Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2007
	Netherlands vs. Greece June 14, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch clinch semi-final with historic win

...Teams listen to national anthems... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Nederlands | Box Score & Play-by-Play
STARANZANO (Italy) - The Dutch Softball Team on Thursday-evening has clinched a spot in the semi-final of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and in that game will meet Italy again. The Dutch reached the game with a spectacular 8-2 come-from-behind victory against Greece, which included some impressive hitting. Italy moved on to the semi-final after a 2-0 shutout-win vs. Czech Republic. The winner of the semi-final, to be played on Friday in late afternoon, will qualify for the all-deciding on Saturday. The losing team gets another chance of reaching the final in the third place-game on Saturday-morning.

...Winning Pitcher Rebecca Soumeru... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The victory against Greece was in a way historic, as the Dutch team lost all previous seven games played between the two countries. That is, the seven games in which the Greek team was compiled mainly of strong American players with a Greek heritage. Two weeks ago, the Dutch shutout Greece 15-0 during the European Championships in Amsterdam (Netherlands), but during that event, the Greek team was compiled of Greek players. It was then stated that there were no fundings to bring over the American players, who were on the original roster for the EC. Greece got special permission to change its roster, but after disappointing losses, the team was back to its (American) strength a few days later for the Olympic Qualifier. One of these players is pitcher Sarah Farnworth, who threw all (but one) innings during the Qualifier and also went the distance tonight against the Dutch. Because of its previous good outings against them, the Dutch knew that Greece would be a very tough opponent. But while the Greek team became the unbeaten winner of Pool B, it couldn't stop the Dutch squad, which registered 13 basehits and showed it is capable of beating anyone.

...Kim Kluijskens moments before hitting her important basehit... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

But initially, it appeared to go the way of Greece, which reached base frequently in the first five innings off Dutch starter Rebecca Soumeru, who gave up seven hits. After leaving a runner on second base in the first inning, Greece was close to a run in the second at bat. Sarah Farnworth reached on an error and moved on a grounder by Vanessa Czarnecki. Next, Stacey Farnworth grounded towards short stop Sandra Gouverneur, who made a great diving stop, then tossed the ball to 2B Lynn Geertman in an attempt to make the putout at first, but then a throwing error followed. The first Farnworth advanced on the infield-hit by her sister, then tried to score on the error, but was thrown out at home in a close play on the throw from 1B Kim Kluijskens to Catcher Ellen Venker. A flyout ended the inning.

...Dana Horeman slides head-first into home plate... ...to score the first Dutch run on Kim Kluijskens' single... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the third, the Greek team did score. Carista Dalakis led off with a single and went on to score on an one-out single by Lindsay James. In the fourth, a second run was added. Sarah Farnworth led off with an infield-hit and this time was replaced by a pinch-runner, Stamanita Samioti, who went on to score on a 2-out single by Jessica Bashor. The Greek team stranded six runners in its first five innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, the game started to turn around in favor of the Dutch. Jolanda Kroesen led off with an infield-hit and was replaced by pinch-runner Dana Horeman, who moved on a sac-bunt by Marjan Smit. After Ellen Venker struckout, Sandra Gouverneur was walked intentionally, but then next batter Kim Kluijskens placed a nice basehit, which enabled Dana Horeman to score. And she did head-first. ,,Kim's basehit was pivotal to get the first run in'', Dutch Manager Liz Kelly said. ,,It was very important.'' The bases got loaded when Saskia Kosterink reached on an infield-hit, but the inning ended when Debby Connor popped out.

...Saskia Kosterink rounds the bases... ...with a big smile after hitting... ...her grand slam homerun... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the sixth inning, the Dutch broke open the game and showed its has the strength to comeback. The Dutch got the bases loaded when the first three batters, Noémi Boekel, Lynn Geertman and Jolanda Kroesen, all singled. Daisy de Peinder then was brought in to pinch-hit for Marjan Smit, but struckout. Next, another pinch-hitter was brought in, this time Nina van Huissteden, who batted for Ellen Venker. And Nina connected for an important single over third base into leftfield, enabling Boekel and Geertman to score and give the Dutch a 3-2 lead. Sandra Gouverneur then flied out, but the bases were re-loaded when Kim Kluijskens reached on an infield-hit. And this set-up the scene for Saskia Kosterink, who ran the count to 3-1, then fully connected on the next pitch to see the ball leave the field over the leftfield-fence for a grand slam homerun.

...Saskia Kosterink (16) is greeted at home by her teammates... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

,,It was an inside pitch, so you have to wait if it would stay in fair territory'', Saskia looked back afterwards. ,,But when I saw everyone jump up, I thought that it must be fair and it was. A great feeling.'' Saskia knows the feeling, as she earlier this season also hit a grand slam while playing for Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. ,,But this is my first homerun in the national team.''

...Dutch Coach Mary-Ann Hatt (left)... ...and Manager Liz Kelly... ...look on from the dug-out... ...while trailing 2-0... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

The Dutch team added an extra run in the seventh inning. With one out, Lynn Geertman walked and was replaced by pinch-runner Petra van Heijst, who went on to score all the way from first base on a towering double by Jolanda Kroesen, who was 3-for-4. ,,Finally, I hit the ball good again'', Jolanda said. ,,Hey, Jolanda is hitting .400, so she already batted good. She doesn't need to be perfect'', Coach Kelly said.

...Saskia's reception at home... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Leading 7-1, Rebecca Soumeru walked the lead-off batter in the bottom of the sixth inning and was replaced by Dagmar Bloeming, who had another good outing. After retiring the three batters she faced in the sixth, Dagmar walked the lead-off batter in the seventh, but then got three putouts in a row, including a strikeout that ended the game.

Liz Kelly: ,,We played very good defense, some minor mistakes, but we made the plays we needed. The out at home was crucial. Kim's basehit was pivotal, Nina's hit was huge, as was Jolanda's double. And Saskia's grand slam of course was great, she got all of it. We got timely hitting. It was a total team effort. Everyone got in, except for two pitchers, but you always have to have one player on the bench when the game ends. And Dagmar's coming in to close the game, she did great. She gets better and better. She is a 'give me the ball' kind of pitcher.'' Dagmar Bloeming: ,,I'm not scared to throw. I knew that I was in relief today and was ready for it when needed.'' Today, the Dutch team again showed character and played a great game.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia shutout Croatia 6-0 in its cross-final and Great Britain defeated South Africa, 8-1. As a result Croatia and South Africa were eliminated and finish in a tie for seventh place. On Friday, Russia will meet Czech Republic and Great Britain is playing Greece. The two losing teams from these contests will finish in a tie for fifth place, while the two winners will meet each other on Friday-evening. The winner of that match-up will meet the loser of the Netherlands vs. Italy game on Saturday-morning to decide the second finalist.
(June 14)