Defending champions Czechia achieved a 6-0 result against home team Denmark to complete a sweep and back-to-back title wins at the 2023 Men’s Softball European Championship at Hørsholm Hurricane Park on Saturday.
With the Netherlands finishing third after beating Belgium in the bronze medal game, it means Czechia, Denmark and the Netherlands have secured spots in the next edition of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, which starts with the group stage next year.
Czechia scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning off a double by Tomáš Klein that plated Martin Magula. The second run for Czechia was completed by Jakub Hajný on a single by Marek Volf.
After two scoreless innings, the Czechs once again put pressure on the home team as they extended their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
David Jaluška initiated the surge in scoring with a double, before scoring on a wild pitch followed by George Harris’ homer to deep left field allowing Magula, Klein and himself to finish off with a three-run offence.
The Netherlands secured the bronze medal after a hard-fought 10-7 win against Belgium.
The Dutch were first to score as Reangelo Castillo’s home run drove a two-run game with Jefferson Prince Delfina in the top of the first.
The Belgians responded in the bottom of the fourth with three runs to take the lead when Xander Verspreet homered to deep centre field with Wesley Janssens and Kristof Van Aarsen on base.
Both teams scored twice in the fifth inning, then scored one run apiece in the sixth with Belgium holding on to a 6-5 lead.
Rain caused an interruption to the game at the beginning of the seventh inning and the Dutch side saw that as an opportunity to regroup.
As play resumed, the Dutch scored two runs by Eldrick Dijkhoff and Jonel Pirela Villalobos off a Emeron Lourens double, followed by another two runs that scored Lourens and Myron Juaquin off Enrique Javier’s single to centre field. Finally, Jacobus Norangelo capped the Netherlands’ 5-0 surge as he scored on a throwing error to give the team a 10-6 lead.
Jeroen Van Nuffel’s single to centre field allowed Nick De Vriendt to score and trail by three but Dutch closer Fransel Meyers finished the game with two strikeouts.
The three podium finishers – Czechia, Denmark and the Netherlands – have secured their spots in the next edition of the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, which starts with the group stage next year before the Finals take place in 2025.
Final Standings:
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Israel
- Croatia
- France
- Great Britain
- Spain
- Slovakia
- Germany
- Sweden
