Rotterdam and Bologna will compete for club European title
REGENSBURG, Germany-The European baseball Champions Cup is down to the neverending rivalry between Italy and The Netherlands. Neptunus Rotterdam and Fortitudo Bologna will play for the title in Sunday’s final
REGENSBURG, Germany-The baseball European Champions Cup for clubs is down to the neverending rivalry: once again the winner will come out of a matchup between a dutch and an italian team. Neptunus Rotterdam made it fitst to Sunday’s (at 7 pm CET) championship game defeating (7-1) T&A San Marino and Fortitudo Bologna joined later, winning a thriller that lasted over 4 hours against the defending champions L&D Amsterdam.
San Marino and Amsterdam will play a third place game on Sunday, while Rimini and Rouen Huskies will share fifth place.
The 2 german teams (Mainz Athletics and the hosts Legionaere) will play to avoid last place, but won’t be able to prevent their country from losing a spot in the 2018 tournament. Czech Republic will fill the gap, since Eagles Prague and Draci Brno will play the the CEB Cup final in Brno.
Veteran left hander Diego Markwell pitched a gem for Neptunus Rotterdam in the semifinal against San Marino
Neptunus Rotterdam earned a spot in the final defeating (7-1) T&A San Marino in the afternoon semifinal. Most of the credit goes to 36 year old veteran Diegomar Markwell. The lefthander went the distance, showing great command on almost everyone of his 121 pitches. San Marino could go back to back with hits against him only 2 times: in the second and in the ninth inning. Some of the credit goes also to Rotterdam defense, expecially center fielder Daantji. With a couple of diving catches, he robbed 2 extra-base hits and at least 2 runs to San Marino: in the fifth on a fly to left by Pulzetti and in the seventh on a fly in the center-right gap by Avagnina.
At the time of Daantji’s second diving catch Rotterdam was leading 2-0. The dutch scored in the fourth off starter Kimborowicz on back to back doubles by second baseman Dille and right fielder Diaz and added a run in the fifth when Fernandes (double), advanced to third on a bunt and scored when reliever Andres Perez struck out dutch third baseman Van der Meer but the ball went beyond catcher Morreale.
Rotterdam opened the score in a weird seventh at bat, taking full advantage of a defensive error and the struggles of reliever Ascanio. San Marino manager Marco Nanni was ejected for arguing on balls and strikes.
San Marino scored their only run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Avagnina.
Fortitudo Bologna earns the second spot in the final with a 9-8 win against the defending champions L&D Amsterdam.
Bologna put on a slugfest, going deep with shortstop Garcia in the third (grand slam off starter Schel; Garcia’s is in the cover picture, a screenshot from Legionaere.tv), rightfielder Russo in the fifth (3 runs off reliever Kyle Ward, designated hitter Ambrosino in the seventh and catcher Marval in the eigth (both hit solo shots off Burgersdijk).
Amsterdan didn’t give up despite trailing by a few runs for most of the night. Catcher Clarijs hit a solo homer in the fifth and Amsterdam got to Bologna starter Rivero adding 3 in the sixth thanks to base hits by third baseman Gerard, center fielder Draijer and shortstop Zarzi Croes.
They cut the deficit to one run, capitalizing on a couple of walks by reliever Pugliese and a catcher interference with singles by second baseman Urbanus (off Pugliese) and left fielder Lampe (off Filippo Crepaldi),
Crepaldi put the potential Amsterdam tying run to first when he walked right fielder Rombley to lead off the ninth. He got the first out when Amsterdam bunted Rombley to second, and the other 2 he needed on the next 6 pitches: pinch hitter Bok struck out and Clarijs flied out.
