The Dutch women's national softball team will have a new head coach from 1 August, when Saskia Kosterink takes over. The Beijing 2008 Olympian will take over from Ferenc Jongejan, who will lead the team for the last time at the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in Italy, the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced.

Kosterink has had a successful international career, including six European Championships, four World tittles and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. She was the head coach of the 2021 U-18 national team, which finished seventh at the World Cup in Lima, Peru, and has also worked as an assistant coach with the senior national team.

Peter Kwakernaak, Technical Director of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB), said: "As KNBSB, we are privileged and happy to have Saskia, who has also been involved with Talent TeamNL talent development for years, take over the baton from Ferenc Jongejan. With her insight, knowledge and experience, we will build a team with the potential to win gold at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

"The dream of becoming a national team coach has always been there. As a dot on the horizon - to be responsible on the way to the 2032 Olympics, but now it's earlier. It was a bit of a switch when they asked me, but I immediately thought: 'It could be now'. I had a lot of conversations with people who are important to me and the answer to everything was always 'yes'. Yes, I want to do it," said a happy and proud Saskia Kosterink. 

She will take over as head coach after the Women's Softball World Cup finals in Castions di Strada, Italy. "After a week off, we have three weeks in August to prepare for the European Championships in our own country (in Utrechet from 1-7 September). The short period and the pressure surrounding the Europeans make me aware of the need to make our joint start as smooth as possible," the Dutch concluded.