|
Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2007 |
Netherlands vs. South Africa
|
| Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2007 by Marco Stoovelaar |
South Africa had three more hits than the Dutch (9-6), but reached base only one more additional time. Nine of these runners stranded. The Dutch, however, reached base seven more times, besides their six basehits, to keep the South African defense under pressure. Of the 13 batters that reached base, only five were left behind, which not only showed the offensive strength, but also the solid defensive of the Dutch team in this game.
In the third inning, Marjan Smit led off with a walk, then stole both second and third base, before Sandra Gouverneur walked again. Lynn Geertman then lied out to short stop Candice Stephens, who was able to double up Gouverneur at first base, as she just returned to base a fraction too late and was called out correctly by Czech first base umpire Jan Hora.
The Dutch team broke open the game with a 3-run rally in the fifth at bat off new pitcher Vatiswa Mhlubulwana. She was greeted with a homerun by Sandra Gouverneur, which made it 3-0. Afterwards, Gouverneur was handed the ball by some of the Dutch player-parents, who traveled to Italy. The homerun-ball initially was taken by a scout from the national team of Chinese Taipei, which already has qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games and send four coaches/scouts to Italy to look around. Then, someone from the organisation tried to get the ball back, but the Dutch parents were able to get the ball and handed it to Sandra. With one out, Saskia Kosterink reached on an error, then scored all the way from first base on a double to deep centerfield by Debby Connor, who moved on a grounder by Kim Kluijskens. She then scored the fifth Dutch run when a grounder by Daisy de Peinder went through the legs of the South African short stop. Daisy today made her first start at third base, where Noémi Boekel had played in the previous two games.
Dutch shutout South Africa
Nederlands | Box Score & Play-by-Play
...Umpires Jan Hora (1B, Czech Republic), Georgi...
...Filipov (2B, Bulgaria), Gianluca Magnani...
...(HP, Italy) and Arthur Balser (3B, Croatia)...
...during national anthems...
(Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)
CASTIONS DI STRADA (Italy) - The Dutch Softball Team on Tuesday-evening shutout South Africa 5-0 in its third game of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament to secure at least third place in Pool A. On Wednesday, which is World Softball Day, the Dutch will close the preliminary round against Croatia in a game that will decide second and third place in their pool, as Italy will become the pool-winner. In Pool B, Greece remained unbeaten on Tuesday-evening by winning 7-1 vs. Russia, but its first place isn't secured yet. On Wednesday, Greece meets Great Britain (which lost 8-1 to the Czech on Tuesday) in a game that will decide the standing in Pool B or give it a 3-way tie for first place.
The Dutch team played a good game against South Africa and showed more dedication than the day before against Italy. The Dutch dominated the game from beginning till the end, got a good outing from pitcher Dagmar Bloeming, who went the distance, and hit at the right moment. ,,We got a great pitching effort from Dagmar'', Dutch Manager Liz Kelly stated afterwards. ,,And today we had the three elements that win a game: good pitching, timely hitting and fine defense.'' The good performance came after the group of players had come together after Monday's game against Italy. ,,They decided to held a team talk on their own'', Coach Kelly said. ,,I'm proud of that''.
...Winning Pitcher Dagmar Bloeming...
(Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)
The Dutch opened the score right away in the first inning. Sandra Gouverneur (who reached base four times) walked, with two of the pitches being handed to her, as Italian Home Plate Umpire Gianluca Magnani called two illegal pitches on starting pitcher Nicolene Jones. Gouverneur then advanced on a sac-bunt by Lynn Geertman, who made her first start at second base today, after Petra van Heijst had done the previous two games. Gouverneur was able to move on to third base after Saskia Kosterink flied out to rightfield, then scored on a single by Debby Connor.
...Losing Pitcher Nicolene Jones...
(Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)
The Dutch added a run in the fourth inning. Debby Conner doubled down the third base-line into leftfield, then advanced on a sac-bunt by Kim Kluijskens. After Daisy de Peinder popped out, Conner scored on a single just behind the infield by Jolanda Kroesen. Next, Nina van Huissteden also singled, bringing Kroesen to third and advancing herself on the throw to third base. However, the inning then ended when next batter Marjan Smit lined out to pitcher Nicolene Jones, who in 2003 played for Dutch big league-club Zwijndrecht and then was a teammate of Smit.
...Debby Connor takes off from second base...
...The Dutch DP was 3-for-3, had 2 RBI, scored 2 Runs...
(Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)
 ...South African reliever... ...Vatiswa Mhlubulwana delivers... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
 ...and Sandra Gouverneur homers... ...and is being greeted at home by her teammates... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
And how about the Dutch pitching? As said, Dagmar Bloeming went the distance. She struckout six batters, but also gave up nine hits. Despite that, she never ran into problems and did fine. ,,It didn't feel that all the way, as my effect pitches didn't work that good today'', Dagmar looked back. ,,It has been a while that I threw seven innings and I noticed that a little in the fifth inning. But overall, I'm satisfied and yes, it went good.'' Dagmar threw her last complete game for A4 Terrasvogels on May 17, which was a 4-0 shutout against Amsterdam Pirates, that lifted her season record to 8-0.
After South Africa left a runner on second base in the first inning, they got runners on second and third base in the next at bat, the only time they got into that situation in the game. Lynn Alexander led off with a single and stole second base. After the next batter struckout, Eloise Warren reached on a bunt-single, bringing Alexander to third. Next, Warren moved to second base on a fielder's choice. But then, pinch-hitter Kim Nicholson popped out and Dagmar ended the inning herself by striking out Anri Van Heerden. South Africa, which had a single in every inning, got two runners on in the fifth inning, but then a strikeout and flyout followed.
South Africa is a tough opponent. ,,They surely are tough'', Dutch Manager Liz Kelly confirmed. ,,It is not that easy to beat them.'' Dutch catcher Nina van Huissteden, who played a winter season in South Africa in 2004, also knows that. ,,Six of their players I played against when I was there. They have a good team, they do their thing, make the putouts'', Nina said. Despite winning only one game, South Africa also will advance to the cross-finals, keeping them in the race for an Olympic ticket. South Africa missed its first game against Croatia, because it arrived late. A delay in funding prevented the team from arriving on June 4, as planned. Five days later the team traveled 31 hours to get in Italy. They flew from Johannesburg to Athens in Greece and continued to Milan in Italy. From there, a trainride followed to the Friuli Venezia Giulia-area where the Olympic Qualifier is being staged.
(June 12)
Mail suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl
Last Update: June 12, 2007
Copyright © 1997-2007 Marco Stoovelaar.