(Story & Photos by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Edwin Pieneman and Maaike Zijlstra new Coaches of Terrasvogels
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Edwin Pieneman has taken over the Head Coach-duties at Terrasvogels from Rob Walgien, who stopped after the season.
On Saturday (November 14), it was also confirmed that former National Team-pitcher Maaike Zijlstra will be Pieneman's Assistant Coach in 2021.
...Edwin Pieneman and Maaike Zijlstra will be the...
...Coaches of Terrasvogels/Onze Gezellen in 2021...
(© Both Photos: Marco Stoovelaar) |
This year, Rob Walgien returned as Head Coach of Terrasvogels.
Although he stepped down as Head Coach, Walgien will remain active for the club in another role, including assisting as an instructor during practice sessions.
In the shortened 2020 season, Terrasvogels closed with a 10-13 record to finish in sixth place, which was one of the lowest ranking ever in the long and rich history of the successful club.
The team had five games left to play when the season was abruptly halted on October 14 due to stricter measures against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Due to the late start of the competition this year, the regular season was not to be followed by Play-Offs and Holland Series.
The winner of the season was to be the Dutch Champion.
Last year, Terrasvogels played in its 23rd consecutive postseason
Since the Play-Off/Holland Series-format was introduced in 1982, the team played in 34 of the 35 postseasons, only missing the Play-Offs in 1996.
There was no postseason in 1985, 1986 and 1989.
Also since 1982, Terrasvogels played in 22 Holland Series, winning the title eight times in the years the Championship was decided by a best-of-final.
This year was the last the team played under the name of Terrasvogels.
Following the transfer-period, the team will merge with Onze Gezellen, with whom the club already had a long working relationship.
Next season, the team will play in the highest league as Onze Gezellen, but further details will follow in the coming months.
In 2021, Edwin Pieneman will be the Head Coach of the team.
This season, he was the 1B Coach of Terrasvogels, which, as mentioned, was led by veteran coach Rob Walgien.
Last year, Pieneman was the Bench Coach of the team when it was led by Stefan Vessies.
He then also served as Team Manager.
Before joining Terrasvogels, Pieneman was the Head Coach of Hilversum Hurricanes in 2016-2019.
He also has been the Head Coach of the women's softball-team of Almere '90 for four seasons (2012-2015).
...Maaike Zijlstra pitching...
...for Terrasvogels in 2004...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Assisting Pieneman in 2021 will be Maaike Zijlstra, who has been an outstanding pitcher in the Dutch big league for 15 seasons.
The lefthander first played for Bloemendaal in the highest division, then was the pitching ace for Terrasvogels for 12 seasons (1994-2005).
With Terrasvogels, Maaike Zijlstra participated in eleven European Cup Tournaments and captured the Dutch Championship-title in three consecutive seasons (1998-2000).
She won the Award for Best Pitcher in 2000 and 2004 and was the Most Valuable Player of the Dutch big league in 2002.
Maaike Zijlstra also was named Best Pitcher during two European Cup-tournaments.
In 2000, she became one of the few pitchers in history to win 20 games in one season.
When she retired as a player after the 2005 season, her uniform number (5) was retired at Terrasvogels.
In 1997-2003, Maaike Zijlstra played for the Netherlands National Softball Team with whom she participated in several international tournaments, including two World Championships, three European Championships, two Canada Cup Tournaments and two Haarlem Softball Weeks.
Since 2005, Maaike Zijlstra has been active in coaching.
While still playing herself in 2005, she became the Pitching Coach of the Netherlands National Juniors Softball Team (U18).
In this role, she was a member of the coaching-staff in 2007 when the Orange Juniors reached the Play-Offs of a U18 World Championship for the first time.
Hereafter, in 2009-2013, she was the Pitching Coach of the Netherlands National Cadets Softball Team (U15).
In October 2009, she became one of the five so-called Flex Coaches in the National Softball Programme, which was set up by then Netherlands Team Head Coach Craig Montvidas.
In her role as Flex Coach, Zijlstra was coaching and instructing players of all National Teams.
In 2010 and 2012, she was a member of the coaching-staff of the Netherlands National Softball Team during two international events.
(November 14)
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