|
www.grand-slam.nl |
International Softball |
| Headlines |
| Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2019 by Marco Stoovelaar |
 |
(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Fred Versluis)
    Netherlands Softball Team opens European Championship with two wins
Nederlands
 ŻORY (Poland) -
The Netherlands Softball Team opened the 21st European Championship on Sunday (June 30) with two convincing victories.
The Orange-squad played both games at the site of Gepardy Żory in the Polish city of Ż.
The European Championship is organized this year by the Czech Republic and Poland.
Games are played at two sites in both countries.
Ostrava in the Czech Republic is the main-site of the event, where the Finals will be played on Saturday.
On the first day, the Netherlands had to travel early to Żory for its game against Hungary.
The Dutch Team won the game, that started at 9 AM, with a 19-0 shutout.
Later in the day, the Netherlands recorded a 13-2 win against Ireland.
In the evening, the European Championship was officially opened at the main-site in Ostrava.
During the Opening Ceremony, the first pitches were thrown by three athetes.
80-year old former gymnast Adolfina Táčová, who participated in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games, retired 400 metres runner Tat'ána Netoličková, who a Silver Medal at the 1983 World Championship and Jana Slaninová, an athlete, who participates in the 400m sprint.
Also present at the Opening Ceremony were Andrea Hoffmanová, the Deputy Mayor of Ostrava and Stanisłav Folwarczny, the Deputy Governor of the Polish region Cieszyn Silesia.
On Monday, the Netherlands will face Poland and Russia in Pool C.
The Preliminary Round ends on Tuesday.
The six best countries of the European Championship will advance to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will be staged July 23-27 at the site of UVV in the Dutch city of Vleuten (Utrecht).
The European countries will then be joined by Botswana and South Africa as the representatives of Africa.
The winner of that event qualifies for next years Olympic Games in Tokyo (Japan).
(June 30)
|
Netherlands vs. Hungary
On the first day of the European Championship, 19 of the 22 games played ended via the mercy-rule.
The 19-0 shutout-win by the Netherlands against Hungary was one of the four biggest scores.
France won with the same score against Lithuania.
Later in the day, Hungary suffered a big 27-0 loss against Russia.
The biggest score was accomplished by Italy, which won with a 41-0 score in three innings against Turkey, which makes its debut on an European Championship.
In its opening game, its first ever against Hungary, the Netherlands collected 12 basehits, including two by Eva Voortman, Dinet Oosting and Wies Ligtvoet.
Voortman homered, as did Mariëlle Vleugels.
Seven of the nine starting players had at least one basehit.
The only two without a basehit were Maxime van Dalen and Damishah Charles.
The Netherlands decided the game early with a 12-run rally in the first at bat on seven basehits.
Britt Vonk led off with a bunt-single, stole second base and reached third base on a wild pitch, then scored when next batter Eva Voortman homered.
Later in the inning, runs were scored on basesloaded single by Wies Ligtvoet, a sacrifice fly by Virginie Anneveld and 2-run double by Suka Van Gurp.
In her second at bat in the inning, Eva Voortman delivered a runscoring triple, then scored on a following single by Dinet Oosting, who later scored herself on a wild pitch.
The final two runs in the inning were scored on a double by Wies Ligtvoet.
Seven runs were added in the second inning.
This time on five basehits.
The bases got loaded quickly when Suka Van Gurp, Damishah Charles and pinch-hitter Cindy van der Zanden all walked.
They all scored when pinch-hitter Mariëlle Vleugels hit a grand slam homerun in her first international at bat in three years!
This year, Vleugels makes her comeback in the National Team.
She participated with the team in the 2016 World Championship in Canada, but then was not selected in the next two years.
With a 16-0 lead, three more runs were added on a double by Jessie van Aalst, a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Chantal Versluis and a double by Virginie Anneveld.
Pitchers Ilona Andringa (2 innings) and Mariëlle Vleugels (1 inning) threw a Perfect Game.
Andringa struckout all six batters she faced, Vleugels struckout two.
The following players played in this game:
Britt Vonk (SS, 1-for-1), Cindy van der Zanden (PH/2B, 0-for-0), Eva Voortman (DH, 2-for-2), Mariëlle Vleugels (PH/DH/RP, 1-for-1), Dinet Oosting (C, 2-for-2), Maxime van Dalen (1B, 0-for-0), Laura Wissink (PR/1B, 1-for-1), Jessie van Aalst (RF, 1-for-2), Wies Ligtvoet (LF, 2-for-2), Chantal Versluis (PH/LF, 0-for-0), Virginie Anneveld (3B, 1-for-2), Suka Van Gurp (2B/SS, 1-for-2), Damishah Charles (CF, 0-for-2), Ilona Andringa (SP).
|
|
|
|
...Left: Dutch fans are ready for the first game against Hungary...
