Czech Republic wins Men’s Softball European title; three nations qualify for WBSC World Championship 2019

World No. 7 Czech Republic crowned yesterday Men’s Softball European Champions for the fourth time in a row, defeating No. 19 Netherlands, 10-3, in the finale. Both nations, along with No. 11 Denmark, qualified to the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019, to be held in Prague and Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic, from 13-23 June.

Czech Republic and Netherlands had already secured their spots in the World Championship by being in the top two spots of the page playoff. The third and last berth was decided between Denmark and Great Britain, in the first elimination game of the playoff. And the Danish team took the victory with a score of 7-2.

With only three teams in play, and Czech Republic waiting in the finale, the last day of competition decided the champion. The Netherlands came from behind the take the win in the semifinal against Denmark, with a four-run sixth inning, to advance to the finale.

Czech Republic took the early lead in the decisive game scoring 8 runs in the first three innings. Finally, a two run walkoff home run by Matouš Kasal in the sixth inning ended the tournament with a 10-3 win for the host team.

A total of 12 teams were present in the event, marking a historic record for this competition, another evidence of the sustained growing of the sport in the Old Continent.