June 6
Amsterdam. Group A
Paderborn – Parma (reigning champions).
Paderborn’s ‘Untouchables,’ blown out 13-0, might as well celebrate with a new ‘cervoise’ recipe in honor of Italian baseball. Buongiorno, I’d like an ‘Untouchable.’ With pleasure, it’ll be ready in just 2 hours and 13 minutes—the time it took the Germans to finally escape the Loek Loevendie ballpark. 3 hits against 9 for the Italians. Guilem Diaz (1-0) secures a shutout with 6 innings pitched and 5 strikeouts. The game is closed by Bocchi in 2IP. The final blow comes in the 8th inning with 6 Parma runs, including a grand slam by DH Astori. ‘Tschüss…’
Pirates (Amsterdam) – Draci Brno
Here’s a team that knows how to stifle the Dutch, and no small feat. Draci Brno, 2022 national champions, conceded only 2 hits (Henrique’s double) during this match. The Czechs, meanwhile, recorded 11 hits (two triples by Angulo and Dubovy). The Czech Republic (2 teams entered) starts the tournament strong with a second victory, 4-3.
Bussum. Group B.
Ostrava – Bonn.
German baseball again in trouble. Against the Czechs, the Capitals played well, but the rain of hits (11) delivered by the ‘Arrows’ proved too much for the Germans. Bonn held their own with 6 hits, even leading until the end of the 7th inning, 1-0. But a Czech surge in the top of the 8th scored 3 runs. Notable: Ostrava’s offense took no strikeouts (6 for the Germans). Triple by Graf-Brennen (Ostrava). Satoria (1-0) secures the 3-1 victory.
Rouen – HCA (Bussum)
The French baseball team kicks off its campaign with a tough opponent. Playing against the Dutch is always a high-intensity battle. The Huskies recorded 8 hits against Bussum’s 12. Down 14-0 after the third inning, the French fought back with 3 runs in the fourth, 1 in the fifth, and a final one in the seventh. Hus: doubles by Dagneau and Bert. HCA: double by De Cuba (3 in 4). French pitching struggled with 16 earned runs in 7 innings. They’ll need to bounce back against Bonn.
Final score: 18-5. Pitcher Nijcamp (1-0) is victorious.
Vincent Picard
