The Czech Republic seized the title as European Men’s Softball Champion for the third time in a row and ninth overall with a 7-1 win over Denmark.
With all the games of the previous day rained out, the schedule had to be adjusted and some of the placement games were cancelled. Czech Republic secured first place in pool C in the previous games to advance directly to the Grand-Final. Belgium vs Denmark game, which was supposed to determine the pool C standings, then counted as the first semi-final.
SEMI-FINAL #1: Denmark 6, Belgium 1
Denmark scored first in the second inning with Anton Brown’s solo home run. Belgium managed to tie the game right away, but that was it for them. After Denmark’s Daniel Julenon three-run home run, the Belgian players couldn’t find their inner strength that the spectators had seen in their prior games. The Danish added two more runs and advanced to the Grand Final.
Great Britain and the Netherlands matched up for the fourth place and the winner of this game would advance to the other semi-final.
Netherlands 2, Great Britain 1
James Darby pitched for the British and recorded twelve strike-outs, while Dutch pitcher, Arjan Baanen struck out nine batters. The game was clearly a pitchers duel. Darby only allowed two hits, but because of a number of defensive errors in the worst possible moments, two runs were scored by the Dutch.
British batters were more successful in their at-bats as they recorded five hits, but they could only convert them into one run.
The loss saw Great Britain take fifth place while Netherlands advanced to second semifinal game.
SEMI-FINAL #2: Czech Republic 5, Netherlands 4
One of the most exciting games of the whole Championship gave the Netherlands another chance to advance to the final, despite three losses already in the tournament. They scored in the first on Anthony Beaumont’s single for the early 1-0 lead. But the Czech Republic tied the game immediately.
In the second, the Czechs scored twice taking advantage of an error to make it 3-1.
Then the Dutch cut the lead when Idelgardo Raap homered. With runners on second and third, Glennsig Polonius then tripled to make the score 4-3.
In the bottom of the third, the Czechs scored again. Tomáš Petr and Tomáš Voborník recorded hits and the lead changed again for a 5-4 Czech lead and eventual win.
Czech Republic advanced to the final, the Netherlands took fourth place, and thanks to the adjusted system, the result of this game also secured bronze for Belgium.
GRAND-FINAL: Czech Republic 7, Denmark 1
Even though the score may not look as tight, the game was dynamic, filled with outstanding diving catches and attempts. But in the end, the Czech Republic became the European Champion for the third consecutive time.
The only run of the Danish team was scored on Daniel Julenon’s double.
The Czech players were strong in their offense and very aggressive in their base-running.
Kim Hansen started the game for Denmark but Rasmus Sorensen replaced him in the pitching circle in the middle of the third. Ondřej Maleček pitched the complete game for the Czech Republic.
Final standings:
1. Czech Republic
2. Denmark
3. Belgium
4. Netherlands
5. Great Britain
6. Israel
7. Croatia
7. Italy
9. Germany
9. Sweden
