www.grand-slam.nl	International Softball
	Headlines

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2019 by Marco Stoovelaar

(Story & Photos by Marco Stoovelaar) First loss for Terrasvogels; Big win for Olympia Haarlem Nederlands BOLLATE (Italy) / PRAGUE (Czech Rep.) - Terrasvogels suffered its first loss of the European Cup Winners Cup-tournament on Day 4 of the event on Thursday (August 22). FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem recorded a big win in its tournament for the European Premiere Cup. In Bollate (Italy), Olympia Haarlem played one game on Thursday and won 13-0 against Žraloci Ledenice (Czech Republic) on thirteen basehits. The fourth day of the tournament ended with a 4-2 win for host Bollate against reigning Cupholder Bussolengo, which was the first loss for the Italian team. Because of these results, a 3-way tie can be created when Olympia Haarlem closes the Final Round on Friday with a win against unbeaten Bollate with the two being joined by Bussolengo. The score of that game then will become decisive. However, in order to create a 3-way tie, Olympia Haarlem and Bussolengo first have to win on Friday against Barracudas Zürich. When the Swiss team would surprise with two victories, it would qualify for the Final and then plays against Bollate. Terrasvogels played two games on Thursday in Prague (Czech Republic). In its first game, the team won 4-2 against host Eagles Praha to win its sixth consecutive game. In the evening, Terrasvogels played against Forlì (Italy), which was also unbeaten. Terrasvogels lost 12-0 in 3½ inning. With the win, Forlì became the first team to clinch a spot in the Final. On Friday, Terrasvogels closes the Final Round against Rivas (Spain). With a win, Terrasvogels will become the second finalist. (August 22)

FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem vs. Žraloci Ledenice In its lone game on Thursday, Olympia Haarlem shutout Žraloci Ledenice 13-0 in five innings. The team collected 13 basehits, while the Czech opponent recorded only one off of Ilona Andringa, who went the distance for Olympia and struckout eight batters. ...Jessie van Aalst... ...single, double,... ...1 run, 2 RBI's... (©Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) Dinet Oosting, Jessie van Aalst, Cindy van der Zanden and Mariëlle Vleugels all had two basehits for Olympia. The last three all had a double. Vleugels also scored twice and batted in three runs, while Van der Zanden scored two runs and Van Aalst batted in two. Olympia Haarlem opened the score with one run in the top of the first inning off of starter Veronika Pecková, who was a pitching ace in the National Team of the Czech Republic last month during the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier in Vleuten (Netherlands). The righthander walked lead-off hitter Eva Voortman, who then moved on a wild pitch. She advanced to third base when a sacrifice bunt by Brenda Beers ended in an error. After Beers had stolen second base, a wild pitch enabled Voortman to score. Beers ended up on third base, then was eliminated moments later trying to score on a grounder by Dinet Oosting. The latter then moved into scoring position on the third wild pitch by Pechková, who then struckout the next two batters to end the inning. A 4-run rally on five basehits followed in the second inning. Cindy van der Zanden opened with a double, then Mariëlle Vleugels followed with an infield-hit. After the two had advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Shareday Christina, the bases got loaded when Rachel van Veen was hit by a pitch. Veronika Pecková didn't had her best outing, as she uncorked another wild pitch, which enabled Van der Zanden to score. Eva Voortman followed with a runscoring single and Brenda Beers added a 2-run single to lift the lead to 5-0. Olympia was retired in order in the third and left a runner behind on first base in the fourth. But in the top of the fifth, the Haarlem-team rallied for eight runs on seven basehits off of new pitcher Tereza Klempířová. The bases got loaded thanks to Jessie van Aalst (single), Virginie Anneveld (walk) and Cindy van der Zanden (single). All three scored when Mariëlle Vleugels connected for a baseclearing double. After Shareday Christina had reached on a single, a wild pitch accounted for the next run. Hereafter, pinch-hitter Masha Meloni walked. Christina and Meloni advanced on another wild pitch, then respectively scored on a grounder by pinch-hitter Chelsie Robison and a single by pinch-hitter Amber Krijgsman. Stephanie Pearce, the fourth pinch-hitter in this at bat, then also singled. Moments later, a wild pitch led to runners on second and third base, then both scored on a double by Jessie van Aalst that increased the lead to 13-0. Ilona Andringa retired the first nine batters in a row. She then gave up a lead-off double to Venezuelan player Yuruby Alicart in the fourth inning, but struckout the next three batters. Alicart was to be the lone runner, as Andringa also retired the side in the fifth to end the game.

