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Softball is a popular variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches permitted. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hancock.
The Japan women's national softball team is the national team of Japan in international softball competitions. It is governed by the Japan Softball Association. They are currently ranked #2 in the world by the International Softball Federation. In four Olympic Games, since 1996 until 2008, Japan has won one gold medal, a silver medal and a bronze medal. In the top four nations at the Olympics, Japan is the second most successful national team, following the United States, and beating out Australia and China with one silver medal. After winning the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Japanese national team was defeated by the United States team at the XII Women's Softball World Championship in Caracas, Venezuela.
The Netherlands competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. This was announced in an official statement on the NOC*NSF website. In the statement they named the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games as a highlight in sports to which a lot of sportspeople, coaches and the Dutch sports fans would look forward. The Netherlands aimed for a top 10 nations ranking in the Olympics as well as a top 25 ranking in the Paralympics; they ended up ranking 12th at the Games.
Noémi Boekel is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Marloes Fellinger is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Sandra Gouverneur is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Petra van Heijst is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions. Her brother Frank is a baseballer in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.
Judith van Kampen is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Kim Kluijskens is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Saskia Kosterink is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Jolanda Kroesen is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Daisy de Peinder, is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Marjan Smit is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Nathalie Timmermans is a Dutch softball player, who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions.
Britt Vonk is a Dutch softball player, who has represented the Dutch national team in international competitions. She attended and played for the University of California, Berkeley.
Kristi Lynn DeVries is an American-Dutch softball player who has represented the Netherlands women's national softball team in international competitions.
Megan Timpf-Soto is a Canadian softball player.
Ellen Ahrndt was an American second basewoman who played briefly in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1944 season. Ahrndt batted and threw right-handed. Sometimes she is credited as Ellen Proefrock.
Kathy Arendsen is an American softball head coach and former professional player. Arendsen pitched for Holland Christian High School, where she won the state championship, before embarking on a successful collegiate and professional career. During her college years, Arendsen pitched for Texas Woman's University and California State University, Chico, where she led both teams to national championships. In recognition of her efforts, she received the 1978 Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female athlete in softball. She was also selected to pitch for Team USA at the 1979 and 1983 Pan American Games, winning a gold and silver medal respectively.
Ellen Roberts is an Australian, former collegiate, right-handed professional softball pitcher. Roberts played for Ogaki Minamo in the Japan Diamond Softball League.
References
- 1 2 Athlete biography: Ellen Venker Archived 2008-09-15 at the Wayback Machine , beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 16, 2008
