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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Fred Versluis)
 Sparks Haarlem wins big twice and reaches Play-Offs
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem recorded two big wins against DSS on Saturday (August 12) to officially qualify for the Play-Offs.
Sparks Haarlem won 10-3 and 11-4 and decided both games via the mercy-rule in six innings.
Today's games were important for both teams.
While getting close, Sparks Haarlem had not yet officially secured a spot in the Play-Offs.
Theoretically, it was still possible that the team could end up in fifth place in case of a tie with Tex Town Tigers.
The win of Sparks Haarlem in the first game decided several things.
First, Sparks Haarlem qualified for the Play-Offs, while DSS was eliminated for the top-4.
Also, because of the win, Roef! and Tex Town Tigers were eliminated for second place.
When Sparks Haarlem also won the second game, it secured possession of second place.
Terrasvogels, which today also reached the Play-Offs and won twice against Tex Town Tigers, can stil end up in a tie for second place.
The head-to-head results between Sparks Haarlem and Terrasvogels is 3-3.
However, the Team Quality Balance is in favor of Sparks Haarlem.
By finishing in second place, Sparks Haarlem will be the host of the first day of the Play-Off Weekend, which is Saturday, September 16.
For DSS, the two losses mean that the team remains in sixth place.
A win (or two wins) would have moved the team closer (or alongside) Tex Town Tigers.
Both DSS and TTT have four games remaining.
The team that finishes in sixth place has to play in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs.
Both teams have a double-header left against the winless Talent Team Holland.
In the final weekend of the regular season on September 2-3, Tex Town Tigers plays against Roef!, while DSS meets Terrasvogels.
After the final weekend, DSS and Tex Town Tigers could end up in a tie, which probably means they will have to play an one-game play-off to decide fifth and sixth place.
To realize that, DSS has to win all four remaining games, while TTT has to lose two of its remaining four games.
TTT also still has a chance to reach the Play-Ofs.
Today, like a week ago, DSS had to do without pitcher Dagmar Bloeming.
DSS Head Coach Norman Ames, who had been on holiday during the past four games, was back with the team today.
On the other hand, Sparks Haarlem was led again today by Erik Vrugt, who also was the Acting Head Coach of the team during its three previous games.
He fills in for Head Coach Peter van Dalen, who also is on holiday.
Sparks Haarlem also has to do the past two weeks without infielder Jenny Kinburn, who is currenly participated with the National Team of Curaçao in the Pan American Softball Championship in the Dominican Republic.
After this weekend, the season will be interrupted (again) for the upcoming European Cup Tournaments.
Dutch champion Sparks Haarlem and Terrasvogels will participated in the European Premiere Cup in Haarlem (Netherlands).
DSS and league-leader FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem will travel to Italy for the Cup Winners Cup, which will be played in Caserta.
Both events will open on Monday, August 21 and close on Saturday, August 26.
Last year, Sparks Haarlem and Olympia Haarlem won the Premiere Cup and Cup Winners Cup, respectively.
(August 12)
Complete Schedule
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Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem vs. DSS (game one)
Sparks Haarlem trailed 1-0 halfway the first inning, took a 3-1 lead, but DSS came alongside in the third.
In the fourth inning, Sparks Haarlem re-took the lead, then rallied for five runs with no outs in the sixth inning to reach a 7-run difference and win via the mercy-rule.
In this game, Sparks Haarlem collected 16 basehits, but also committed four errors, which is the highest total the team made this season.
Chantal Versluis and Kingsley Avery both had three basehits.
Eight of the nine starting players hit at least one basehit, while eight players also scored at least once.
DSS collected only six basehits, but three of them were recorded by Morgan Sampson.
In the top of the first inning, DSS opened the score off of starter Leonella Elizabeth.
With one out, Areke Spel reached third base on an outfield-error.
She then scored when she beat the throw to the plate on a grounder by Sophie Bugter.
After Bugter had left first too early to become the second out, Morgan Sampson singled, but was left behind.
In the bottom of the first inning, Sparks Haarlem answered with three runs off of Svenja de Lincel, who went the distance for DSS.
With one out, Kehli Washington and Maxime van Dalen both walked, then the first scored the tying run on a single by Karin Tuk.
Van Dalen ended up on third base and scored the go-ahead run moments later on a sacrifice fly by Virginie Anneveld.
Kingsley Avery followed with a runscoring single to make it a 3-1 score.
After Sparks Haarlem left two runners behind in the second inning, DSS came alongside in the top of the third inning when the Sparks Haarlem-defense committed three errors.
Melissa de Greef led off with a single, then reached third base when a throwing error was made on a sacrifice bunt by Noa Brand.
When the latter was caught stealing at second base, De Greef was able to score.
Next, another fly by Areke Spel into the outfield ended in a error.
She ended up on second base, but scored again, this time on a single by Morgan Sampson, to make it a 3-3 score.
Both teams got scoring opportunities in their next at bat, but failed to score.
...Chantal Versluis reaches 1st base on...
...a bunt-single in the 4th inning...
...She was 3-for-5, scored once and had one RBI...
