A pitcher for the Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz delivers a pitch at the European Confederation Cup. (Photos by Delphine Henry/WBSC)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe second sector event during the month of June, the European Confederation Cup, features selected European club teams playing at 4 Rijeke Baseball Field Karlovac in Karlovac, Croatia from June 7 to June 11.
The 2023 European Confederation Cup will have seven club teams participating in the event.
Four teams will be in Group A: Astros Club Beisbol (ESP), Hoboken Pioneers (BEL), Vienna Wanderers (AUT), and BK Olimpija (CRO). Group B will have three teams participating in the event: Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz (ESP), Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (FRA), and Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (SUI).
All WBSC Europe events are streamed on the WBSC Europe YouTube page.
Group A: Astros Club Beisbol 5 (ESP), Hoboken Pioneers (BEL) 2
Astros Club Beisbol starter Jorge Balboa threw seven innings and allowed seven hits, two earned runs, walked two and struck out nine en route to beating the Hoboken Pioneers 5-2.
The Astros got on the board in the top of the first inning when Blake Ochoa drove a two-run RBI single up the middle and Emmanuel Febles and Michel Rodriguez.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Pioneers’ Dennis De Quint grounded out to Astros shortstop Edgar Rondon, and Benjamin Goffaux scored to cut the lead to one at 2-1.
During the top of the third inning, the Astros capitalized on a throwing error by the Pioneers defense. With the bases loaded, Exciardo Blanco reached first base on an error by catcher Goffaux overthrowing first base after making the force out at the plate, and Rodriguez came in to score from second base to go up 3-1.
A few moments later, during Edgar Rodriguez’s at-bat, Blanco stole second base, and Tanner Donnels broke for the plate after Goffaux’s throw to second base to make it 4-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, Jose Marrero ripped a single to center field and Blanco came in to score to extend the lead to three runs at 5-2.
Pioneers starting pitcher Bebee Brayden went 5.1 innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, walking three batters, and striking out five in the first game of the European Confederations Cup.
Astros relief pitcher Ricardo Hernandez picked up the save, throwing two innings and allowing no hits, no earned runs, no walks, and striking out two during Wednesday’s 5-2 win.
Group B: Tenerlife Marlins Puerto Cruz (ESP) 15, Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (SUI) 0 – F/6
Tenerlife Marlins Puerto Cruz routed Flyers Baseball and Softball Team on Wednesday, putting up 15 runs on 14 hits in their first game of the European Confederation Cup in 15-0 shutout that took six innings.
Marlins starting pitcher Leslie Nacar went five innings, allowing just three hits, no earned runs, walking two batters, and striking out seven.
In the top of the third inning, Jesus Ustariz cranked a two-run home run to left field and Edison Valerio came in to score as the Marlins went up 4-0.
During the top of the fourth inning, Valerio picked up a pair of RBI when he drilled a two-run home run deep over the left center field wall, and Yancarlo Franco came in to score to make it 6-0.
Flyers starting pitcher Josh Schaller threw five innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs, and walking six.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Marlins tallied seven runs, and right fielder Luis Rodriguez started the onslaught with a single to center field, scoring Richard Montiel to make it 7-0. The next batter, Franco, placed a RBI single to right field and Ricardo Mendoza came in to score.
Valerio ended the day with three hits, three RBIs, scoring four runs, and one walk during his four at-bats on Wednesday. Jesus Ustariz recorded two hits, scoring two runs, four RBIs, and two walks in three at-bats during Wednesday’s game. Marlins center fielder Lesther Galvan recorded three hits in his three at-bats with one RBI, one run scored, and drawing two walks.
The Marlins are now in the driver’s seat of the six-team field in Karlovac, Croatia. The Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (0-1) will play on Friday against Les Lions de Savigny at 4 a.m. EDT to decide seeding implications for the Super Round on Saturday.
Group A: BK Olimpija (CRO) 5, Vienna Wanderers (AUT) 2
BK Olimpijia starter Carlos Troncoso pitched a complete game in a 5-2 win on Wednesday in the first game of the European Confederation Cup against the Vienna Wanderers.
Troncoso threw nine innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, walking four batters, and striking out nine through 94 pitches.
In the top of the third inning, the Wanderers’ catcher Jerry Lacayo roped a single to center field scoring Andreas Lastinger to make it 1-0.
During the top of the fifth inning, the Wanderers extended their lead to two runs as Felix Zimmerle drew a bases loaded walk scoring Lastinger to go up 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Olimpija finally got on the board when Sven Anic reached on a fielding error by Wanderers second baseman Christoph Hoscher, scoring Petar Rumora to cut the lead to one run at 2-1.
