ITALY TOPS HOSTS FOR EURO TITLE
2007-06-04

Italy defeated the Netherlands 9-3 two days ago to win the XV European Women’s Championship “A” in Amsterdam. The Italians lost just one game at the tournament, winning eight. Russia came in third after dropping a 6-0 decision to the Dutch that advanced them to the Grand Final, where Italy did most of the damage in a seven-run bottom of the third inning. The Netherlands came right back in the top of the fourth with three runs but that would be as close as they would get.

The Grand Final saw winning pitcher Breana De Santa turn in a complete-game, four strikeout performance. Dagmar Bloeming took the loss for the host team, who finished with an 8-2 won-lost record. Italy’s only loss had come last Thursday against the Netherlands, 4-3.

Russia finished with an overall record of 5-4.

Italy’s Christina Rolla and Germany’s Breedge Quinn were the tournament’s top hitters, with each posting a .526 batting average. Rolla finished with six home runs and 13 runs batted in. Katerina Dvorakova of the Czech Republic followed closely behind at .524.

Joined by four other countries, seven of the ten teams that competed last week will now head to Trieste, Italy, for the Africa/Europe Olympic qualifier, which is scheduled for June 9-16.

Besides the top three finishers mentioned above, the other countries that participated in the European Women’s Championship were Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Slovakia, and Sweden.

Next month in Zagreb, Croatia, the VI European Championship Women “B” will take place, with 12 countries set to participate.