Europe A Cup – Parme dethroned
This morning, Rouen and Paderborn fought to avoid relegation, with the Huskies losing that battle. In Amsterdam, the Pirates claimed bronze in the afternoon, and at 6 PM, it was time for the final between Parme and HCAW.
The race for the top of European baseball is over. It concluded on Saturday with the crowning of HCAW Bussum, one of the host cities for the event (along with Amsterdam). HCAW dominated the reigning champions, the Italians from Parme, 11-4. It was Italian baseball that started strong with 2 runs, but the Dutch onslaught of hits made the Italian defense crumble, leaving them no choice but to surrender. 7 doubles were hit during this match. 3 for Parme and 4 for Bussum. The Dutch still struck out 12 times, half as many as the Italians. 5 Parme pitchers took the mound, compared to 3 for the Dutch. It was in the 6th and 7th innings that Bussum unleashed an unstoppable surge of 7 and 3 runs. A match worthy of a European final with no errors scored. The HCAW de Bussum wins its first European Champions Cup title!
The 17th title for the Netherlands. (Neptunus 10, Haarlem Nicols 3, Kinheim 1, Amsterdam 1, The Hague 1). Parme falls just short of the top step of the podium, which they have already reached 15 times (the most successful club in the competition)… The Italians leave with silver but without glory.
Back to Normandy.
The Huskies had one of their worst European competitions. 5 defeats in 5 days. A .175 batting average and an 8.10 ERA over 40 innings. 5 batters return without having put the ball in play safely (Blondel 0 in 17, Lefevre 0 in 16). Harrison fares better with a .389 average and two doubles. The French, beaten on the first day by the future winners 5-18, seal, following this poor performance, the non-participation of a French club in the Europe A Cup for 2024.
Above, Gabriel Harrison hits .389 for the Huskies.
European Confederation Cup – the Marlins in Gold.
In Croatia, in Karlovac, the Lions leave with silver. Tenerife, second to the Huskies last year in Rouen, had thus been relegated to the Europe B Cup. The history of continental baseball dictates that the Marlins’ tormentors from 2021 are demoted, while these same Spaniards are promoted to the European Champions Cup for 2024 with this fine victory in Croatia. Superior, the Marlins win the final showdown 1-9. Over the competition, they hit .377, including 10 home runs and 5 doubles. On the mound, it’s even better with a 0.87 ERA over 31 innings. 39 strikeouts, 12 walks.
Above: the Marlins in Gold for the 2023 Confederation Cup.
The Lions post two wins and two losses, including the final. Acuna was imperial with a .529 average, including 3 doubles. Notable is the home run by Léo Jiminian, 24 years old (.375 Avg, 6 RBI), a worthy successor to his father Carlos Jiminian.
Below, Léo Jiminian (Lions de Savigny) with the « East Tennessee State University Buccaneers » USA.
The Savigny pitching shows a 5.63 ERA with 11 walks and 25 strikeouts. Unfortunately, this was not enough to stop the Spaniards, who hit 4 home runs in the final!
Above, the Lions return from Croatia with silver.
No rest for the brave.
Back to national competition for the Huskies on June 18, who host… The Cougars, winners over the Rouennais in the France Challenge final… A beautiful derby in prospect. The Lions will roar in Nice. The Cavigals, still searching for a victory this season, will have to face Savigny, who are in top form…
Vincent Picard
