In the Netherlands the Hoofdklasse Softball started into the 2010 season last weekend. Similar to the Hoofdklasse Baseball the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Association has launched a stats website; where you can follow the action live via play by play. The league also features two specialties this year.
One, the Junior National Team will be the ninth team in the Hoofdklasse, so they can get perfect a preparation for the Junior Championship in Vienna from July 25 to 31. Players on the team still are allowed to play for their club teams, but now get additionally playing time with the national team.
Second, on the weekend of May 21 to 24, all four regular doubleheaders of a game day will be played at one site during a Softball Happening in Haarlem. Additionally the Dutch National Team and Junior National Team will play games too.
Results April 11:
Centrals – DSS 0-2, 3-1
Sonja Pannen allowed just one hit and two walks in seven scoreless innings to lead DSS to a 2-0 shutout over the Centrals in game one of their doubleheader on Saturday. The two runs were scored on a RBI double by Julie Owen and a RBI single by Amanda Hess in the third. Molly Yetman struck out eleven in seven innings in the loss. The Centrals won game two by a score of 3-1. Eva Voortman (W 7 IP, 5 H, R, 4 BB, 6 SO) out-dueled Amanda Hess (6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) for the win.
Olympia Haarlem – Twins 5-1, 3-5
Haarlem and the Twins also settled for a split. Olympia broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fourth to win game one 5-1. Courtney Lyons had a two-run single during the rally. She also got the win on the mound, issuing one unearned run on five hits and four walks in seven innings. In the second game the Twins scored four runs in the third on their way to a 5-3 win. Daisy de Peinder and Sandra Catoen highlighted the frame with a two-run triple and RBI double.
Iber Lengua Terrasvogels – Sparks Haarlem 1-0, 6-8 (8)
Aimee Murch allowed just seven hits in seven scoreless innings to lead Terrasvogels to a 1-0 win in game one of their doubleheader against Sparks. Femke Haage scored the lone run on a RBI single by Christina Rolla in the third. In the second match Haarlem scored five runs in the first extra inning opposed to the three by Iber Lengua and won 8-6. Kim Kluijskens went 4-for-4 for Sparks, while Judith Diepeveen had a three-run single in the eighth. Noemi Boekel hit a solo homerun.
Computer SOS Tex Town Tigers – Euro Stars 4-0, 4-2
Defending champion Tex Town Tigers opened the season with two wins over the Euro Stars. Lindsey Meadows struck out ten batters in seven scoreless innings, while allowing just two hits and two walks to lead Computer SOS to a 4-0 shutout in game one. In the second game four runs in the sixth were enough to beat the Euro Stars 4-2. This time Meadows drove in two with a single. Martina Lackner picked up the win with three solid innings of relief.
Results April 11:
Junior National Team – Centrals 1-3, 2-12 (5)
The Centrals improved to 3-1 for the season thanks to two wins over the Juniors in their Hoofdklasse debut. Molly Yetman allowed one unearned run on five hits and a walk in seven innings to lead the Centrals to a 3-1 victory in game one. Kimberly van der Lee drove in two, while Anne Blaauwgeers scored twice. The second part of the twin bill turned out to be a 12-2 win for the Centrals, highlighted by a seven-run third. Anne Blaauwgeers scored three times. Lotte Holvast drove in three.