European Softball Championships 2007
	Netherlands vs. Russia / Italy June 1, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch shutout Russia, but beaten by Italy
Nederlands | Box Score & More information
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Friday-afternoon shutout Russia 5-0 to end the Qualification Round of the European Softball Championships in Amsterdam in first place. In the evening, the Dutch team met Italy again in the Play-Offs and was beaten 8-1. As a result, Italy clinched a spot in the Grand Final, which will be played on Saturday-evening at 7:00 PM. The Dutch team had to play an additional game to reach the final. In that game, which starts at 3:00 PM on Saturday-afternoon, the Dutch team will meet Russia again. Russia reached that game after winning 10-0 vs. the Czech Republic, which therefore finished in fourth place.

In the game against Russia, Dutch pitcher Rebecca Soumeru went the distance and allowed only four hits in seven innings. The four players, who had the basehits were the only ones to reach base for Russia. The Dutch team opened the score with two runs in the fourth inning on a single by Nina van Huissteden and a wild pitch. Two runs were added in the fifth at bat on another single by Nina and another wild pitch. In the sixth, Saskia Kosterink scored the fifth run when she hit an inside-the-park-homerun.

...Riccardo Fraccari, 1st Vice President of the European Baseball... ...Federation and Mike Jennings, President of the European Softball... ...Federation attend the game between Netherlands and Italy... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the evening, the Dutch team was unable to control the game against Italy as it had done the day before. Despite taking a 1-0 lead, Italy came back strongly and scored eight runs in the last three innings of the game, which lasted two hours and 44 minutes.

In the first two innings, four Dutch batters reached base, including three on a walk, but no runs were scored. In the third, the Dutch team took the lead. With one out, Kim Kluijskens hit a double and moved on a passed ball. The bases were loaded when Italian pitcher Breana de Santa walked two batters. With two outs, Kim scored on a single by Lynn Geertman.

In the fourth inning, the Dutch got the bases loaded with two outs, but didn't score. Italy left four runners on the bases in the first four innings, including one on third base, but struck in the fifth inning by scoring four runs. With one out, the bases were loaded when Natalia Cimin, Veronica Fontana and Rebecca Iaccino all singled. An error on a force play-grounder by Shanel Bernardi enabled Cimin to score the tying run. A single by Eva Trevisan then gave Italy a 2-1 lead. Rebecca Soumeru was then relieved by Dagmar Bloeming. The rookie struckout Ilaria Pino, but then gave up an RBI-single to Kaitlyn Gentile.

Two runs were added in the sixth on four basehits, then two more in the seventh inning. With one out, Cristina Rolla then hit her tournament-leading fifth homerun. Carlotta Zauli, who earlier in the week hit the first tournament homerun, then doubled and was replaced by pinch-runner Sabria Del Mastio, who moved on a single, then scored on an error to make it 8-1.
(June 1)