(click photo for website)
Thanks to our friend Bernie Lopez for sharing the link below to the Official Zeist tournament website in Holland.
Click here to view the tournament website. And here for Photos.
The Great Britain team that’s going to play in the upcoming ISF World championships played in it and ended up in 5th place
Bernie is a member of my “Long Beach Deadwood” 50-and-over squad and played in the Zeist tournament previously. Bernie keeps his passport up to date, having traveled to the Czech Republic to see Team USA play when they went, and is making his plans to be in Saskatoon for the ISF Worlds in July.
Bernie shared this personal story about playing in the Zeist tournament in Holland:
I played in this tournament back in 1990 as a member of the Bentwaters Phantoms fastpitch club. A team from New York, TWA, played in it and we beat them. We won the championship by beating the Dutch National team full of Aruban ball players. I’m thinking of coming out of retirement (ala Brett Farve!) next year and playing in it! : )
(click logo to use Google Translate)
Remember you can use Google translator to read the foreign language websites. We have posted a translation from Dutch to English from a page at the Zeist Holland Tournametn website detailing the history of the event below.
This, in conjunction with the centenary of the association, is that during the weekend of Whitsun in 1984, three fast-pitch “softball tournament organized gentlemen. With the help of American air base in Soesterberg and supported by advertisers to manage the organization around it.
June 9-11 1984 Centennial Tournament
The first tournament, then known as “Centennial Tournament” as gives some starting problems. The team remains Zweibrucken way to say no and KNBSB pick at the last moment a number of referees away. The teams on Friday in the Final Zeister received. Winner in this first team of the Ramstein Rams with pitcher Jeff Keppner that the balls with a sloppy 150 km / h on the plate throws. Rhein-Main Rockets and Schweinfurt were second and third. Are the Water Phantoms led by Earl Hicks are named most popular team.
25-27 May 1985In 1985 at the request of participants the tournament formula slightly altered. On the last day of the tournament play the numbers 1 and 2 of the semi-finals competition. The tournament is opened by the Zeister sports woman of the year Leontien of Lienden. Winner of this tournament, the team of Rhein-Main Rockets, who in the finals of the team Are Water Phantoms with 7-2 to check it. The team from the Canadian base in Lahr (D) is third.
17-19 May 1986 3rd Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1986 starts the hegemony of the Waters Are Phantoms. Led by the Earl Hicks, by the municipality Zeist available, cup win. The losers in this finale, the Alconbury Spartans. Third, the Rhein-Main Rockets. Phoenix does not this year and is replaced by the Rayon Team of The Netherlands. This year, the tournament is his current name Zeister Final Tournament.
In the KNBSB union magazine, Inside, of June 1986 states: “The National familiar with the top boxes loaded inside and packed bus with Americans with baseball caps for no meter, since the highway direction Hoek van Holland. Or they just wanted to go on the side. sportsmen? policeman asked the incredulous to the rich with his pants on vetranden decorated driver. It was all fizzle out there on that highway, but police believe is not even found that the men of the softbalploeg the Alconbury Spartans, which was the return to England after participation in the third Zeister Final Tournament were real athletes. ”
6-8 June 1987 4th Zeister Tournament Final
After three tournaments sunny weather in 1987 is not. A cloud-burst in the night from Saturday to Sunday changed the fields in a large water surface. Even using a pump from the Fire Zeister field can no longer be playable.
The Utrecht Nieuwsblad of June 9, 1987: “The softball fields were Phoenix ZC yesterday desolate at. The three international softball tournament ended by the wet weather of Whit Monday in an anti-climax. Match Leaders players and there were reports to.”
Despite the bad weather was still a champion for the second time in a row was Waters Are Phantoms. Like last year, followed by Alconbury Spartans and Rhein-Main Rockets.
21-23 May 1988 5th Zeister Slot Tournament
The fifth tournament for the third time in a row won by the Waters Are Phantoms. The first cup this disappears for good to England. Rhein-Main Rockets are second and the first time a European team, the Netherlands, third. During this tournament is a team AFN Television present. This TV station of the U.S. Armed Forces provides a broadcast of a few minutes on the Wednesday following the tournament. The press shows a broad interest, which the reputation of the tournament only benefit.
13-15 May 1989 6th Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1989, there was the first non-American final whole. The Dutch team competition ended in the first half. In the finals, they, however, 4-2 against bottom Waters Are Phantoms. New this year is the Wall of Fame. People can be immortalized, which are of great significance or have been Zeister for the Final Tournament. The first four people in the Wall of Fame have included: Jim Goin, Puck de Haan, Earl Hicks and Larry Moore. This is the last tournament of the old complex. Fields undergone a thorough renovation, which is more time consuming than expected.
2-4 June 1990 7th Zeister Final Tournament
That this renovation of the tournament in 1990 would be put at risk, nobody at that moment fear. Because there are late sowing, the grass at the official opening of the complex is not strong enough already to play. A number of favorable weeks and strict rules that can and can not be frozen still provides authorization to play. The tournament itself is one of the most exciting to date. The central team – the Netherlands in the finals with 4-3 reports by the team are waters Phantoms. Third, the team of International All Stars. Phoenix ends usual last. Schlegel and Baron henk of Zijtveld in the Wall of fame placed.
18-20 May 1991 8th Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1991, the Final Tournament Zeister a first, the bus takes us from Prague next to the national team of Czechoslovakia, the national youth of this country. The team will be named Little Lions as the sixth end, after victories at Borgerhout Squirrel from Belgium and Phoenix. Again, the finals are between Waters and Phantoms and Central – Netherlands. By a 7 to 4 victory, the Phantoms Are Waters also the second cup them. Over several years, going on staff and players of the Final Tournament Zeister awarded a badge. Jan Pors get a spot in the Wall of Fame.
The Utrecht Nieuwsblad of May 21, 1991: “So many went public final long way. Around two hundred people were almost numb by the shrill wind along the line. The organization had everything done to the weather gods favorable vote, but even opening on Saturday by weatherman Peter Timofeef showed no guarantee of sunshine ”
The New Bode of May 30, 1991 did the following report: “In the weekend of Whitsun were in the tent rolls over two thousand hamburgers and hot dogs prepared …”
6-8 June 1992 9th Zeister Tournament Final
This is the year in which an end to the hegemony of the waters are Phantoms. In this rain-ravaged tournament is a lot of participants required. This tournament is in a tension that may be. Netherlands won all its league matches and is therefore assured a finals place. Phantoms are water is off and with only four wins only a chance of a finals place as Lahr Select loses of Czechoslovakia. Lahr Select loses an error by the pitcher. In the final show Waters Phantoms Do not cope with the Dutch team. The third is via a communal cup 9-2 victory Eurpese captured by the first winner of the tournament, the Netherlands.
May 29-31 1993 10th Zeister Slot Tournament
The tenth tournament is organized by 9 teams, including the selection of Israel. The team of Waters Are Phantoms still led by Earl Hicks is all moves and cuts so weakened that it no further than eighth place. In the final losing the subsequent European champion, the Netherlands, 10 – – of the Canadian Selects. Czech Republic is third. Phoenix ends with an honorary sixth place. This year, Ton Siedsma and Kristina Count Stal honored with a place in the Wall of Fame.