Žraloci Ledenice - FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem 0-13 (5 inn.) R H E FysioExpert Olympia Haarlem 140 08 - 13 13 0 Žraloci Ledenice 000 00 - 0 1 1 pitcher Olympia Haarlem inn. SO BB H R ER Ilona Andringa, W (2-0) 5 8 - 1 - - pitchers Ledenice inn. SO BB H R ER Veronika Pecková, L (2-3) 4 5 2 6 5 5 Tereza Klempířová 1 - 2 7 8 8 Umpires: HP-Franck Lautier (France), 1B-Luis Ignacio Pardo (Spain), 3B-Giuseppe Laudani (Italy). Official Scorers-Vincenzo Amoruso (Italy), Stefano Burlini (Italy). Technical Commissioner-Wout Isbouts (Netherlands). Starting Time-6:15 PM. Time Played-1:45 hrs. Site-Field #1, Centro Sportivo, Bollate (Italy). Game Notes: European Premiere Cup 2019.

Terrasvogels vs. Eagles Praha Terrasvogels faced a quick 2-0 deficit in the top of the first inning, but came alongside immediately. The Czechs were then held scoreless in the remainder of the game, while Terrasvogels took the lead in the third en route to a 4-2 victory in its first game of the Final Round. ...Lizzie Clarijs... ...go-ahead run... (© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) Eagles Praha scored twice in the first inning off of Jacquelyn Sertic, who went the distance for Terrasvogels. The righthander gave up singles to Natalie Tvrzníková and Vladimíra Malovíková. She followed with a strikeout, but then gave up a runscoring single to Eliška Thompsonová. Hereafter, a passed ball led to runners on second and third base, then the Czechs got the bases loaded when Spanish guest-player Meritxell Blesa walked. Last month, with the National Team of Spain, Blesa participated in the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier in Vleuten (Netherlands). After an infield-fly accounted for the second out, a run was scored on another passed ball, but Sertic closed with her second strikeout. From the second inning on, Eagles Praha got two more runners in scoring position. But the team was unable to add more runs, thanks to strong pitching by Jacquelyn Sertic and a solid defense. Trailing 2-0, Terrasvogels immediately answered with two runs in its first at bat off of starter Petra Cinkeová. The team got the bases loaded quickly. Katharina Szalay and Nadine Marinus led off with bunt-singles, then Solange Starrenburg walked. The first run was then scored on a sacrifice fly by Lizzie Clarijs, while Marinus moved to third base on this flyout. Moments later, Starrenburg stole second base and when a throwing error followed, Marinus scored the tying run. Hereafter, Karin Tuk walked. Starrenburg and Tuk advanced when Jessica Waasdorp flied out, but they were left behind. Eagles got a runner on third base in the top of the second inning. With one out, Alice Škardová reached second base on an error, then moved on a grounder. She stranded on third base, as Jacquelyn Sertic closed again with a strikeout. After Bobbi Scheurkogel (throwing error) was left behind on second base in the bottom of the second inning, Terrasvogels took the lead in the third at bat. With one out, Lizzie Clarijs reached on an error, then scored all the way from first base when Karin Tuk followed with a double. She moved to third base on a grounder, but stranded there. Terrasvogels added another run in the fourth. With two outs, Katharina Szalay reached on an infield-hit, then advanced on a following error. That led to a pitching change. Andrea Markvartová took over, but she walked Nadine Marinus, then gave up a runscoring single to Solange Starrenburg that made it a 4-2 score. Jacquelyn Sertic struckout the side in the fifth inning, then saw Eagles get two runners on base in the sixth. Eliška Thompsonová led off with a single and Meritxell Blesa followed with a bunt-single. Sertic then struckout the next batter and the scoring opportunity ended when a double play closed the at bat. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jacquelyn Sertic struckout the side for the second time to give her a total of 14 in this game.

