CZECH REPUBLIC, ITALY, OR THE NETHERLANDS…WHICH WILL GO TO ATHENS?

2003-06-28

The Netherlands shook off Friday’s 1-0 loss to Italy, starting play today with a 2-1 win over Russia in what would be the first of two victories on the day for the Dutch. To make playoff softball even more dramatic, the winning run didn’t come until the bottom of the seventh and final inning. Maaike Zylstra drove in the winning run and was part of a pitching trio that held Russia to just two hits. Russia had actually scored the first run of the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, and is now eliminated from the qualifier.

In Saturday’s second game, Great Britain dumped Spain, 5-2. The bottom of the fifth inning was the big one for Great Britain, scoring three times to pull away after Spain had tied the game at one in the top of the fourth. Three players had two hits each in the win, and Spain was done in by committing six errors. Winning pitcher Heather Brown struck out eight. The defeat eliminated Spain from the tournament.

Next up was host Italy keeping their perfect record intact, blanking the Czech Republic 7-0 in five innings. The winners scored four times in the top of the fifth and the Czechs managed just two hits. Italy pitcher Susan Bugliarello recorded eleven strikeouts.

The night ended with the Netherlands returning to the field against not-as- rested Great Britain. Whether it was fatigue or something else, Great Britain didn’t have any offense left and was eliminated from the qualifier with a 4-0 loss.

Now it comes down to Sunday’s two games, which will see the Netherlands facing the Czech Republic at 11.00 (local time) for the right to go on to play Italy at 15.30 to decide which team will advance to the 2004 Olympic competition.

Follow the qualifier through the official event website using the link below.

Talk about it in the “Our National Team” and/or “General Discussion” categories using the ISF Forum link below.

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