[ENG] The Netherlands score, Puerto Rico takes the win

Venue II, Viera, Florida
Game start: 09:00 local time (rescheduled from 10:00)

Yesterday’s game got cancelled, and was rescheduled to coming Monday 10 AM local time. The Dutch team would originally face Puerto Rico in today’s game at 10 AM. However in order to prevent more delays and rescheduling because of the weather, the games have been rescheduled an hour earlier than the original time.

The Dutch team would start today’s game as the away team. The first batter, Winke Verdick hit a hard grounder towards short only to end up as the first out of the game. Esther Maliepaard, the second batter of the Dutch team got walked to take place on first base and stole second on the pitch thereafter. Isabelle Markies also walked, and allowed the Dutch to take both first and second base. A double-steal brought both ladies into scoring position and an error made by the opposing team’s catcher allowed the Dutch to take the first point of the game. A strike-out and a fly-out concluded the inning for the Dutch.

Maud Werkman pitching for the Netherlands.

Puerto Rico started its at bat with Luz Feliciano who walked by Dutch starting pitcher Maud Werkman. Feliciano reached second due to a wild pitch and reached third due to a soft roller to the pitcher. Another grounder, this time towards second base allowed Puerto Rico to score their first run of the game, tying the score. Werkman ended the inning with a strike-out, the score being 1-1 at the end of the first.

Catcher Sofie van de Wiel started the second inning, she took one on the elbow and was allowed to take first base. Batter Marije Filius laid down a sacrifice bunt in order to bring van de Wiel over to second, but failed to reach first base on time herself. Bianca Mooi hit a hard groundball for a single to the right side of the field, allowing van de Wiel to take third base. Mooi tried to steal second base in order to provoke a play to bring in van de Wiel. However no move was made at third, making Bianca Mooi the second out of the inning. Jessica Kroeskop was not able to bring in the run, as she flew out to right field. Thus ending the Dutch turn.

In the bottom of the second inning, there was no stopping Puerto Rico. The opening batter for Puerto Rico walked, followed by a single and a throwing error by the Dutch short stop allowed Puerto Rico to take first and third base. The runner at first base stole second, and a great fake fooled the runner at third, allowing the Dutch to pick her off the base. Maud Werkman struck out the next batter but was unable to make the third out. In this inning she allowed two singles, two doubles and an error before she was relieved by Ciska Welboren. Welboren allowed a single in this inning before she struck out the last batter of the inning. At this point the Dutch were trailing by six (1-7 Puerto Rico).

Winke Verdick is barely able to dodge the fourth ball.

Winke Verdick began her second at bat in the third, she walked and got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Esther Maliepaard. Two fly-outs, one by the short stop and the right fielder concluded the Netherlands their at bat.

Puerto Rico walked thrice on Welboren’s pitching before she was substituted by reliever Marijke van Veen. However van Veen was unable to bring Puerto Rico to a halt, as she allowed a single, a double, walked one and hit one. As both Welboren and van Veen were unable to record a single out, Loes Asmus took over pitching. A triple play should have concluded the inning (1:45:19 – 1:50:55 on the recorded stream) but it was missed by the umpires, and not pursued and challenged by the Dutch coach Elvin Englentina. Famke Gildemacher (third base) dropped a hard hit line drive, made the force out at third with bases loaded and threw the ball home for the tag. The pitcher Loes Asmus made the throw to first for the third out. However it was never called as the batter went back into the dug-out.
Eventually Asmus ended the inning with a strike-out, ending the inning trailing by 11. 1-12 in favor of Puerto Rico.

Gildemacher opened the fourth inning, she flew out to midfield. Next up, van de Wiel reached first on an error by Puerto Rico’s catcher. Marije Filius reached first on a fielder’s choice, however van de Wiel was forced out at second. The inning ended with a pop-up to third base.

While changing sides the lightning alarm sounded, stopping the game briefly for about 50 minutes. The game resumed with a new pitcher on the mound for the Netherlands. Anouk Vergunst took over from Loes Asmus, Vergunst started with a walk. An error and a fielder’s choice allowed the runner to take third base. The runner at third scored on a grounder to short. In this inning Vergunst allowed two hits, and her field made two errors, allowing Puerto Rico to score an additional three points this inning. Puerto Rico now leading 1-16,

Coaches Marc Neville and Martin de Koning.

Jessica Kroeskop opened the fifth inning facing a new Puerto Rican pitcher. She popped up to third, for the first out of the inning. Winke Verdick grounded a hard ball into left field for a single. Center fielder Esther Maliepaard hit the into the keystone for a double play, ending the ballgame.

Box score:

Win: Angelis Rivera
Loss: Maud Werkman

Pitchers Netherlands:
Maud Werkman (1 2/3 inning)
Ciska Welboren (1/3 inning)
Marijke van Veen (4 slagvrouwen)
Loes Asmus (1 inning)
Anouk Vergunst (1 inning)

Pitchers Puerto Rico:
Angelis Rivera (4 inningen)
Quetsy Nadal (1 inning)