Terrasvogels vs. Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem
Veteran pitcher Rebecca Soumeru threw six strong innings for Sparks Haarlem.
The righthander struckout eight batters and gave up only five basehits.
She was supported with seven runs in six innings, but Sparks Haarlem failed to end the game via the 7-run difference mercy-rule, as Terrasvogels scored three runs in the final two at bats.
Sparks Haarlem was productive from the beginning, but scored only two runs in the first four innings off of American righthander Dani Bonnet.
In the first inning, Kehli Washington led off with a single, then was safe on a throwing error that followed a bunt by Maaike Blaauwgeers.
The two moved on a sacrifice bunt by Anne Blaauwgeers, but then stranded on second and third base when two grounders followed.
Terrasvogels also left a runner behind on third base in its first at bat off of Rebecca Soumeru.
With two outs, Britt Vonk reached second base on an error and moved on a wild pitch, but then stranded.
Sparks Haarlem got another scoring opportunity in the second inning.
With one out, Cindy van der Zanden singled and Jennie Kinburn doubled.
The first was then eliminated in a run-down following a grounder by Tammie Lijbers, then another grounded ended the at bat.
After Terrasvogels was retired in order in the bottom of the second inning, Sparks Haarlem was able to open the score in the third.
Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with a walk, then reached second base safely on a error on a force play-grounder by her twin-sister Anne Blaauwgeers.
The bases got loaded when Maxime van Dalen singled.
With one out, the first two runners scored on a single by Karin Tuk.
Terrasvogels was also retired in order in the third, then Sparks Haarlem stranded another runner on third base in the top of the fourth.
Terrasvogels got on base again in the bottom of the fourth when Lizzie Clarijs led off with a single and stole second base, but she was then left behind.
...Virginie Anneveld accounted for five runs...
...She scored one and batted in four runs...
...with a double and triple...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Sparks Haarlem took more distance in the top of the fifth inning by adding three more runs.
Anne Blaauwgeers led off with a double, then Maxime van Dalen singled and Virginie Anneveld followed with a 2-run triple to make it a 4-0 score.
It also led to a pitching change, as Malou van Dusschoten took over from Dani Bonnet.
She walked Karin Tuk and hit next batter Cindy van der Zanden with a pitch and that loaded the bases.
A following walk for Jennie Kinburn led to the next run and held the bases loaded.
But hereafter, the righthander struckout the next batter, a force play at the plate accounted for the second out and a grounder ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Rhowan Stuart singled with one out, but hereafter, Rebecca Soumeru struckout the next two batters.
Sparks Haarlem scored two more runs in the top of the sixth on a 2-run double by Virginie Anneveld.
Hereafter, Van Dusschoten retired the next three batters.
However, Sparks Haarlem was unable to end the game via the 7-run difference, mercy-rule, as Terrasvogels got one run back in the bottom of the sixth.
Kimberly Jones led off with a single, moved on a grounder and scored on a single by Britt Vonk.
Another single by Fiana Finau followed and the two advanced on a grounder, but Soumeru then closed with a strikeout.
After Malou van Dusschoten had retired the side in the top of the seventh inning, Terrasvogels scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and got a chance to add more.
Ginger de Weert took over the pitching from Rebecca Soumeru and walked lead-off hitter Rhowan Stuart.
The righthander followed with two strikeouts, but then gave up back-to-back singles to Kimberly Jones and Lizzie Clarijs, which led to a run and runners on first and second base.
The bases got loaded when Britt Vonk walked, then a wild pitch gave Terrasvogels its third run.
With runners on second and third base, the game ended with a grounder.
With that, Sparks Haarlem won 7-3 and that means that both Terrasvogels and Sparks Haarlem both have won their first game of the additional series of games and share the lead in the Play-Offs.
The team that finishes in first place will automaticaly qualify for the best-of-one Holland Series (yes, the final again is only one game this year!), which will be played next Sunday.
The teams in second and third place will meet in a semi-final (also only a best-of-one) on Saturday.
The winner of that game becomes the second finalist.
On Thursday, Sparks Haarlem hosts DSS in the third and final game of the additional series.
When DSS wins, it will lead to another 3-way tie.
The final scores of the three games played then will be used to compile the Team Quality Balance that will decide the final ranking.
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Sparks Haarlem defeats Terrasvogels in Play-Off extension
SANTPOORT-ZUID (Neth.) -
In the second of the three additional games to decide the ranking in the Play-Offs, Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem won 7-3 on Wednesday-evening (September 28) against Terrasvogels.
On Tuesday-evening, the additional series began with a big 10-1 win for Terrasvogels at DSS.
