(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Hans Jansen de Vries)
 Successful slowpitch-clinic in Nijmegen
Nederlands
 NIJMEGEN (Neth.) -
This year, another Slowpitch-season will be organized.
In 2015, the Dutch Slowpitch League was introduced.
Thirty mixed (co-ed) teams participated in competitions held in several regions of the country and it was a great success.
This year, the initiative to promote slowpitch continues.
On June 30, the third edition gets underway of the international Windmill Classic, which will be organized and hosted again by Almere '90.
The slowpitch-tournament ends on July 3.
The first two tourmaments were a huge success and also featured the Netherlands National Slowpitch Teams for both men and co-ed.
In 2012, the first-ever Netherlands National Mixed Slowpitch Team was formed for a series of demonstration games against reigning European champion Great Britain with games played in Rosmalen, Haarlem and Zeist.
On Saturday, March 12, a slowpitch clinic was stage in Nijmegen for students of the Radboud University.
The clinic was conducted by members of the Netherlands National Slowpitch Teams, including Debby Connor, Michelle van Driel, Erwin Visser and Tom Groot.
Debby Connor played for the Netherlands Women Softball Team several years, while Erwin Visser has played in the past for the Netherlands Men Softball Team.
All have played at the highest level in Dutch softball and baseball.
The clinic was emceed by Hans Jansen de Vries, who is the public address announcer for big league-team L&D Amsterdam Pirates, as well as the baseball-squad of Almere '90 in the First Division.
At the site of Nijmegen-based club De Hazenkamp, players of baseball- and softball-club Radboud Rangers attended the clinic.
Radboud Rangers was founded in September 2005 and is compiled of students from the Radboud University in Nijmegen and the Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, which has campusses in both Arnhem and Nijmegen.
The Radboud University is one of the best wellknown universities in the Netherlands and was founded in October 1923.
The Hogeschool van Arnhem and Nijmegen was founded in February 1996.
Radboud Rangers shares the baseball- and softball-complex with De Hazenkamp in Nijmegen.
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...Sascha Echternach, player of Radboud Rangers and Robbert Lafferty,...
...coach of the Radboud-women, were the HomerunQueen and HomerunKing...
...They get their HR-award from Erwin Visser (left) and Richard Foppen...
(© Both Photos: Hans Jansen de Vries) |
It was reported that it was a sunny, but also cool day.
The clinic went underway after announcer Hans Jansen de Vries had presented the clinic-staff, followed by an introduction from Dutch Team Manager Richard Foppen.
What followed was an enthousiastic afternoon.
Three groups participated in several stations, which included pitching, catching, fielding, throwing and hitting.
The Radboud-students showed much effort and there was a lot of fun.
They clearly improved in their skills and worked hard for two hours.
After a brief break, the students could show their skills in a 7-inning slowpitch game.
That was followed by a homerun-derby and the crowning of the Homerun Queen and Homerun King.
The successful day concluded with a joint meal of snacks at the terrace and in the clubhouse of De Hazenkamp.
Clubs who are interested in a slowpitch-clinic by members of the Netherlands Slowpitch Teams can contact Team Manager Richard Foppen through the Facebook-page of the Dutch National Slowpitch Teams.
(March 25)
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