The European Softball Championship Women in Valencia, Spain are over with the Dutch team winning the title with a 4-0 shutout in the finals on Saturday against Great Britain.
Great Britain – Czech Republic 6-1
The British team reached the championship game with a 6-1 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday morning, thanks to another brilliant performance by starting pitcher Stacie Townsend (W 5-2). She struck out eight in seven innings, allowing just six hits, one unearned run and a walk. M Parkerson drove in three with a double. Elisk Cerna-Pojerova (L 0-1) conceded two hits, three runs (2 ER) and a walk in 2 1/3 innings. The Czech Republic finished in third place after the loss.
Spain – France 7-2
The Spanish team scored six runs total in the fifth and sixth frames en route to a 7-2 victory over France. Beatriz Parejo (W 2-2) issued four hits, two runs (1 ER) and a bb in seven innings. Laurence Cornaille (L 1-3) surrendered ten hits, seven runs (2 ER) and two walks in six innings. J Iborra homered. M Sanjuan drove in three. With the win Spain secured eighth in the final standings, while France finished in ninth.
Final:
Netherlands – Great Britain 4-0
In the championship game the favorite was able to stop the surprise team of the tournament. Dagmar Bloeming (W 3-0) gave up just two hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings to lead the Netherlands to a 4-0 shutout and the title in the 2009 European Softball Championship. Three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth sealed the win. Stacie Townsend (L 5-3) allowed six hits and four runs (3 ER) in six innings.
Final Standings 2009 European Softball Championship Valencia
- Netherlands
- Great Britain
- Czech Republic
- Russia
- Germany
- Italy
- Austria
- Spain
- France
- Slovakia