The first Baseball European Championship Qualifier began in Belgrade, Serbia, on July 22 and will continue through July 27. Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkiye, and Slovakia are the five participating countries. It will be a five-team round-robin, and the two best teams will go to the finals, with the winner getting a spot in the next Baseball European Championship. The other two qualifiers will take place in Serbia and Poland.
Hungary 12, Serbia 2 (7 innings) – Hungsry jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first, with the big blow coming on a two-run double by Graeham Luttor. Balint Prios also had an RBI double against Serbia starting pitcher Christian Bokich. Bokich gave up ten runs, two earned and eight hits in 2.1 innings.
In the third, Serbia put the game out of reach with a six-run inning, led by a two-run double by Peter Adorjan Gornik. Vincent Temesvary added a two-run single. Hungary topped Serbia 12-2 in seven innings.
The Hungary starting lineup had seven of their nine starters get at least one hit and RBI. Hungary starting pitcher Robert Steven Ogg set the tone with five innings of one-run ball and six strikeouts. Reliever Adam Piros ended the game with 1.2 scoreless innings and two strikeouts.
Slovenia 11, Turkiye 1 (8 innings) – Slovenia and Turkiye were locked into a 1-1 pitchers duel through five innings. Slovenia starting pitcher Lucas Favretto worked around six walks, three hits and struck out nine batters. Turkiye starting pitcher Ali Ahmet Ekmekci gave up two hits, walked four and didn’t strike anyone out.
Slovenia scored three runs in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead against Turkiye relief pitcher Faith Buker, with two runs coming on a wild pitch and an error by Turkiye right fielder Ertugrul Ercan. Slovenia got the 11-1 mercy of Turkyie with a five-run inning against reliever Utku Ergun, which was started with an RBI double by Slovenia designated hitter Zan Primozlc.
Primozlc went 3-for-5 and led Slovenia in hits. Slovenia relief pitcher Jaka Smolkikar was sharp while recording a three-inning save with five strikeouts. Smoklkikar also didn’t allow a hit, and Turkiye only had three hits in the game.
Slovenia 4 Slovakia 2
Slovenia scored all four runs in the third, and the two-run single from catcher Ziga Verbek was the difference maker, bringing in the decisive runs against Slovakia’s starting pitcher Jakub Izold. Izold pitched six innings, gave up four runs, one earned, and struck out five batters.
Slovenia’s starting pitcher, Zan Primozic, was excellent, pitching 7.2 innings of one-run ball and striking out nine. Primozic also hit and was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Catcher Mario Gottschall had Slovakia’s best offensive performance, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Slovenia won the game 4-2 and is 2-0 in the Serbia Qualifier, while Slovakia is 0-1.
Serbia 15 Turkey 0 (5 innings)
Serbia dismantled Turkey and took over the game in the third inning with a five-run frame to take a 6-0 lead against Turkey starting pitcher Ali Ahmet Ekmekci. The third baseman and reliever, Alex Rivera, had an RBI double and went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Rivera also pitched a scoreless inning with no hits allowed. Serbia starting pitcher Sava Dupor got 10 of his 12 outs via strikeout and allowed one hit in four scoreless innings.
Serbia finished off Turkey with a six-run fifth, which was highlighted by a two-run home run by first baseman Nikolas Jukovic. Seven of their nine starters had at least one hit, and six players had at least one RBI. Serbia mercied Turkey 15-0 in five innings and are 1-1. Turkey is 0-2 in the Serbia Group.
Schedule:
Slovakia 0-1 will play against Hungry 1-0 on July 24 at 5 a.m. ET.
Serbia 1-1 will play against Slovenia 2-0 on July 24 at 10 a.m. ET.
Group Poland begins the second qualifier on July 24.
Group Ireland caps off the third qualifier on July 25.
All Baseball European Championship Qualifier games can be streamed live through www.baseballeurope.tv.
Photo Credit: Baseball European Championship Qualifier Logo Used
