Following the final out, the Netherlands team celebrates winning the Olympic qualifying tournament in Trieste, Italy. (Photo by Franco Bagattini)

DUTCH RETURN TO GAMES
2007-06-17

It took them a little while, plus an extra inning, but the Dutch are returning to the Olympic Games in softball.

Yesterday the Netherlands defeated Italy, 3-2, in eight innings to win the Africa/Europe Olympic qualifier. The victors become team number seven in the 2008 field of eight participants that will compete on the world’s stage in Beijing.

The ten-team qualifying tournament, which started on June 9, came down to the same two teams that faced one another a couple weeks earlier in the European Women’s Championship “A.” At that event, Italy won 9-3 in the Netherlands. This time the scenario played out again where the host country lost in the title game. As a result the Dutch have gained a spot they’ve sought since having been part of softball’s Olympic debut in 1996.

Italy, who has participated in the last two Olympics (2004 & 2000), jumped out to an early 1-0 lead yesterday with a run in the bottom of the first inning. The visitors came right back to tie it though in the top of the second.

When Italy’s Cristina Rolla hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth for a 2-1 lead, the Netherlands again responded by tying the score in their next at bat.

The game remained tied after seven regulation innings, and in the top of the eighth the Netherlands loaded the bases with no outs. A wild pitch allowed Saskia Kosterink to score and the Dutch had their first lead of the game.

While Italy was able to get a runner to third base in the bottom of the eighth, they couldn’t convert and the Netherlands held on for the 3-2 win.

The victors join Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA, and the host (China) as qualified teams for the 2008 Olympic Softball competition. The final participant will be decided at the Americas Olympic qualifier in Venezuela in August.

The others at the Africa/Europe Olympic qualifier were Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece, Russia, Slovakia, and South Africa.