...Right: Banners with the schedule of the games to be played in Żory... |
|
...An overview of the field in Żory... |
|
|
|
...Left: A look at the dug-out of the Netherlands Team...
...Right: Umpires Michael Renggli, Lewis Hamilton and Luis Ignacio Pardo... |
|
|
|
| ...Ilona Andringa and Mariëlle Vleugels threw a combined Perfect Game against Hungary... |
|
|
|
...Left: Britt Vonk is greeted by Head Coach Connie Clark after reaching 3rd base in the 1st inning...
...Right: Moments later, Eva Voortman is greeted after hitting a 2-run homerun... |
|
|
|
| ...Mariëlle Vleugels hits a grand slam homerun in the second inning... |
|
|
|
| ...Chantal Versluis (left) hits a sacrifice fly and Virginie Anneveld an RBI-double in the 2nd inning... |
...End of the game...
(© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
|
| Netherlands - Hungary 19-0 (3½ inn.) |
| R | H | E |
| Hungary | 000 | | | - | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Netherlands | (12)7X | | | - | 19 | 12 | 0 |
| pitcher Hungary | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Tamara Hazi, L (0-1) | 2 | - | 7 | 12 | 19 | 16 |
|
| pitchers Netherlands | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Ilona Andringa, W (1-0) | 2 | 6 | - | - | - | - |
|
| Mariëlle Vleugels | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| (Ilona Andringa and Mariëlle Vleugels throw a combined Perfect Game) |
|
| Homeruns: Netherlands: Eva Voortman (1)(1st,2-run,0 outs,off Hazi), Mariëlle Vleugels (1)(2nd,grand slam,0 outs,off Hazi). |
|
|
Netherlands vs. Ireland
The Netherlands Team stayed in Żory, as it also played its second game in this Polish city.
In the afternoon, the Orange-squad faced Ireland.
The game had an interesting start, as is stayed scoreless in the first three innings.
Both teams then scored two runs in the fourth at bat.
But in the top of the fifth, the Netherlands rallied for eleven runs to record a convincing 13-2 victory.
Two years ago, the Netherlands faced Ireland for the first time during the European Championship in Italy.
The Netherlands then won 12-0.
However, last year, the Irish Junior Team was compiled of several American players with Irish background.
With these additions, Ireland won Silver at the U19 European Championship in Italy, losing the Final to Italy, 7-3.
Ireland won 6-4 against the Netherlands Juniors.
A week later, Ireland, with almost the same team, finished in third place at the U22 European Championship in Slovakia.
Most players of these successful teams now are also playing for the Ireland during this years European Championship.
In the first three innings, the Netherlands offense was held hitless by starter Kelly Nelson.
In the first inning, only Dinet Oosting reached base on an error with two outs.
The 19-year old righthander set a school-record earlier this year during the American college-season by striking out 208 batters while pitching for The College of the Holy Cross.
After having faced ten batters in the first three innings, Kelly Nelson was replaced for some reason in the fourth.
Probably to have a variation in pitching, but that backfired, as the Netherlands scored twice off of reliever Makenzine McGrath.
With two outs, Maxime van Dalen walked and Jessie van Aalst reached on a ground-rule double.
Both scored on a following double by Wies Ligtvoet.
Orange-starter Eva Voortman retired the side in the first three innings, but she then gave up two (unearned) runs in the fourth, which tied the score at 2-2.
With Ciara Sullivan (single) on first base, an error on a force play-grounder by Andreya Jarvis led to runners on second and third base.
They scored on a grounder by Teresa Griswold and a double by Lily Wilmot.
She stranded on second base, as Voortman closed with two strikeouts.
In the top of the fifth, the Netherlands rallied for eleven runs on seven basehits off of three pitchers.
The Netherlands re-took the lead when Suka Van Gurp led off with a homerun.
With one out, Britt Vonk also homered.
Hereafter, Eva Voortman reached on an error and scored on a single by Dinet Oosting.
Next batter Maxime van Dalen also singled and Jessie van Aalst added an RBI-double, which led to a pitching change.
The bases then got loaded when Wies Ligtvoet reached on a fielder's choice, which led to no outs.
A run was then scored when Virginie Anneveld walked.
Moments later, Suka Van Gurp and Britt Vonk were productive again.
Van Gurp hit a 2-run double and Vonk a 3-run double.
Vonk later scored the final run on a wild pitch.
Ginger de Weert took over the Dutch pitching in the bottom of the fifth.