The next batter, left fielder Kevin Volaric, roped a two-run RBI single to right field scoring Benjamin Paulic and Bartol Bosanac to go up 3-2.
Wanderers starting pitcher Andrew Silva pitched 5.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, walking three batters, and striking out four.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Olimpija’s Benjamin Paulic drove a two-run RBI single to left field, scoring Jorman Quijije and Rumora, extending the lead to 5-2.
Troncoso finished the complete game by getting Lastinger to ground into a 1-6-3 double play.
Day 2 – European Confederations Cup
Group B: Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (FRA) 1, Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz 7 (ESP)
The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz improved to 2-0 Thursday, beating Les Lions de Savigny 7-1.
The Marlins pitching staff combined to allow just three hits, one earned run, walked three, and struck out 16 on the second day of the European Confederations Cup.
Marlins starter Vincente Colasante threw three innings, allowing no hits, no earned runs, walking two batters, and striking out eight. Reliever Luis Gomes went five innings, allowing one hit, one earned run, walking one batter, and struck out seven to earn the win.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Marlins catcher Ian Peres launched a grand slam deep over the left field fence and Wander Encarnacion, Edison Valerio, and Jesus Ustariz all came in to score for a 4-0 lead right out of the gate.
Lions starter Firmin Hassed threw one inning, allowing two hits, four earned runs, walked two batters, and no strikeouts in their first game of the European Confederations Cup.
During the bottom of the third inning, Valerio roped a solo home run over the left field wall to go up 5-0.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Yancarlo Franco drove a two-run home run over the left field fence, scoring Nicolas Fernandes to go up 7-1.
The Lions pitching staff in total gave up 10 hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and no strikeouts during Thursday’s game.
Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (0-1) will play Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (0-1) on Friday at 10 a.m. EDT. Tenerlife Marlins Puerto Cruz (2-0) will play on Saturday during the Super Round with the time TBD due to seeding implications.
Group A: Hoboken Pioneers (BEL) 13, Vienna Wanderers 2 (AUT) F/7
The Hoboken Pioneers (1-1) won their first game of the European Confederations Cup beating the Vienna Wanderers (0-2) 13-2 in seven innings.
Pioneers starter Kevin Desmedt threw five innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, no walks, and striking out seven to earn the win.
In the top of the first inning, the Pioneers Drew Janssen doubled to left center field and Lucas Rizzi came in to score the first run of the game.
During the top of the second inning, the Pioneers put four runs on the board as Rizzi laced a RBI single through the left side of the infield as Jason Jie-Sam-Foek came in to score to extend the lead to 4-0. The next batter, Janssen, hit a single through the left side of the infield scoring Benjamin Goffaux to make it 5-0.
The Pioneers offense did not look back the rest of the way, tallying 13 hits and ending the game after the bottom of the seventh inning via the mercy rule.
Wanderers starter Lukas Inmann went 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs along with six unearned runs, walking two batters, and striking out one.
The Wanders defense allowed four errors in their second game of the European Confederations Cup.
Pioneers left fielder Xander Verspreet ended the day with five at-bats, two hits and three RBI. Pioneers first baseman Dennis De Quint had two hits, two runs scored, three RBI, and walked twice. Janssen had two runs scored, three hits, and drove in two in the Pioneers win.
The Hoboken Pioneers (1-1) will play their final game of the Round Robin on Friday against BK Olimpija at 11 a.m. EDT.
Group A: Astros Club Beisbol (ESP) 3, BK Olimpija (CRO) 0 F/7
Astros Club Beisbol (2-0) won their second game of the European Confederation Cup 3-0 against BK Olimpija (1-1) in seven innings due to darkness in Karlovac, Croatia at 4 Rijeke Baseball Field Karlovac.
Astros starting pitcher Yosbany Torres pitched seven innings, allowing four hits, no earned runs, no walks, and striking out eight batters during his performance.
The Astros got on the board in the top of the second inning when third baseman Edgar Rodriguez ripped a single to right field, scoring Blake Ochoa.
The next batter, catcher Jose Marrero, extended the lead with a two-run single to right field, scoring Exciardo Blanco and Rodriguez to make it 3-0.
Olimpija starting pitcher Pavao Karin received the loss, throwing seven innings and allowing eight hits, three earned runs, walking six batters, and striking out one.
Astros Club Beisbol will play their final Round Robin game on Friday against the Vienna Wanderers (0-2) before the Super Round starts on Saturday.