West jumps out early, beats EMEA
By John Denny
Staff Reporter

Danielle Russo crosses first in West's game against EMEA. Photo by RUSLANA LAMBERT

USA West starting pitcher Stephanie Bolt proved too much for EMEA through three innings before making way for the winning pitcher Tera Sutton. Bolt fanned six of 10 batters faced, walked one and let only one ball out of the infield on a grounder that ricocheted off her glove past Sutton, who was playing second base at the time, for the only hit that was allowed in three innings worked.

“We’re not used to the level of starting pitching over here,” EMEA Manager Hannie Mulders said.

“In the first inning, we gave up too many points but after three we only gave up three,” he added, with a hint of satisfaction.

USA West scored their ninth run in the bottom of the fourth, one away from a slaughter-rule victory after five innings, but the EMEA all-stars buckled down and forced them to play the game to the end.

“I told them that I wanted seven innings,” Mulders said. “And they wanted to play. That’s the spirit of my girls. We knew it would be tough with the level of pitching, but we have fun and we celebrate every run and we celebrate every hit. That’s what we do. We celebrate everything we can.”

EMEA out-hit USA West seven to three in the final five innings and were edged out by a slim scoring margin of 3-2. EMEA tagged Sutton seven of their eight hits through four innings and hit three consecutive singles in the fifth. Another hit or two in a few clutch situations could’ve tacked on possibly three more runs, but EMEA stranded three base runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings.

“You’ve got to give them credit,” USA West Manager Mike Bates said. “They could’ve packed it in, but they hung in there.”

Marjolein Merkx relieved losing pitcher, Nina Hekker after three and the defense seemed to rally as the temperature cooled. Their errors decreased from three to two from the first half to the second half of the game and Merkx finished the game with a respectable 2.33 ERA.

Temperatures rarely reach above 80 degrees in Holland, which was drastically different from the reported game time temperature of 95 degrees — not including the humidity. Starting catcher Maureen van Gool left the game to receive medical attention due to heat related illness.

“We’re just not used to heat like this,” Mulder said. “The heat beat us today.”

Bates relieved many of his players who were nursing injuries midway through the game but also because this game marked their third week they’ve been on the road.

“It’s been grueling,” he said of the last 24 days.