...2B Melissa de Greef awaits the ball...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
In the bottom of the third, with one out, Virginie Anneveld walked and Kingsley Avery singled, but they stranded on second and third base.
In the top of the fourth, DSS got the bases loaded with one out.
Lisa Waasdorp led off with a single and moved on a sacrifice bunt by Feline Poot.
The bases got loaded when Annemiek de Rover walked and Melissa de Greef reached on an infield-hit.
That led to a pitching change, as American righthander Monica Perry took over.
She got a force play-grounder that eliminated Waasdorp at the plate, then a foul-out ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Sparks Haarlem broke the 3-3 tie by scoring two runs, but also left three runners behind.
With one out, Chantal Versluis reached on a bunt-single, then the bases got loaded when Kehli Washington singled and Maxime van Dalen walked.
With two outs, Virginie Anneveld delivered a runscoring single, then Kingsley Avery walked to make it a 5-3 score.
A grounder closed the inning, leaving three runners behind.
In the fifth and sixth inning combined, DSS reached base only one more time, which was via a single by Morgan Sampson in the fifth, but she stranded on first base.
Sparks Haarlem left two more runners behind in the fifth inning, but then rallied for five runs on six hits with no outs in the sixth to reach the 7-run difference.
In this game, Sparks Haarlem stranded 12 runners.
In the sixth, Karin Tuk led off with a walk, then the bases got loaded when Virginie Anneveld and Kingsley Avery both singled.
Hereafter, Maaike Blaauwgeers and Onaisha Franka delivered runscoring singles.
Franka's hit was followed by an error, which resulted in another run.
Singles by Desiree Adriaansz and Chantal Versluis (who was the designated player) brought in the next two runs to lift the lead to 10-3 and end the game.
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...Left: Erik Vrugt (Acting Head Coach Sparks Haarlem) and Norman Ames (Head Coach DSS) shake hands...
...and meet with umpires Peter Vonk and Robin Stoevelaar before the game...
...Right: Chantal Versluis, wearing an unfamiliar number (12 instead of 23), greets HP Umpire Peter Vonk... |
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| ...Leonella Elizabeth started for Sparks Haarlem and Monica Perry closed the game... |
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...Left: Kehli Washington scores the tying run for Sparks Haarlem in the 1st inning, sliding past catcher Sophie Bugter...
...Right: Onaisha Franka appears to reach 2nd base in time in the 2nd inning, while being tagged by short stop Feline Poot,...
...but she is called out (caught stealing); 2B Melissa de Greef looks on... |
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...Left: Virginie Anneveld slides into third base in the sixth inning...
...Right: Onaisha Franka scores the 10th and final run for Sparks Haarlem in the sixth inning...
(© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
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| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem - DSS 10-3 (6 inn.) (game 1) |
| R | H | E |
| DSS | 102 | 000 | | - | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 300 | 205 | | - | 10 | 16 | 4 |
| (no outs when 7-run difference was reached in the sixth inning) |
| pitcher DSS | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Svenja de Lincel, L (0-4) | 5 (*) | 1 | 7 | 16 | 10 | 9 |
| (*) - De Lincel pitched to seven batters in the sixth inning |
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| pitchers Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Leonella Elizabeth | 3.1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | - |
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| Monica Perry, W (2-0) | 2.2 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
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Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem vs. DSS (game two)
Like in the first game, DSS took an 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but this time Sparks Haarlem answered with a 7-run rally in the bottom of the first.
Leading 9-4, the home team again finished the game via the mercy-rule, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
One of the runs was scored during a peculiar play, which was first thought to be a flyout, but became a force out at the plate and created confusion.
Sparks Haarlem collected 15 basehits, including five by lead-off hitter Chantal Versluis, who scored twice and batted in two runs.
Like in the opener, there were eight players with at least one basehit and also eight who scored at least once.
Versluis, who this season played in Italy (along with Monica Perry) and rejoined Sparks Haarlem last week, became the first player this season to hit five basehits in one game.
In the previous seven seasons, only four other players recorded five basehits in one game, two last season and two in 2013.
In the top of the first inning, DSS opened the score off of starter Ginger de Weert.
With one out, she walked Areke Spel, who then stole second base and moved to third base on a single by Sophie Bugter.
While the latter was caught stealing in a rundown, Spel scored.
A very long bottom of the first inning followed.
There not only were six basehits recorded and seven runs scored, but it also was delayed for one hour and ten minutes due to rain.
Chantal Versluis led off in the rain with a single and stole second base, then Kehli Washington reached on an error.
When Maxime van Dalen flied out, Versluis moved to third base and she scored the tying run when a throwing error followed after Washington stole second base moments later.
Hereafter, the bases got loaded when Anne Blaauwgeers walked and Virginie Anneveld singled.
Next batter Kingsley Avery delivered a 2-run single, which was followed by an outfield-error, which led to runners on second and third base.
The umpires then interrupted the game due to rain.
The delay took more than one hour and after maintenance to the field, the game resumed at 6:07 PM.
A grounder then accounted for the second out, but hereafter, more runs were added on an infield-hit by Onaisha Franka, a passed ball, a double by Tammie Lijbers and a single by Chantal Versluis in her second at bat in the inning.
