(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
    Netherlands advances to Play-Offs World Cup Qualifier with two wins
Nederlands
 VALENCIA (Spain) -
The Netherlands Softball Team advanced to the Play-Off Round of Group B in the World Cup Qualifier.
After having lost its first two games, the Orange Team won twice on Thursday (July 20) to secure a spot in the final-four of the tournament.
On Thursday, the Netherlands nipped Spain 3-2, then later in the day recorded a comfortable, mercy-rule 11-1 win against South Africa.
On Friday, the team ended the round-robin with a 6-1 loss against Puerto Rico.
The Netherlands opened the event on Tuesday with a 4-3 loss against Cuba, then lost 5-4 against China on Wednesday.
Despite today's loss, the Netherlands still has a chance to qualify for the World Cup, which will be held next year in Italy.
On Saturday, the day begins with the match-up between Spain and South Africa (10 AM) to determine fifth and sixth place.
Next, the Netherlands will play against Cuba (12:30 PM).
Thereafter, the Final is scheduled (3 PM) and Puerto Rico and China will face each other in that game with the winner qualifying for the World Cup.
Following that game will be the second Final, starting at 6 PM.
In that game, the loser of the Final will meet the winner of the Netherlands vs. Cuba game.
The winner will become the second team to qualify for the World Cup.
In its first game on Thursday, the Netherlands took an early lead by scoring a run in the first inning, but then was held scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, the team was able to take some more distance by scoring two much-needed runs.
Spain then scored twice in the top of the seventh, but this time, the Orange Team was able to hold onto the (minimal) lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, the Netherlands opened the score when Dinet Oosting homered.
In the sixth inning, the team again scored with two outs.
Dinet Oosting led off with a walk and Jessie van Aalst walked with one out.
Oosting then advanced on a flyout and with two outs, Van Aalst moved into scoring position via a fielder's indifference.
Moments later, both scored on a double by Laura Wissink.
A suspenseful top of the seventh followed.
Reliever Lisa Hop gave up two singles.
She then followed with a strikeout, but the runners advanced on a wild pitch.
After another strikeout accounted for the second out, both runners scored when a grounder ended in an error, but another grounder then ended the game.
Playing for the Netherlands against Spain were:
Britt Vonk (SS), Annemiek Jansen (LF), Dinet Oosting (1B/OPO/C), Maxime van Dalen (DP/1B), Jessie van Aalst (RF), Cindy van der Zanden (CF), Laura Wissink (C/OPO), Suka Van Gurp (2B), Damishah Charles (3B), Marjolein Merkx (SP, flex), Lisa Hop (GF, flex).
In the game against South Africa, the Netherlands rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early comfortable lead.
After South Africa got one run back in the second inning, the Orange Team added two runs in both the second and third inning to reach a mercy-rule 10-run difference.
The Netherlands collected 14 basehits, including three by Jessie van Aalst and Britt Vonk and two by Sterre den Duijn.
In the first inning, Britt Vonk led off with a bunt-single, moved on a wild pitch and scored on a following single by Annemiek Jansen.
Thereafter, the hits and runs kept on coming, thanks to a double by Dinet Oosting, a single by Laura Wissink, triple by Jessie van Aalst and a sacrifice fly by Cindy van der Zanden.
With the Netherlands leading 5-0, Sterre den Duijn doubled and a pitching-change followed.
With two outs, Damishah Charles walked and Britt Vonk then delivered a 2-run double in her second at bat in the inning.
Two errors led to the lone South African run in the top of the second inning.
In the home-half, two Orange-runs were added on a double by Van der Zanden and single by Den Duijn.
And in the third, Maxime van Dalen added a 2-run homerun.
Lizzie Clarijs went the distance for the Netherlands and gave up three hits.
Playing for the Netherlands against South Africa were:
Britt Vonk (1B/SS/1B), Annemiek Jansen (LF), Dinet Oosting (C), Maxime van Dalen (OPO), Laura Wissink (DP/C), Jessie van Aalst (RF), Cindy van der Zanden (CF), Sterre den Duijn (SS), Lizzie Clarijs (P), Damishah Charles (3B), Suka Van Gurp (2B, flex).
In the game against Puerto Rico on Friday, the Netherlands took the lead in its fifth consecutive game.
The team also scored for the fourth time in the opening at bat.
However, for the third time, that lead also was erased again and eventually resulted in the third loss.
In the first inning, lead-off hitter Britt Vonk reached second base when her bunt ended in a throwing error.
With two outs, she scored when an error was made on a grounder by Maxime van Dalen.
But Puerto Rico answered with two runs in the top of the third inning.
Three more runs were added with two outs in the fourth and one more in the fifth.
Puerto Rico collected ten basehits, the Netherlands got only four.
Playing for the Netherlands against Puerto Rico were:
Brittt Vonk (SS/1B/SS), Annemiek Jansen (LF), Dinet Oosting (1B/OPO), Maxime van Dalen (DP/1B), Sterre den Duijn (SS/3B), Jessie van Aalstt (RF/1B), Cindy van der Zanden (CF), Laura Wissink (C), Suka Van Gurp (2B), Damishah Charles (3B), Lizzie Clarijs (3B/GF), Lindsey Meadows (SP, flex), Lisa Hop (RP/RF, flex).
(July 21)
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