The Czech Baseball Association held its 2024 All-Star game on Saturday afternoon in Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital. The game was played between the Czech national team and the best players from the Extraliga, the top baseball league in the Czech Republic.
The action started in the second inning with a three-run home run by Martin Zelenka. The home run put the Czech national team on top early. The Extraliga stars bounced back with a solo shot in the fifth inning off the bat of Willie Barcena, but it wasn’t enough to best the national team. The seven-inning exhibition game ended with the Czech national league on top 3-1.
M-V-P!!! 😤 Zeli got it going at the All-Star Game at home and secured all the points for the national team with a three-run home run. ✌🏻 This was a dress rehearsal for the Prague Baseball Week!#baseballczech #allstargame pic.twitter.com/G0bCzP8neN
— BaseballCzech (@BaseballCzech) June 29, 2024
The MVP was awarded to Zelenka, who drove in all three of the national team’s runs. Born in Prague, Zelenka just finished his junior season at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In fifteen games with the Seahawks in 2024, the catcher batted .209 and had four home runs. Before transferring to UNCW, Zelenka played two seasons at Pitt Community College, an NJCAA Division II school. During those two seasons, he hit .354 with 21 home runs.
Before the All-Star game, a home run derby was held for players to compete in. The players put on a show in a close battle that finished with Koya Uemura coming out on top. Uemura hit 13 home runs in 150 seconds to outlast national team rookie Tomáš Říčný.
Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of BaseballCzech X Account