Terrasvogels - Eagles Praha 4-2 R H E Eagles Praha 200 000 0 - 2 6 4 Terrasvogels 201 100 X - 4 6 1 pitchers Eagles inn. SO BB H R ER Petra Cinkeová, L (0-1) 3.2 - 2 4 4 2 Andrea Markvartová 1.1 - 2 1 - - Tereza Krbcová 1 - - 1 - - pitcher Terrasvogels inn. SO BB H R ER Jacquelyn Sertic, W (2-0) 7 14 1 6 2 1 Umpires: HP-Nicolas Roux (France), 1B-Howie Litz (Israel), 3B-Gregorio Carletti (Italy). Official Scorers-Misa Malá (Czech Rep.), Petra Malá (Czech Rep.). Technical Commissioner-Gabriele Hardinger (Austria). Starting Time-11:50 AM. Time Played-1:55 hrs. Site-Field #1, Eagles Park, Prague (Czech Rep.). Game Notes: European Cup Winners Cup 2019.

Terrasvogels vs. Forlì The game between Terrasvogels and Forlì closed the fourth day of competitition. Both teams were undefeated, but the game was far from exciting. Forlì took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The team started to expand its lead in the third at bat and that resulted in a 10-run rally. With the win, the Italian team became the first finalist of the tournament. ...Solange Starrenburg... ...lone basehit... (© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) When Terrasvogels had won, it would have been the first finalist. On the other hand, the team didn't use its two American pitchers, who clearly were spared for the Final. In order to become the second finalist, Terrasvogels has to win on Friday vs. Rivas (Spain). Roos-Marijn Kramer pitched the game for Terrasvogels and gave up eleven basehits. In the bottom of the first inning, the righthander walked lead-off hitter Lisa Maulden, then gave up a homerun to Emily Vincent, which was her third of the tournament. Italian National Team-player Erika Piancastelli followed with a single. With two outs, she tried to advance to third base on a single by another National Team-player Ilaria Cacciamani, but was eliminated. In the second inning, Kramer got two quick outs, then gave up a single to Elisa Grifagno, but she was caught stealing moments later. Forlì then struck with a 10-run rally (all earned) in the bottom of the third inning. The team collected seven basehits. Lisa Maulden, who last year played in the Dutch big league for Sparks Haarlem, led off with a homerun. Hereafter, American Emily Vincent walked and Erika Piancastelli singled, then Courtney Jane Gano followed with a runscoring single. In 2016, Vincent and Piancastelli also were teammates when both played for the team of McNeese State University. Gano played for the National Team of the USA last year. Next, the bases got loaded when Beatrice Ricchi walked. After Piancastelli was forced out at home on a grounder by Ilaria Cacciamani, eight more runs were added. Emily Vincent and Beatrice Ricchi both contributed with 2-run singles. Terrasvogels, which was very productive in its previous six games, reached base only once off of Sarah Pauly. The 36-year old American righthander played professionally for eleven seasons in the National Pro Fastpitch for Connecticut Brakettes (2006), Washington Glory (2007-2008), USSSA Pride (2009-2013), Pennsylvania Rebellion (2014) and Akron Racers (2015-2016). In the NPF, Pauly is the career-recordholder in innings pitched. She pitched for Bolatte in the 2017 season in Italy. In the top of the first inning, the righthander gave up a single to Solange Starrenburg, but closed with a strikeout. Starrenburg would be the lone Terrasvogels-runner, as Pauly retired the side in the next three innings. She struckout the side in the second inning.

Forlì - Terrasvogels 12-0 (3½ inn.) R H E Terrasvogels 000 0 - 0 1 1 Forlì 20(10) X - 12 11 0 pitcher Terrasvogels inn. SO BB H R ER Roos-Marijn Kramer, L (2-1) 3 1 6 11 12 12 pitcher Forlì inn. SO BB H R ER Sarah Pauly, W (3-0) 4 7 - 1 - - Homeruns: Forlì: Emily Vincent (3)(1st,2-run,0 out,off Kramer), Lisa Maulden (1)(3rd,solo,0 out,off Kramer). Umpires: HP-Beate Utzig (Austria), 1B-Richard Silva (USA), 3B-Vojtěch Machovský (Czech Rep.). Official Scorers-Jarka Duffková (Czech Rep.), Jakub Hauser (Czech Rep.), Daniel Krejčiřík (Czech Rep.). Technical Commissioner-Gabriele Hardinger (Austria). Starting Time-8:30 PM. Time Played-1:15 hrs. Site-Field #1, Eagles Park, Prague (Czech Rep.). Game Notes: European Cup Winners Cup 2019.

Thank you for visiting this site. Mail your suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl Copyright © 1997-2019 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.