« Champions Cup 2023 », June 6-10.
Featured image: Parma at the plate.
Above, the HCAW Bussum baseball field, host of the ’23 Champions Cup.
Open to champion clubs, it’s Europe’s top club competition with 8 contenders. The first edition took place in 1963 in Haarlem, Netherlands.
For 2023, the « Cup » organization is awarded to the cities of Bussum and Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Bussum, located just outside Amsterdam, will host the Huskies for three days for the round-robin stage. June 6-8.
The semifinals will be held on June 9. The finals will be played on Saturday at 14:00 for third place. 18:00 for the Gold.
Participants:
Draci Brno (Czech Republic, third in 1998 and 2004),
SKSB Arrows Ostrava (Czech Republic),
Rouen Huskies (second in 2007),
Bonn Capitals (Germany, second in 2021),
Untouchables Paderborner (Germany),
1949 Parma Baseball Club ASD (Italy, 2022 winner),
Amsterdam Pirates (Netherlands, 1 title),
HCAW Bussum (Netherlands, 3 national titles, 2002 finalists).
Historically, it’s Italian baseball that holds the most titles (33), including 14 for Parma. The Netherlands has won 16, including 10 for Neptunus. Spain: 4, San Marino: 3.
Above: « 1949 Parma Baseball Club ASD » (Italy) wins the 2022 European Baseball Champions Cup in Bonn (Germany).
« You wanted to see Bussum and we saw Bussum »…
18th continental campaign for the Normandy side. Boris Marche’s men will fly to the « flat country » to defend the interests of the other baseball nation: France.
No French club has ever won the competition… But once you’ve written that, you haven’t written everything. Remember the third place achieved by the PUC in 1993 and Montpellier in 1994… Let’s also recall the outstanding performance of the Rouennais in 2007, who challenged the Dutch monster Kinheim in the final (the French were overturned 3-1). Since then, French baseball has not reached the continental podium. In this year 2023, « the Pack » is entered in Pool B with HCAW Bussum, Bonn Capitals and SKSB Arrows from Ostrava. And there’s something to be done…
Bussum – three round-robin days:
June 6, 19:00: HCAW Bussum vs Rouen Huskies:
Above, the HCAW Bussum team, Dutch champions, winners of the 2022 series against the legendary « Curaçao Neptunus » club (ex Door).
After six consecutive series featuring the Amsterdam Pirates and Neptunus, things have changed. Very well! Bussum HCAW participated in its first national final since 2005 and last year won its third title since 1998, in 4 games and 4 wins. Bussum made the most of the game, sweeping the most legendary club in the Netherlands, « Rotterdam Neptunus ». The Huskies, 17-time French champions, will have a tough time against the new Dutch heroes who have dusted off their championship.
June 7, 15:00: Bonn Capitals (Germany) vs Rouen Huskies:
Located in the former capital of West Germany (from where it probably got its name), the Bonn club won its title quite decisively in 2022 against the « Paderborn Untouchables » 3 wins to 1. This season, the Capitals have a record of 11-7. Just behind… Paderborn. Certainly a level of play below that offered by the Dutch. A chance for the « Big French Machine ».
June 8, 15:00: Rouen Huskies vs Ostrava Arrows (Czech Republic):
Above, 5 Czechs from Ostrava at the World Baseball Classic (Tokyo Dome).
These Czechs are amazing! Registered internationally with their participation in the last World Classic, this small country of 10.5 million inhabitants hosts one of the most performing baseball teams on the continent. On March 12, their national team (ranked 16th in the world) faced the Japanese selection (the first) during the prestigious « World Baseball Classic » 2023. Five players from Ostrava were in the running: Ondra Satoria, Kuba Kubica, Kuba Grepl, Michal Kovala and Michael Vykoukal. Keep an eye on them! They faced the biggest challenge of their careers. In Pool B of Tokyo (5 teams) the Czechs won a match against the Chinese (8-5) and finished 4th. Pitcher Satoria had the luxury of striking out Ohtani himself (Los Angeles Angels) during this meeting against the Japanese. « Gratulujeme cestina »! Slavic baseball is not done surprising us. A very committed match to come for the « Frenchies ».
« Confederation Cup » (former CEB cup)
Above: Karlovac baseball field.
In parallel with the main arena of the « Champions Cup », seven teams will face off in Karlovac from June 7 to 11, in Croatia.
It’s the 2023 Confederation Cup of Europe (second level of European clubs).
Participants:
Above: Hoboken Pioneers, Belgian champions (2021).
the « Vienna Wanderers » (Austrian champions 2022),
« Hoboken Pioneers » (Belgian champions 2022),
« Karlovac Olimpija » (17 titles in Croatia, 1 CEB title in 2006, 1 title in the Federation Cup 2021),
« Beisbol Astros » (Valence, Spanish vice-champions 2022),
« Tenerife Marlins » from Puerto Cruz (Spanish champions 2022),
Lions de Savigny sur Orge (13 European club cups, 5 national titles, vice-champions 2022),
« Flyers Baseball and Softball Team » (13 national titles, Swiss champions 2022).
Above: Tenerife Marlins (Rouen 2022)
The 2022 edition is witness, on the banks of the Seine, to the coronation of the Huskies (4W 0L in the competition) opposed to the Belgians from Hoboken in the final. Title allowing the Normans to return to the Champions Cup.
CEB 2021: Draci Brno (Czech Republic in Sénart).
2019: Heidenheim (Germany).
2018: Borgerhout Squirrels (Belgium).
2017: Draci Brno.
Follow it all live!
Vincent Picard
