On June 8th, the third round of this clash of titans unfolded without major surprises. The semi-finalists are now known. The two Dutch teams, the Germans from Bonn, and Italian baseball with Parma have secured their spots in the semi-finals.
Amsterdam
Brno fell to Parma in 2 hours and 32 minutes. The Czechs only reacted in the fifth inning with two runs. Draci still managed 6 hits (including two doubles) against Parma’s 8 (including one double). However, Brno’s (1-2) offense struggled against Fabien, Aldegheri, and Bocchi, recording 13 strikeouts. Parma (3-0) secured their spot in the semi-finals with this 6-2 victory. The Italians are serious contenders for back-to-back titles.
Bussum:
Arrows Ostrava (2-1), Huskies Rouen (0-3).
Until the end of the third inning, nothing was certain, and no one could have predicted the outcome. Both teams, considered underdogs, kept the game exciting. Rouen is far from their 2007 performance where the French reached the final. The Czechs, however, turned the tables with 4 runs in the fourth inning against Lacroix, who walked 6 batters and allowed 8 hits with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings. Two Rouen errors and Ostrava’s hits (including 4 doubles) gradually led to the Czech victory, 5-1. Arthur Magnin couldn’t do much in 2 relief innings. Not even Dagneau, who managed a double for the honor. Notably, Harrison (Rouen) batted .583 in the tournament and went 2 for 4 in this match.
Bonn (2-1) shuts out the Dutch from Bussum (2-1)
French head umpire Stéphane Giraud started the game at 7 PM. 8 hits each by the end of the game. But where did the difference lie? Murata and Lee took charge on the mound and together stifled the Dutch, limiting Bussum to 2 deserved runs. The German bats spoke louder against the three opposing pitchers. The same number of hits but more opportunism brought 8 runs to the Capitals.
“We were on fire”.
Amsterdam (1-2) crushes Paderborn (2-1). It’s the fourth lopsided score of the competition. 0-13 Paderborn vs Parma, 5-18 Rouen vs Bussum, and 12-0 Bussum vs Arrows. A 15-0 score in the European Cup leaves a mark… The Pirates suffocated the Germans and, thanks to the goal difference, advance to the semi-finals!
Indeed, 3 of the 4 teams in Pool A in the Round Robin (first round) are at one win and two losses. Paderborn, despite their two wins (2-1), are relegated to the consolation pool along with the Huskies (last for now with 0-3), the Arrows (2-1), and Brno (1-2).
The bottom four teams play today at 3 PM in Bussum and Amsterdam. Huskies vs Brno and Paderborn vs Ostrava.
Croatia – European Cup B
The Lions have just overwhelmingly defeated the Swiss from Thervil 14-4. This brings the French from Savigny to one win and one loss. The Lions are second in Pool B behind the Tenerife Marlins (2-0). In Pool A, it’s another Spanish team, the Valencia Astros, leading (2-0).
Today concludes the « Round Robin » with Wanderes (0-2) vs Astros (2-0) and a BK Olimpija (1-1) (Croatia) vs Hoboken Pioneers (1-1) (Belgium).
Vincent Picard
