Two in a Row: Olympia Haarlem seals consecutive Women's Softball European Premier Cup
Olympia Haarlem triumphed for the second consecutive time at the Women's Softball European Premier Cup, after topping home team Saronno (ITA) during the gold medal game.
On August 26, 2023, the final day of the 45th Women's Softball European Premier Cup unfolded in Saronno, Italy. Two games took place on the Saronno Softball field: the bronze medal game, followed by an intense gold medal showdown between the teams of Saronno (ITA) and Olympia Haarlem (NED).
During the early stages of the championship game, both teams kept the score sheet unblemished. LOZADA LAGO of Saronno managed to secure the first hit of the game in the top of the first inning, only to be countered by a swift double play executed by the Dutch team, effectively quelling the Italian offensive.
In the third inning, Saronno's MARRONE ignited a spark with a well-placed single to shortstop, utilizing her speed to secure first base. LOZADA LAGO's subsequent walk positioned MARRONE in scoring position. A fly ball caught by Dutch first baseman UDINK stopped the Italian offensive momentum.
The game's equilibrium was disrupted in the bottom half of the third inning when Olympia Haarlem staged an explosive offensive onslaught, amassing six runs. With CLARK on base, VONK's powerful homerun cleared the bases, driving in the first two runs for the Dutch national champions. Right after, VAN DER ZANDEN and VAN AALST then reached base with a single and a walk respectively. THOMAS capitalized on this opportunity with a strong grounder on the left side, sending VAN DER ZANDEN home and securing the third run. CLARIJS subsequently solidified Olympia's lead with a homerun that took the result to 6-0, which is also the final result of the game, securing the second consecutive title for the Dutch.
Jessie VAN AALST, winning pitcher of the game, only allowed two hits.
In the bronze medal game, Bonn Capitals (GER) clinched victory against Rivas (ESP), marking Germany's first medal in the Women's Softball European Premier Cup.
The Capitals orchestrated a decisive third-inning surge, propelling themselves to a three-run lead. SAVIOLA's single brought ELSTERMEIER home, initiating the scoring, and STEJSKALOVÁ's two-RBI double took the result to 3-0.
Rivas managed to mount a late comeback effort, securing one run in the top of the fourth inning. SOJO's double paved the way for the initial run, subsequently driven in by CAICOYA's single. Another double by SOJO in the fifth inning contributed to the second Spanish run, bringing COSTA home. The game concluded with a final score of 3-2 in favor of Bonn Capitals.
The tournament's fifth day saw Vienna Wanderers from Austria securing the seventh position in the standings, followed by Wittenbach Panthers in eighth. Chicaboo's Stabroek from Belgium secured the ninth rank, while Les Pharaons from France concluded the standings in tenth place.
