REGENSBURG, Germany-Dutch teams (Neptunus Rotterdam and L&D Amsterdam) set the pace in day one of the CEB Champions Cup, the main tournament for clubs in Europe, defeating the champions of Italy Fortitudo Bologna and the team representing the Republic of San Marino. The champions of France Rouen Huskies proved to be the third contender in group A. The Rimini Pirates won a thrilling pitching duel and beat the hosts Legionaere.
L&D Amsterdam beat (5-1) T&A San Marino capitalizing on a couple of defensive errors. The bad throw by third baseman Pulzetti opened the sixth and proved particularly costly, giving way to a 4 run rally that broke a 1-1 tie.
Team Netherlands starter Heijsteek dominated San Marino, allowing only 4 hits in an 8 inning effort to gain the win. Hendrix pitcher the final inning.
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Fortitudo Bologna was able to strike first, getting to opponent starter Elton Koeiman in the third, when DH Osman Marval hit a 2 RBI single. Neptunus Rotterdam came back in the fifth. A double by third baseman Van der Meer sent Bologna starter Rudy Owens to the showers and reliever Filippo Crepaldi had not the best impact on the game, when he hit second baseman Dille and gave up a double to right fielder Diaz that was worth the go ahead run.
Neptunus Rotterdam opened the score against relievers Corradini and Clemente and marched to a 12-6 win.
The cover photo (by Lorenzo Bellocchio) captures this game in action.
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The french Rouen Huskies needed just 8 innings to beat (17-7) the german Mainz Athletics. Starter Stahlmann, despite allowing 7 hits and 5 walks, kept Mainz in the game for 5 innings and reliever Stoecklin manageg to keep the gap within one run in the sixth. Then french line up exploded, combining 11 runs on 11 hits in their seventh and eigth at bat.
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The Rimini Pirates (Italy) beat (5-2) the hosts Legionaere after a game that resulted in a thrilling pitching duel between starters Josè Rosario (who allowed only 2 hits in 7 innings, striking out 10 and walking 4) and Bolsenbroek (who gave up 6 hits and no walks, striking out 6). Unfortunately for Regensburg, Rimini broke the tie on a 2 run homer by first baseman Nico Garbella, who went deep on a 2 out full count situation in the eigth. Rimini added 3 more runs in the ninth, capitalizing with a double by veteran shortstop Juan Carlos Infante (who had a 3 hit game) on a couple of walks and a balk by reliever Mendelsohn. The late german come back on reliever Escalona came short.
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RESULTS AND STANDINGS
