Women’s Softball European Championship: DAY 2 includes engagement at home plate

BOLLATE, Italy — A thunderstorm complicated Monday’s evening program as six games had to be canceled and re-scheduled for the next day.

Day 2 of the 2017 Women’s Softball European Championship started with a beautiful act of love. Before the Sweden against Israel game started, the Swedish head coach proposed to his girlfriend at the home plate.

No surprises on Monday

Most of the potentially deciding games were scheduled to be played in the evening, so fans have to keep their expectations and hopes alive for one more day.

All the other games finished according to expectations. Unlike Ireland in its first two games on Sunday, none of the underdogs surprised their fans with a win.

A one-run game

There was one very tight game – Belgium versus Ukraine. A close game throughout, Belgium finished on top 1-0.

Ukraine was in scoring position in the top of the first inning, but their runner from the second base was tagged out at home plate after a good throw from the center field.

In the second, Belgium had their runner on the third with two outs, but a strikeout ruined their hopes.

Ukraine threatened in the sixth and was close to scoring, again – strikeout was the third out of the inning.

Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, the spectators saw the only run of the game. Ukraine made two errors, and then a sacrifice fly but Belgium decided the game.

Proposal at the home plate

Prior to the start of the Sweden and Israel game, the Swedish National Team Head Coach, Mattias Grimstoft, took his girlfriend to the home plate, kneeled on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend Alexandra. Alexandra, a softball player of the Swedish club Skovde, said yes. “I was so nervous,” said Grimstoft.