European Softball Championships 2007
	Netherlands vs. Italy May 31, 2007

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch beat Italy in thriller
Nederlands | Box Score & More information
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) - The Dutch National Softball Team on Thursday-evening also beat Italy to remain unbeaten on the 15th European Championships in Amsterdam. Coming back from a 2-0 deficit, the Dutch team won 4-3.
The Dutch now will play on Friday-afternoon vs. Russia, then likely will meet Italy in the evening.

Italy initially took a 2-0 lead in the second inning off Ditch starter Rebecca Soumeru. Ilaria Pino then led off with a single, moved on a sac-bunt by Cristina Rolla and scored on a triple to deep leftfield by Kaitlyn Gentile, who then scored herself on a sac-fly by Carlotta Zauli. Hereafter, Rebecca recovered and allowed only two baserunners in the next two innings.

The first seven Dutch batters were retired in order, including Kim Kluijskens on a great diving catch by second baseman Shanel Garofalo in the first inning. After leaving a runner in the third at bat, the Dutch team struck in the fourth when the Italian defense fell apart. Kim Kluijskens led off with a grounder to third, but reached first base safely on a high throw. Next, Dana Horeman was brought in as pinch-runner. She then advanced to third base on a single by Sandra Gouverneur, who moved to second on the throw to third. After a groundout, Daisy de Peinder's bunt was misplayed by the first baseman, but Horeman would have scored anyhow. De Peinder injured herself on her way to first base and was replaced by Petra van Heijst. Next, Nina van Huissteden grounded the ball back to the pitcher, who eliminated Gouverneur at home. On the play, Van Heijst moved to third. She and Van Huissteden then scored the tying and go-ahead run on a double into deep leftfield by Marloes Fellinger, who then made it 4-2 when Lynn Geertman singled. All runs were produced off starter Leslie Malerich, who two years ago was the winning pitcher against the Dutch in the semi-final of the European Championships in Prague (Czech Republic). After Geertman's single, Malerich was replaced by Breana De Santa. In the next three innings, three Dutch players would reach second base, but no runs were added.

With two outs and a 2 ball, 0 strike count on the batter, Rebecca Soumeru was replaced by Dagmar Bloeming in the fifth, who first gave up a single, but then a catch by first baseman Kim Kluijskens on a line drive ended the at bat. The tension in the game came back in the sixth and seventh inning. In the sixth, Italian pinch-hitter Sabrina Del Mastio reached on an error, then scored when two singles followed. A groundout and a line out then resulted in two outs. The next batter appeared to become the third out when catcher Nina van Huissteden caught her foul fly, but she was awarded first base on catcher's interference to load the bases. A grounder to short stop Sandra Gouverneur ended the at bat.

In the seventh, there were two quick outs, but then Italy loaded the bases again on a single and two walks. Pitcher Dagmar Bloeming ended the game in style. With the bases loaded and two outs, she struckout Kaitlyn Gentile. The Dutch won, 4-3.
(May 31)