Anneveld, Bloeming bring flavor of Dutch National Team to Rebellion
No one has a better read here on Rebellion manager Craig Montvidas than Dagmar Bloeming and Virginie Anneveld.
The two played softball under Montvidas as members of the Dutch National Women’s Team. They know how he coaches, what he expects from his players and the strategy he prefers to use in games.
So it was an easy decision for Anneveld, a third baseman, and Bloeming, a right-handed pitcher, when Montvidas asked the two if they would like to play for the Pennsylvania Rebellion in the National Pro Fastpitch league this summer.
“I always dreamed of playing in a professional league,” said Bloeming, a 27-year-old who joined the Dutch National Team in 2007, one year before Anneveld.
“I just had to discuss it with my boyfriend. He knew it was always a dream of mine.”
Anneveld had an easier time with the decision.
“Straight out, I said yes,” she said. “I didn’t even have to think about it. It was a great opportunity. I was going to get to play against the best players in the world.”
Bloeming said Montvidas has a deep desire to win and cares about his players.
“He’s a strict coach but he’s really very good,” she said. “We have a good relationship.”
Anneveld respect’s Montvidas’ professionalism.
“He doesn’t get angry,” she said. “He’s very relaxed. I think he’s a really nice person.”
Anneveld and Bloeming got a taste of the NPF when the Dutch team played an exhibition against the Chicago Bandits last year.
“It was difficult,” Bloeming said, “but I liked it.”
Language is not going to be a barrier to either player. Bloeming speaks Dutch, German, French and English, while Anneveld is fluent in French, Dutch and English. The multilingual training began in elementary school.
Getting to the Pittsburgh airport from Amsterdam proved to be a more difficult challenge two weeks ago. Anneveld and Bloeming flew from Amsterdam to Paris and were supposed to arrive at Pittsburgh, but the flight added a stop in Atlanta before arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport.
“It took 24 hours, total,” said Anneveld.
Once the women shook off the jet lag, settled into their quarters in a dorm at California University and got to know their new teammates, they turned their attention to softball.
So far, the going has been difficult as they adjust to the new league. Bloeming has allowed six runs and 10 hits in four innings, and Anneveld has gone 1-for-10 at the plate.
“I’m happy with both players,” Montvidas said earlier in the season. “They are great people with great mentality and are very good softball players. I didn’t want to bring a whole wave (of Dutch National Team players). There are certainly a lot of good players in the United States.”
Bloeming and Anneveld have known each other since their youth. They played on the same club teams – the European equivalent to the high school format in the United States – and each devoted their athletic careers to the sport at a young age.
“We would play 48 to 50 games a year on club teams,” said Anneveld.
Anneveld, who was born in Enschede, Netherlands, has won four Hoofdklasse (national) titles in her home country and made her softball debut there at the age of 15, playing in the junior and cadet divisions before advancing to the national team.
Bloeming, who was born in Amsterdam, joined the Dutch National Junior Team in 2002 and the team advanced to the European Championships in France. She was awarded the Riet Vermaat Trophy by the Dutch Federation for the best under-19 youth pitcher in 2003. She has a twin sister, Myrthe, who played on the Dutch Junior National Team before giving up the sport.
The national team won three championships and Bloeming was named Best Pitcher in the 2011 tournament.
“I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Anneveld. “I’m really excited about it.”