Germany beat (4-2) The Netherlands in the final on Sunday in Wiener Neustadt (Austria) and confirmed as the U-15 Baseball European Champion. It is the third youth Continental Title in as many years, since Germany won the 2015 U-15 and the 2016 U-12. The 2016 Title qualified Germany for the U-12 World Cup that will take off in Tainan, Chinese Taipei, on Saturday 28 July. Catcher Yannic Walther, pitcher and infielder Tristan Russell and pitcher and infielder Moritz van Bergen won the U-12 Title and advanced in 2017 to the U-15 squad to claim another gold medal.
Before 2015, Germany had won no European Title in any category.
Pitcher Julius Reusse limited The Netherlands to 2 hits (allowing also 4 walks and striking out 8) over 6.1 innings. With one out in the seventh, he walked left fielder Netten and was relieved by Simon Baeumer. The newcomer struck out catcher Pastor for the second out, allowed a base hit to second baseman Legito (who became the potential tying run at second) and sealed the save with his second pitch to shortstop Kemp, who grounded for the third out.
Germany’s offense (5 hits) didn’t give the pitching staff much support, but was indeed able to capitalize on 4 defensive errors by the Dutch
BOX SCORE and PLAY BY PLAY
Czech Republic finished third beating (11-8) France in the bronze medal game.
Italy followed as they beat (14-4) the hosts Austria in the fifth place game.
The complete standings:
1 Germany
2 Netherlands
3 Czech Republic
4 France
5 Italy
6 Austria
7 Spain
8 Russia
9 Poland
10 Lithuania
ALL ABOUT THE U-15 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
