
|
| Kirsten Scheele, H (1) | 1.1 | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | 1 |
|
| Rebecca Soumeru, SV (1) | 0.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| pitcher Forlì | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Jessica Moore, L (3-1) | 7 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
Umpires: HP-Bridget Cameron (Great Britain), 1B-Michal Židek (Czech Rep.), 3B-Zdeněk Židek (Czech Rep.).
Official Scorers-Tamara Cossar (Italy), Erika Sojat (Italy).
Technical Commissioner-Mike Jennings (Great Britain).
Starting Time-9:00 PM.
Time-2:23 hr.
Site-Stadio Giordano Gregoret, Ronchi dei Legionari (Italy).
Game Notes:
 35-minute on-field delay due to light-failure with 2 outs in top 4th inning and Forlì leading 2-1.
Weather conditions at game time: Clear, 21,9° C (71,4° F); wind direction north;
wind speed 2 kmh (1,4 mph); wind force 1 Bft; humidity 71%. |
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Highlights other games
Lucerne Eagles vs. Bussolengo Specchiasol
The day began with a big 15-1 win for Bussolengo against Eagles in a game that initially was scheduled for Wednesday-evening, but then rained out.
Despite the big win, all seven innings needed to be played.
The Italians led 5-0 after two innings, but were unable to take more distance.
A run was added in the sixth to make it 6-1 and then a 9-run rally followed in the top of the seventh inning.
In the rally, there were nine basehits, including 2-run singles by Sabrina Del Mastio and Alice Parpajola and a 3-run double by Madeline McIntyre.
Dutch player Noa Brand scored two runs in this at bat.
Bussolengo, which was shutout 10-0 and held hitless on Thursday-evening by Forlì, pounded 18 basehits in this game, including three by veteran Sabrina Del Mastio, who also batted in three runs.
McIntyre batted in four runs and scored three, while Giulia Longhi batted in three runs.
With the win, a 3-way tie was possible between Bussolengo, Forlì and Sparks Haarlem.
That indeed happened later in the day when Sparks Haarlem won against Forlì.
With that, Bussolengo finished in third place and had to play against Joudrs Praha in the first Play-Off game in the evening.
Joudrs Praha vs. Les Comanches de Toulon
Joudrs Praha trailed 3-2 halfway the fifth inning, but then scored three runs.
Leading 5-4, the Czechs added another run in the sixth.
Les Comanches outhit Joudrs 15-13, but left twelve runners behind, including the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh inning.
Celine Lassaigne was 3-for-4 for the French team and batted in two runs.
In the fifth, a 2-run double by Kateřina Klimplová gave Joudrs the lead and she scored herself later on a single by Stepanka Froliková.
...Lindsey Meadows...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Lucerne Eagles vs. Skövde Saints
Eagles was outhit 7-6, but led 4-1 after five innings en route to a 4-3 win against Skövde in a game that was played at the same time as the one above.
Danielle Destaso went the distance for the Swiss team and struckout seven batters.
A 2-run single by Italian player Sara Avanzi gave Lucerne a quick lead in the first inning.
The win created a 3-way tie between Lucerne, Skövde and Les Comanches.
The score of this game was of influence and resulted in sixth place for Skövde, folowed by Les Comanches and Eagles.
Hoboken Pioneers vs. Wesseling Vermins
Hoboken, which registered only three basehits, appeared to be en route to its first victory of the tournament, as the Belgian squad was leading 6-0 after four innings, needing only one run to end the game via the mercy-rule.
But in the top of the fifth, the German opponent rallied for seven runs and added three more runs in the sixth to win 10-6.
In the second inning, a 2-run single by Lindsey Meadows highlighted a 4-run rally for Hoboken and she added a runscoring single in the fourth at bat.
As starting pitcher, Meadows had held Wesseling scoreless in the first four innings.
A pitching change followed in the fifth and the Germans then struck with a 7-run rally.
With two outs, a 6-2 lead and the bases loaded, Meadows returned as pitcher, but then gave up a 3-run double to Marla Gooding that made it 6-5, followed by a 2-run homerun by Nichole Toven that turned the game around.
Wesseling already had secured fifth place, even in case of a possible 3-way tie with Skövde and Les Comanches.
Bussolengo Specciasol vs. Joudrs Praha (Play-Offs)
In a suspenseful game, Joudrs Praha won 1-0 against Bussolengo to eliminate the Italian squad for the medals.
By winning this first Play-Off game, Joudrs qualified for the backdoor-game in which it will face Forlì on Saturday.
Joudrs scored the lone run in the top of the sixth inning off of American Brandice Balschmiter.
With two outs, Tereza Jakesová singled and stole second base, then scored on a single by Anna Lemberková.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out, Valeria Bortolomai tripled for Bussolengo and was replaced by pinch-runner Alice Parpajola.
However, she stranded on third base, as a foul-out and strikeout ended the game.
Veronika Pecková went the distance for Joudrs.
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