(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
   Netherlands opens World Cup Qualifier with loss
Nederlands
 VALENCIA (Spain) -
The Netherlands Softball Team suffered a surprise 4-3 loss in its opening game in Group B in the World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday (July 18).
The two best teams of the event will qualify for the World Cup that will be held next year in Italy.
Last week, Group A was played in Balbriggan (Ireland).
On a rainy Saturday, the USA won the Final against Great Britain with a 7-0 score to become the first team to qualify.
Later in the day, Australia won 4-1 against Great Britain in what can be labeled as the second Final.
Australia had reached this game by winning 4-3 against Chinese Taipei in the game between the third and fourth placed teams that followed the Final.p>
Coming Saturday, Group C opens in Buttrio and Castions di Strada in Italy.
The game between the Netherlands and Cuba was the opening-game of Group B in Valencia (Spain).
At the Camp Municipal de Beisbol i Sofbol de Valencia, the Orange Team took an early lead by scoring twice in the first inning, but trailed 4-2 after the fourth inning.
In the remainder of the game, the Netherlands was able to score only one more run in the seventh at bat.
As there were some nice catches in the Orange-outfield, more Cuban runs were prevented.
It was a hot day in Valencia with a temperature of 33 degrees Celsius (91,4 F), which reportedly felt at 38 (100 F).
After completion of the first two innings, the Home Plate Umpire was escorted off the field.
It was reported that he might be suffering from the heat.
He was replaced behind the plate by the 2B Umpire and the game was completed with a 3-person crew instead of four.
In the top of the first inning, Britt Vonk led off with a single and Brenda Beers walked.
The two moved on a sacrifice bunt by Dinet Oosting, then both scored on a groundrule-double by Maxime van Dalen.
The Netherlands got another runner when next batter Jessie van Aalst walked, but two runners were left behind.
Cuba was retired in order in the bottom of the first inning by Jessie van Aalst, but then came alongside in the second at bat.
The first two batters singled and moved on a sacrifice bunt.
The lead runner was then eliminated at the plate on a grounder towards short, but with two outs, Yanisleidys Casanova Dominiguez (who was 3-for-3) delivered a 2-run triple.
An error led to the third Cuban run in the bottom of the third inning.
Cuba scored again in the fourth, thanks to a groundrule-double by Elizabeth Robert.
That gave Cuba a 4-2 lead.
Cuba was kept scoreless in the remainder of the game by reliever Lindsey Meadows, but in the meantime, the Netherlands also was unable to score.
After stranding a runner on second base in the second inning, the team got a runner on first base in the third at bat and was retired in order in the fourth.
With one out in the fifth, Brenda Beers singled, but a double play followed.
With one out in the sixth, Jessie van Aalst walked, but she was left behind, as the next two batters struckout.
After Cuba had left three runners behind in the bottom of the sixth, the Netherlands came into scoring position again for the first time since the first inning in the top of the seventh and then also scored again.
Suka Van Gurp led off with a single, moved into scoring position on a passed ball and scored on a 2-out single by Brenda Beers.
The Orange Team then got runners on first and third base when next batter Dinet Oosting also singled.
But they stranded, as the game ended when next batter Maxime van Dalen grounded out.
Also on Tuesday, China won 2-0 against Puerto Rico and host Spain shutout South Africa, 14-0.
On Wednesday, the Netherlands plays against China.
Playing for the Netherlands on Tuesday were:
Britt Vonk (SS), Brenda Beers (CF/LF), Dinet Oosting (3B), Maxime van Dalen (DP/1B), Jessie van Aalst (SP/RF), Cindy van der Zanden (RF/CF), Laura Wissink (C), Suka Van Gurp (2B), Damishah Charles (1B/OPO), Annemiek Jansen (LF, flex), Lindsey Meadows (RP).
(July 18)
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