(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
   National Team Germany wins Midden-Nederland Cup
Nederlands
 LOOSDRECHT (Neth.) -
The National Team of Germany is the winner of the eighth edition of the Midden-Nederland Cup, which is organized annually by Hilversum Hurricanes on its site in Loosdrecht.
In the Final on Sunday (March 24), Germany shutout UVV 6-0 to stay unbeaten in the international tournament.
Besides Germany, the National Team of Ireland also participated.
Two weeks ago, UVV played in the Final of the Pre-Season Tournament in Tilburg, but then lost to host Roef!.
Last years winner Amsterdam Pirates finished in fourth place in Pool A.
Of the 21 games played in the tournament, twelve ended in a shutout-win.
On Day 1 of the tournament, there were three unbeaten teams.
Germany and UVV both won their two games scheduled on the first day, as did host Hilversum Hurricanes.
The first day also was used for instruction and examination of umpire-students.
In the morning, they got a theory-lecture from veteran umpires Bob Gieskens and Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven.
Throughout the day, the students umpired in the games.
They were observed by Gieskens and Van der Hoeven, who were joined by two other veteran umpires, Martin Lemstra and Arjan de Wever.
The German team recorded two small wins on the first day.
The team opened with a narrow 2-1 win against DVH, then won 3-1 against Quick Amersfoort.
UVV, which had won the event in 2016, recorded two convincing shutout-victories, making it a favorite for the tournament-title.
The team began with a 12-0 win against Centrals, the tournament-winner of 2017, then closed the day with a 5-0 win against Ireland.
Hilversum Hurricanes opened the tournament with a 5-3 win against HCAW, then shutout Centrals 8-0.
On Sunday-morning, the team of Head Coach Edwin Pieneman shutout Ireland 3-0.
That led to the first decisions, as Ireland, Centrals and HCAW all were eliminated in Pool B, because of this win.
And that only left Hilversum and UVV to claim first place.
Germany added its third win moments later when it outscored Domstad Dodgers, 7-2.
With that, the first two teams in Pool A were eliminated: Dodgers and Amsterdam Pirates.
In the next round, Quick Amersfoort elimated DVH by winning 3-0 to stay in the race for first place in this Pool.
Next on the schedule was the deciding game between UVV and Hilversum Hurricanes.
UVV won 4-0 to become the first finalist.
In the next round of games, Germany became the second finalist by winning 7-0 against Amsterdam Pirates.
With that, Germany became unreachable for Quick Amersfoort, which followed with a big 11-0 win against Domstad Dodgers.
In Pool B, UVV closed with its fourth win, beating HCAW 6-1, giving up its first run in four games.
In the Final, Germany dominated, as it recorded a 6-0 shutout-win against UVV to finish in first place.
The team of Head Coach Udo Dehmel was compiled a month ago when 19 players were invited for a practice-session in Wesseling.
Amongst the players are four players who played in the Dutch Golden League last season
Lisa Marie Kovačevič-Köllner, Lee Lankhorst (both Tex Town Tigers), Katharina Szalay and Claudia Volkmann (both Terrasvogels).
Kovačevič again will play for Tex Town Tigers this year, as will Szalay with Terrasvogels.
Volkmann also will play again in the Netherlands, but this time, she will pitch for Euro Stars in the Silver League.
Final Standings Pool A:
1. Germany, 2. Quick Amersfoort, 3. DVH, 4. Amsterdam Pirates, 5. Domstad Dodgers.
Final Standings Pool B:
1. UVV, 2. Hilversum Hurricanes, 3. Ireland, 4. Centrals, 5. HCAW.
(March 24)
Scores Midden-Nederland Cup
Complete Schedules Exhibition Season, Regular Season and More
Preliminary Rosters Golden League
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