Thunder preview
June 11, 2008 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
ROCKFORD - Coming off of a 2-2 showing against defending NPF champion Washington, the Rockford Thunder are ready to welcome the national team from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch team recently lost all four games of their series against the Philadelphia Force, the team with which Rockford currently sits in a virtual tie at the top of the National Pro Fastpitch standings.
The Dutch national team is in the midst of its second American tour in preparation for this summer's Beijing Olympics. In their first tour, the Holland natives went 12-3 against west coast colleges and universities. Overall, the Netherlands' team is 12-7 against American squads. Holland's only game against a local rival was a 5-4 loss to Southern Illinois University on March 7.
The Thunder has relied heavily on its pitchers in its first eight games. The pitching staff is a combined 3.21 ERA. Individually, Rockford's Megan Brown and Cassidy Scoggins are first and third in ERA, with 1.04 and 1.47, respectively.
Rockford's hitting has gotten off to a somewhat rocky start. The team batting average sits at just .215 in 2008; however, infielder Lindsay Gardner is among the league leaders with a .409 average, and rookie catcher Savannah Brown is in the top ten in runs batted in, with four.
All four games of the series will be played at Players Park in Roscoe, Ill. Players Park's address is 5444 Swanson Road, which is just east of the Swanson-Illinois 251 intersection.
Game 1 - Thursday, June 12, 6:35 pm
Game 2 - Friday, June 13, 6:35 pm
Game 3 - Saturday, June 14, 3:05 pm (tickets for Wednesday's game will be honored)
Game 4 - Saturday, June 14, shortly following game 3 (tickets for the original Saturday game will be honored)
Opening Pitching Match-up
ROC: RHP Cassidy Scoggins (2-1, 1.47 ERA)
Cassidy Scoggins earned her first loss of the year her last time out against the Washington Glory, but gave up just two earned runs in the solid performance. Scoggins has been effective all season, just giving up one extra-base hit, a double to Chicago's Nicole Trimboli in Scoggins' second win of the year.
NED: Dagmar Bloeming (0-1, 17.50 ERA against NPF competition)
Dagmar Bloeming was lit up in her only outing against the NPF, which was game one of their series against the Philadelphia Force. Bloeming gave up six runs, including five earned, over two innings. She was relieved by Rebecca Soumeru, who allowed just three baserunners over the remainder of the game.
Players to Watch
Rockford's Stephanie Best, who was added to the Thunder roster Wednesday after a trade from Washington sent Best to Rockford in exchange for future undisclosed draft considerations. Best, a four-year NPF veteran, has batted .261 lifetime, while hitting nine home runs. Best was batting .231 with a homer and three runs batted in with Washington this year prior to the trade.
The Netherlands' Marloes Fellinger is batting .333 against National Pro Fastpitch competition, including an RBI and a run scored. The Naarden native has played a variety of positions for the Dutch team - including DP, third base, and outfield positions - since her first appearance with the national squad in 2006. She plays for the Sparks Haarlem pro team back in Holland.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Thunder at (815) 965-7000 or by visiting the temporary Thunder box office at Players Park beginning an hour and a half before the first pitch. Gates will open to the park one hour before game time. Tickets will be $5 each, or $8 for both games of Saturday's double-header.
Up Next (Pitching Probables)
- Friday: Thunder (Megan Brown, RHP, 2-0, 1.04 ERA) vs. Netherlands (Anouk Mels, LHP, 0-1, 2.86 ERA)
- Saturday #1: Thunder (Allison Kime, RHP, 1-2, 4.64 ERA) vs. Netherlands (Kristi de Vries, RHP, 0-1, 6.17 ERA)
- Saturday #2: Thunder (Cassidy Scoggins, RHP, 2-1, 1.47 ERA) vs. Netherlands (Judith van Kampen, RHP, 0-1, 6.00 ERA)
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from June 11, 2008
- Thunder preview - Rockford Thunder
- Thunder get better end of deal with Washington - Rockford Thunder
- Force Take Game One of Goodwill Series - Philadelphia Force
- Gray will be accompanying Team USA to Chicago Bandits Stadium - Chicago Bandits
- Washington Glory Trade Best to Rockford Thunder - Washington Glory
- Force sign three after WCWS finals - Philadelphia Force
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