A strikeout closed the long at bat, but Sparks Haarlem led 7-1.
Ginger de Weert retired the side in the second and third inning, but then gave up two runs in the top of the fourth.
Areke Spel and Sophie Bugter led off with singles, then the first moved on a flyout and scored on a single by Denice van Dijk.
That brought Bugter to third base and she scored the next run on a wild pitch with two outs to make it a 7-3 score.
...Hitting in the rain...
...Chantal Versluis became the first player of the season...
...to hit five basehits in one game...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
DSS-pitcher Quincey Catsburg allowed only one batter to reach in her second and third inning, then gave up another run in the fourth.
Chantal Versluis led off with a triple and scored on an one-out single by Maxime van Dalen.
Anne Blaauwgeers then doubled, but two runners were left behind on second and third base.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sparks Haarlem lifted the lead to 9-3, got the bases loaded, but failed to make it a 7-run difference.
Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with a single and stole second base with one out.
The bases got loaded when Tammie Lijbers walked and Chantal Versluis singled.
An error on a grounder by Kehli Washington led to a run, but with the bases still loaded and infield-fly and grounder ended the inning.
DSS scored another run in the top of the sixth off of Rebecca Soumeru, who had taken over the pitching in the previous inning.
Areke Spel led off with a double, moved on a wild pitch and scored with one out on a sacrifice fly by Morgan Sampson.
Now leading 9-4, Sparks Haarlem did reach the 7-run difference in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs.
Virginie Anneveld and Desiree Adriaansz opened the at bat with singles, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Maaike Blaauwgeers.
With first base open, pinch-hitter Karin Tuk was walked intentionally.
After reaching first base, Tuk was replaced by Onaisha Franka, who re-entered as pinch-runner.
With the bases loaded Tammie Lijbers drove the ball into leftfield.
There, leftfielder Lisa Waasdorp made an attempt to catch the ball.
Hereafter, the confusion started.
It appeared that an out-call was made to signal that the ball was caught.
Virginie Anneveld took off from third base, only to be eliminated at the plate on a throw from Waasdorp.
In case the ball had caught, this would have been an inning-ending double play.
However, the ball was not caught, meaning Anneveld was the lone out.
Since the bases were loaded, it was a force out (7-2) at the plate, meaning Lijbers reached first base on a very rare fielder's choice.
As the confusion continued what had happened with regards to the play, whether or not it had been a catch, Adriaansz continued running towards the plate and scored, as the defense of DSS was thinking there were three outs.
An umpire-review, which also included the Official Scorer, followed.
Apparently, no catch had been called by the umpires, meaning the out at the plate was a force out (and the second out in the inning) and the run scored by Adriaansz was allowed to being scored (there was no time-out), which made it a 10-4 score, while the other two runners also had advanced in the confusing situation.
When the game resumed again, Chantal Versluis delivered a walk-off single to bring in Franka, which ended the game, as the seven-run difference had been reached.
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| ...The game was delayed for one hour and 10 minutes because of rain in the first inning... |
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| ...Ginger de Weert and Rebecca Soumeru pitched for Sparks Haarlem in the 2nd game... |
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...Left: Onaisha Franka scores for Sparks Haarlem in the first inning...
...Right: Chantal Versluis slides into 3rd base with a triple in the 4th inning... |
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...Confusion in the sixth inning...
...At left, Virginie Anneveld is tagged out by catcher Lorraine Kieft; look at the reaction of on-deck hitter Chantal Versluis...
...At right, 3B Sophie Bugter and catcher Lorraine Kieft are confused, as is Head Coach Norman Ames (whose arm is visible),...
...in the background, Desiree Adriaansz (4) scores a run in this situation...
(© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
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| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem - DSS 11-4 (6 inn.) (game 1) |
| R | H | E |
| DSS | 100 | 201 | | - | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem | 700 | 112 | | - | 11 | 15 | 0 |
| (two outs when 7-run difference was reached in the sixth inning) |
| pitcher DSS | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Quincey Catsburg, L (4-5) | 5.2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 11 | 6 |
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| pitchers Sparks Haarlem | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Ginger de Weert, W (4-6) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
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| Rebecca Soumeru | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Umpires: HP-Robin Stoevelaar, 1B-Peter Vonk.
Official Scorer-Dieks Bannink.
Play-by-Play Scorer-Rienette Hamers.
Public Address Announcer-Bert Daniëls (DSS).
Scoreboard Operator-Tjitske Schiltman.
Starting Time-4:30 PM.
Time Played-1:56 hrs.
Site-Noordersportpark, Haarlem.
Game Notes:
 1:10 hrs. rain-delay in bottom 1st inning with 1 out, runner on 2nd and 3rd base and Sparks Haarlem leading 3-1.
Erik Vrugt Acting Head Coach for Sparks Haarlem, filling for absent Head Coach Peter van Dalen.
Weather conditions at game time: Cloudy, 19,8° C (67,6° F); wind direction west;
wind speed 25 kmh (15,5 mph); wind force 4 Bft; humidity 85%. |
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Copyright © 1997-2017 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.
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