She initially was the announced starting pitcher, but Eva Voortman (who was the designated player) started instead in the first inning with the Dutch Team going from ten to nine players.
Now, De Weert re-entered and the Dutch were back to ten players, while Voortman stayed in the batting order as the DP.
De Weert gave up a lead-off double to Nicole Franklin, but then retired the next two batters.
Hereafter, the game was closed by veteran Rebecca Soumeru, who is participating in her tenth European Championship since 2001.
The following players played in this game:
Britt Vonk (SS, 2-for-4), Eva Voortman (DP/SP/DP, 1-for-3), Laura Wissink (PH, 0-for-1), Dinet Oosting (C, 1-for-4), Maxime van Dalen (1B, 1-for-2), Jessie van Aalst (RF, 2-for-3), Wies Ligtvoet (LF, 1-for-3), Virginie Anneveld (3B, 0-for-2), Suka Van Gurp (2B, 2-for-3), Damishah Charles (CF, 0-for-2), Ginger de Weert (announced starter, RP), Rebecca Soumeru (RP).
|
|
|
|
...Left: Umpires Galip Sonmez, Michael Renggli and Lewis Hamilton...
...Right: Head Coaches Connie Clark and Melanie Cunningham hand in their line-ups to HP Umpire Michael Renggli... |
|
...The players of the Netherlands Team listen to the National Anthems before the game... |
|
...Eva Voortman, Ginger de Weert and Rebecca Soumeru pitched for the Netherlands... |
|
|
|
...Left: Wies Ligtvoet puts the Netherlands ahead with a 2-run double in the 4th inning...
...Right: Ciara Sullivan reaches 3rd base for Ireland in the 4th and slides past 3B Virginie Anneveld... |
|
|
|
| ...Suka Van Gurp hits a lead-off homerun in the 5th inning and is greeted at the plate... |
|
|
|
| ...Britt Vonk also connects well in the 5th inning and also hits a homerun... |
|
...Britt Vonk is welcomed by her teammates, while Umpire Galip Sonmez checks if she touches the plate... |
|
|
|
...Left: Dinet Oosting singles and then reaches 2nd base in the 5th inning...
...Right: Maxime van Dalen singles in the 5th inning; Jessie van Aalst (background) followed with an RBI-double...
...Also visible are Team Manager Gonny Farley, Assistant Coach Michelle Gromacki and Technical Commissioner Wout Isbouts... |
...The players of the Netherlands celebrate the win against Ireland...
(© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
|
| Ireland - Netherlands 2-13 (5 inn.) |
| R | H | E |
| Netherlands | 000 | 2(11) | | - | 13 | 10 | 1 |
| Ireland | 000 | 20 | | - | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| pitchers Netherlands | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Ginger de Weert | - (*) | - | - | - | - | - |
|
| Eva Voortman, W (1-0) | 4 | 7 | - | 2 | 2 | - |
|
| Ginger de Weert | 0.2 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - |
|
| Rebecca Soumeru | 0.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| (*) - De Weert was assigned as starting pitcher, but was replaced when bottom 1st inning began |
|
| pitchers Ireland | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Kelly Nelson | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
|
| Makenzine McGrath, L (0-1) | 1.1 | - | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
|
| Shelbi Graifman | - (*) | - | - | 3 | 4 | - |
|
| Arianna Jarvis | 0.2 | - | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| (*) - Graifman pitched to four batters in the fifth inning |
|
| Homeruns: Netherlands: Suka Van Gurp (1)(5th,solo,0 outs,off McGrath), Britt Vonk (1)(5th,solo,1 out,off McGrath). |
|
|
|
...Cheerleaders and Tournament Mascot 'Home Run' during the Opening Ceremony in Ostrava... |
|
|
|
| ...The Netherlands Team enters the field during the Opening Ceremony, which was well-visited... |
|
|
|
...Left: The Netherlands Team poses during the Opening Ceremony...
...Right: Andrea Hoffmanová (Deputy Mayor of Ostrava), former Olympic gymnast Adolfina Táčová, retired 400 metres runner...
...Tat'ána Netoličková, 400m sprint athlete Jana Slaninová and Stanisłav Folwarczny (Deputy Governor...
...of the Polish region Cieszyn Silesia) during the Opening Ceremony of the 21st European Softball Championship... |
...Tat'ána Netoličková, Adolfina Táčová and Jana Slaninová throw the ceremonial first pitches...
(© All Photos: Fred Versluis) |
|
Thank you for visiting this site.
Mail your suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl
Copyright © 1997-2019 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.
|
|
European Championship Softball 2019.
