European Softball Championships 2007
	Netherlands vs. Russia / Italy June 2, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch beaten in final by Italy
Nederlands | Box Score & More information
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Saturday-evening didn't succeed in capturing the European title. In the final of the European Championships in Amsterdam, the squad of Manager Liz Kelly was left empty-handed after en 9-3 loss against Italy, which became European champion for the eighth consecutive time and tenth time in history.

...Live entertainment in the stands before the game... (Photo: Rienette van Zetten)

Despite the loss in the final, the EC was successful for the Dutch team. For the first time since 1997 (!), the Dutch team reached the EC-final again and with that accomplished the goal for this event. Besides that, the EC was used as preparation for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will open June 9 in the Trieste-area in Italy.

The Netherlands reached the final earlier in the day with a 6-0 shutout-loss vs. Russia. Italy had clinced a spot in the final because of the win against the Dutch on Friday-evening. In the final, the DUtch team failed to strike in the first two innings. The Italian defense, and especially short stop Veronica Fontana, started insecure. Five Dutch players reached base, but there were no runs. In the third at bat, Saskia Kosterink, who was named Best Outfielder of the event, led off with a bunt-single and stole second base, but stranded there, as pitcher Breana De Santa followed with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Italy then struck in their third inning. The team scored seven runs and did that on five basehits. By the way, all these seven runs were labeled as 'unearned', as the inning started with a throwing error and another one followed shortly thereafter. The Italian offense took charge of the game by turning these errors into a productive rally on good hitting, including a 2-run triple by Ilaria Pinto, who went 3-for-3. Two innings later, Pino added another triple and would score the ninth Italian run. After hitting the triple in the third inning, Pino scored on a single by Kaitlyn Gentile, which resulted in starting pitcher Dagmar Bloeming being replaced by Rebecca Soumeru. But she was greeted with a 2-run homerun by Kristina Rolla, het sixth homerun in the tournament.

...ESF-President Mike Jennings (right)... ...hands Tournament President... ...Lex van Zaane a recognition... ...plaquette... (Photo: Rienette van Zetten)

With a 7-0 deficit, a premature ending of the game was approaching, but then the Dutch offense avoided that. In the fourth inning, the Dutch offense showed it also can handle the bat. Daisy de Peinder led off with a double, followed by two putouts and a walk for Petra van Heijst. Next, Marjan Smit drove the ball into deep leftfield and produced a 3-run inside-the-park-homerun. The Dutch team was back in the game. Unfortunately, the Italian team immediately answered with two more runs, one in the fourth and one in the fifth inning. The Dutch team was unable to score more runs, also because the Italian defense now worked well and even turned two double plays. The last one of that made an end to the game in the seventh inning.

After Ilaria Pino hit her second triple in the fifth inning, Dagmar Bloeming re-entered the game and took over from Rebecca Soumeru. Pino would score the ninth run moments later on a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, Dutch first baseman Kim Kluijskens made a great catch on a hit by Chanel Garofalo, but Italy eventually would become European champion for the eighth time in a row since 1992.

During the Closing Ceremony, the Team and Individual Awards were handed out:
Most Valuable Player: Kristina Rolla (Italy)
Best Hitters: Breedge Quinn (Germany) and Kristina ROlla (Italy)
Best Pitcher: Daria Shembereva (Russia)
Best Infielder: Lenka Spurna (Czech Republic)
Best Outfielder: Saskia Kosterink (Netherlands)

On behalf of the Municipality of Amsterdam, a special award was handed to Kristina Rolla (Italy), which is only awarded to the most valuable player of a big international event in the Dutch capital.
One of the dignitaries to hand out awards was Secretary Ellen Vogelaar of the Ministry which handles sports (VWS).

Mike Jennings, President of the European Softball Federation handed out a special plaquette to Lex van Zaane, President of the Organizing Committee in recognition of the good organisation of the event.
(June 2)