Netherlands top Czech Republic to claim U-23 Euro title, both qualify for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018

The Netherlands win (10-9) a 10 inning thriller against the hosts Czech Republic in Brno and claim U-23 Baseball European Championship. Both teams qualify for the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2018.

The championship game was dominated by line ups over pitching. The Netherlands used 5 pitchers, with Colin Van Laar getting the last 5 outs on strikes, despite walking 3. Czech Republic used 6 pitchers and Ondrej Satoria went to the mound on the tenth to suffer the loss.

Czech Republic had tied the game in the ninth, taking advantage of wild (2 walks, 1 hit, 1 hitsbatter) reliever Angela and of a bad start (bases loaded walk) by Van Laar. The reliever struck out outfielder Hajtmar (looking to the out pitch on a full count) and Smola to escape the jam and struck out the side, after walking 2, to hold to a 2 run lead (2 RBI single by left fielder Engelhardt) in the tenth.

The Netherlands are the U-23 European Champions

Belgium defeated Spain (3-2 in 10 innings) to claim third place. Below the full standings:

1.The Netherlands
2. Czech Republic
3. Belgium
4. Spain
5. Germany
6. France
7. Great Britain
8. Croatia
9. Ukraine
10. Poland
11. Russia
12. Slovakia
13. Austria
14. Belarus
15. Lithuania
16. Georgia