(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Fred Versluis)
 Roster Netherlands Softball Team named for World Cup
Nederlands
 NIEUWEGEIN (Neth.) -
Head Coach Ferenc Jongejan has named 16 players to the roster of the Netherlands National Women's Softball Team for the upcoming WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals.
The roster was announced on Thursday (July 4).
The Women's World Championship will be held July 15-20 in Castions di Strada in Italy.
For the first time in history, the Championship is organized via a two-stage format.
Last year, there were three Qualifying Tournaments, which took place in Ireland, Spain and host Italy.
The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup by finishing in second place in Spain, behind Puerto Rico.
The USA (which is the reigning World Champion) and Australia qualified in Ireland, Japan and Canada qualified in Italy.
China and host Italy qualified as the best third placed teams.
They are the eight countries who will play for the title in the Finals.
...Ferenc Jongejan...
(© Photo: Fred Versluis) |
For Ferenc Jongejan, this wil be his final tournament as Head Coach of the Orange-squad.
After the event, he will be succeeded by Saskia Kosterink, who served as Bench Coach since 2021.
She was named Jongejan's successor late May.
Kosterink will head the team during the European Championship, which will be organized September 1-7 in the Utrecht-region (Netherlands).
Jongejan will become Technical Manager of the softball-section of the KNBSB.
One player will make her debut in the Netherlands Team.
That is righthanded pitcher J'Dah Girigorie, who comes from Curaçao and played in the team of Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida (USA).
In this years college-season, she pitched in 58 games and was 37-7 with seven saves and an 1.56 ERA.
In 251 2/3 inning pitched, she struckout 311 batters and walked 44.
In the past, she participated in several international events with Curaçao.
In the press release issued on Thursday by the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB), Head Coach Ferenc Jongejan states:
,,When we play our very best softball, our team can certainly compete with the world's top''.
In addition to Team Kingdom of The Netherlands Women's Fastpitch Softball, USA, Canada, Italy, Puerto Rico, Australia, China and Japan will come into action on this highest stage.
The tournament starts with a group phase, which is immediately crucial for the rest of the tournament.
The team must become one of the best two countries in its pool to be eligible for a medal.
Team Kingdom (number 8 in the world) is in group B with Puerto Rico (2), Australia (10) and Japan (3).
Jongejan adds: ,,There are no easy opponents on this stage.
Every ball we throw and every play we make can determine the rest of the tournament.
Our goal is clear: we want to win.
And the team is ready.
Everyone knows - from each other - what contribution they make to the team, what we have to do to achieve our goal''.
Before the start of the tournament, the Netherlands will play a series of exhibition games (July 8-12) against Puerto Rico, Australia and China.
The roster looks as follows:
Pitchers (4):
J'Dah Girigorie (Indian River State College, USA), Lisa Hop (Olympia Haarlem), Marjolein Merkx (Roef!) and Lindsey Meadows-Oosterveld (Tex Town Tigers).
Catchers (2):
Dinet Oosting (Tex Town Tigers) and Laura Wissink (Neptunus).
Infielders (6):
Damishah Charles (Neptunus), Lizzie Clarijs (Amsterdam Pirates), Maxime van Dalen, Suka Van Gurp (both Sparks Haarlem), Sterre den Duijn (Roef!) and Britt Vonk (Olympia Haarlem).
Outfielders (4):
Jessie van Aalst, Brenda Beers, Cindy van der Zanden (all Olympia Haarlem) and Annemiek Jansen (Tex Town Tigers).
Coaching Staff:
Ferenc Jongejan (Head Coach/3B Coach), Saskia Kosterink (Bench Coach/Hitting Coach), Robert Boersma (1B Coach/Assistant Coach), Tjerk Smeets (Battery Coach).
Supporting Staff:
Bas Besselink (Physical Therapist), Sanne Bolhuis (Team Manager/Delegation Leader).
(July 4)
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