For the first time in team history Alcmaria Victrix has won the national championship in the Hoofdklasse Softball in the Netherlands. In the Holland Series Alcmaria prevailed 3-1 over Oolders Omaca Sparks Haarlem in the best-of-five series.
They clinched the title with two wins on Sunday. In game three Alcmaria celebrated a 2-1 win behind strong pitching of Femke van Dusschoten, which struck out seven in 6 1/3 six-hit, one-run innings. A pair of RBIs by Jessie van Aalst plated the two runs for the Victrix. In the second match Alcmaria broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth, scored an insurance run in the sixth and won 4-3 in the end. Ashley Lanz, who got the save in game three, pitched 6 1/3 strong innings, winning over Dagmar Bloeming. Noemie Brandjes scored three of the four runs. Lanz, who is from Canada, later was named Most Valuable Player of the Holland Series.
During the regular season Haarlem had just lost three of the 44 games for a dominating first-place finish. Victrix had been ranked third with 31 wins. In the playoffs Sparks and Alcmaria came through to reach the Holland Series, where the underdog upset the heavy favorite.
On a side note Gonnie Farley is the head coach of Alcmaria Victrix. She is the wife of the Dutch baseball national team manager Brian Farley.
Results Holland Series:
Saturday, September 29:
Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem – Alcmaria Victrix 3-2
Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem – Alcmaria Victrix 3-4
Sunday, October 7:
Alcmaria Victrix – Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem 2-1
Alcmaria Victrix – Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem 4-3
(Alcmaria Victrix wins series 3-1)
Complete Results of the Dutch Hoofdklasse Softball can be found at www.knbsb.nl