Netherlands in WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 winning U-18 Euro Championship

World No. 10 Netherlands is on top of Europe in the men’s (top) and U-18 categories

GIJON, Spain– The Netherlands U-18 National Team defeated Italy, 7-3, in the finale of the U-18 Baseball Europe Championship 2016 on 17 July.

Both nations had finished atop their respective groups to open the 10-nation tournament, with undefeated records of 4-0. Netherlands went a perfect 6-0 en route to the European title.

Finishing in first- and second-place, worlds No. 10 Netherlands and No. 9 Italy will advance to the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017 in Thunder Bay, Canada.  Italy and the Netherlands represent the top-ranked European nations in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.

The win in Gijon positions Netherlands as the current champions of Europe across the men’s (top) and U-18 categories.

The Netherlands last competed for the U-18 world title in Seoul, South Korea, at the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2012, where the Dutch National Team finished in 11th place.  At the U-18 Baseball World Cup 2015 in Osaka, Japan, Italy placed 10th.

In the battle for third in Europe, No. 19 Germany defeated No. 16 Czech Republic, 6-4, to earn the bronze.

The 28-game U-18 continental championship was hosted by the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation in conjunction with the Confederation of European Baseball — WBSC’s baseball arm in Europe.