Netherlands confirms as European Champion, Czech Republic advances to WBSC Baseball Europe/Africa Qualifier

Netherlands confirms as European Champion, Czech Republic advances to WBSC Baseball Europe/Africa Qualifier
15/09/2019

Germany had a quick lead, but the Czech Republic reversed it on a three-run homer by catcher Cervenka. A solo homer by shortstop Schneider won the game in the eighth

The National Teams of the last day of competition in Bonn, Germany, are The Netherlands and The Czech Republic.

The Netherlands beat Italy, 5-1, and won their third Baseball European Championship in a row, the 23rd overall.

The final had the trademark of this tournament: all of the runs scored came on home runs.
The Dutch scored five times in the top of the fourth. The defending European champions loaded the bases on an error and a couple of walks, then right fielder Kalian Sams got to Italian starter Lugo with a grand slam. Shortstop John Polonius added the fifth run on a two-out solo home run.

Italy scored the only run in the bottom of the fifth on the very first hit for the Azzurri. Catcher Alberto Mineo homered on a moon shot off starter Donny Breek.

Italy stranded two runs in the bottom of the sixth when reliever Tom Stujfbergen struck out left fielder Sebastiano Poma and ended the threat, and three in the bottom of the seventh. Center fielder Celli and third baseman Epifano got to reliever Bolsenbroek with back to back one-out singles. Shortstop Andrew Maggi lined out to on a brilliant leaping play by first baseman Curt Smith. Kevin Kelly took the mound to retire right fielder Andreoli on a pop fly to shortstop.
Italy won’t have another chance to score.

The Netherlands win the European Championship, The Czech Republic is the fifth team to advance to the WBSC Europe/Africa Qualifier

A grand slam by Kalian Sams broke the tie between The Netherlands and Italy

 

Earlier in the day came the most anticipated verdict of the European Championship. The Czech Republic beat the hosts Germany, 4-3, in the fifth-place game and became the fifth and final European National Team to advance to the WBSC Baseball Europe Africa Qualifying event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020.

The Czech Republic used the long ball to win. Catcher Cervenka homered off reliever Steigert with two outs and two runners on in the bottom of the fourth and shortstop Schneider led off the eighth with a solo homer against Rimmel, the third pitcher that Germany sent to the mound.

The BundesTeam blew a bases-loaded chance with no outs in the top of the ninth. First baseman Boldt hit a hard grounder to shortstop. Schneider was quick in getting the force out at home and Cervenka doubled up Guehring, who was late to third. Pinch hitter Lukas Sommer popped out to become the final out.

Czech starter Marek Minarik left after six with the game tied at three. Jan Novak pitched three scoreless innings and earned the win.

Marek Minarik, Czech Republic

Czech starter Marek Minarik (Gabi Resta)

Five home runs were not enough for Israel to defeat Spain, that combined 20 hits, including four homers, and won the third-place game of the Baseball European Championship, 16-11.
Leslie Nacar earned the win pitching three innings as a reliever. Antonio Noguero got the last nine outs and earned the save.

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