European Confederation Cup: Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz Roll Into Semis

The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz advanced to the 2023 European Confederation Cup championship game with a 13-1 win over the Hoboken Pioneers. (Photo by Berislav Bencetić/WBSC Europe)

The 2023 European Confederation Cup had its final day of Round Robin play at 4 Rijeke Baseball Field Karlovac in Karlovac, Croatia, Friday, with seeding implications for the semifinal round, which took place Saturday.

At the end of the European Confederation Cup, all the club teams in Europe will be re-ranked by eurotopteam.com. The European club rankings were last updated on November 16, 2022.

All WBSC Europe events are streamed on the WBSC Europe YouTube page.

Saturday June 10, 2023

Ranking Game: Vienna Wanderers (AUT) 14, Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (SUI) 3 F/7

The Vienna Wanderers went on to beat Flyers Baseball and Softball Team 14-3 in seven innings. 

Wanderers starting pitcher Fabian Hirnschal threw seven innings allowing four hits, two earned runs, no walks, and two strikeouts during his performance.

Wanders left fielder Andreas Lastinger had one hit, two runs scored, and three RBI in Saturday’s win, and designated hitter Felix Zimmerle scored four runs, recorded two hits, one RBI, and walked three times. First baseman Andrew Silva went 3-for-4 on Saturday, recording three hits, four RBI, and walked once.

Flyers starting pitcher Peter Sosa threw 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and six unearned, walking three, and striking out five. The defense behind him committed four errors. The Flyers allowed 11 hits, eight earned runs, seven walks, and struck out 11 during the 14-3 loss.

The Vienna Wanderers will play in the Ranking game tomorrow on the final day of the 2023 European Confederation Cup against BK Olimpija at 4 a.m. EDT. 

Semifinal: Hoboken Pioneers (BEL) 1, Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz (ESP) 13 F/7

The Tenerife Marlins Puerto Cruz beat the Hoboken Pioneers on Saturday 13-1 in the 2023 European Confederation Cup semifinals.

Marlins starting pitcher Julio Torrealba threw seven innings allowing three hits, one earned run, walking four batters, and struck out six during his performance.

Marlins first baseman Jesus Ustariz hit one solo home run yesterday in the bottom of the sixth inning during Saturday’s 13-1 win.

Marlins second baseman Yancarlo Franco, third baseman Wander Encarnacion, center fielder Lesther Galvan, and catcher Ian Peres were the four Marlins players that had two hits with two RBI in their semifinal win.

Pioneers starting pitcher Kevin Desmedt threw 2.2 innings allowing eight hits, six earned runs including three that were unearned, walking one batter, and striking out one.

The Marlins will play in the 2023 European Confederation Cup Championship game against Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge at 11 a.m. EDT. The Hoboken Pioneers will play against Astros Club Beisbol in the bronze medal game at 7:30 a.m.

Semifinal: Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (FRA) 4, Astros Club Beisbol (ESP) 1

Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge from the Division Elite of Championnat de France de Baseball moved onto the 2023 European Confederation gold medal game, beating Astros Club Beisbol 4-1.

Lions starting pitcher Gilbert Perdomo pitched seven innings, allowing eight hits, one earned run, no walks, and striking out 12 batters.

In the top of the first, Lions third baseman Ivan Acuna roped a double to left center field, scoring Tom Dahan.

During the top of the third inning, Astros starting Ricardo Hernadez balked during Leo Jiminian’s at-bat, sending Mathias Lescure to make it 2-0. A few moments later, Jiminian laced a single to center field and Acuna came in to score and make it 3-0.

The Astros got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Michel Rodriguez launched a solo home run to left field to make it a 3-1 game.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lions added another run when Jiminian launched a solo home run to left field to make it 4-1.

Lions relief pitcher Gedeon Coste closed the game out with a two-inning save, and the Lions beat the Astros 4-1 and are in the European Confederation Cup gold medal game for the first time in club history.

Tenerlife Marlins Puerto Cruz and Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge are appearing in their first European Confederation Cup gold medal game in club history.

The Astros will have a chance to win their second medal at the European Confederation Cup when they go up against the Hoboken Pioneers Sunday at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

The Marlins won bronze last year at the 2022 European Confederation Cup event and are looking to win their first gold medal in club history.

The European Confederation Cup championship gold medal game will start at 11 a.m. EDT. 

Friday June 9, 2023

Group B: Flyers Baseball and Softball Team (SUI) 4, Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (FRA) 14 F/7

The Les Lions de Savigny sur Orge (1-1) won their third game of the 2023 European Confederation Cup beating the Flyers and Baseball Softball Team (0-2) 14-4 in seven innings.

Lions starting pitcher Lillian Amoros threw seven innings, allowing six hits, three earned runs, walking three, and striking out nine through 101 pitches.

Lions center fielder Leo Jiminian recorded three hits in five at-bats, scoring one run and drove in 4 RBI’s during his performance.

Lions third baseman Ivan Acuna in four at-bats scored five runs, recorded three hits, two RBI’s and walked once.

Lions left fielder Jacques Boucheron in two at-bats recorded one hit and two RBI’s during Friday’s win.

Flyers starting pitcher Ferlon Perez threw five innings allowing nine hits, 10 earned runs, walked five batters, and struck out nine receiving the loss on Friday.

The Lions offense displayed 13 hits and walked six times in their first win of the 2023 European Confederations Cup and earned a spot in the semifinals.

Group A: Vienna Wanderers (AUT) 8, Astros Club Beisbol (ESP) 9

Astros Club Beisbol (3-0) won their third game of the 2023 European Confederations Cup beating the Vienna Wanderers 9-8, as Luis Galicia drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, scoring Tanner Donnels as the winning run.

The Astros got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Jorge Franco ripped a two-run single through the left side of the infield, scoring Roibert Decena and Edgar Rodriguez for a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, the Wanderers’ Christoph Hoscher doubled deep to left field and Andrew Silva came in to score to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Astros put up five runs in the bottom of the third, starting with Jose Marrero’s two-run single to the left side of the infield, scoring Edgar Rodriguez and Exicardo Blanco to go up 4-2. A few batters later, Astros left fielder Juan Dopazo came up with the bases loaded as he drew a walk, scoring Donnels to go up 5-2.

Wanderers starting pitcher Willi Pamperl struggled, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing four hits, seven earned runs, walking eight, and striking out one.

Astros starter Alejandro Martin threw seven innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, walked two, and struck out seven.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Wanderers scored five runs to tie the game up at eight, starting with Johnathan Ellenbogen’s sacrifice fly to center field that scored Christoph Hoscher to make it 8-4. A few batters later, Jerry Laycao drove a single up the middle and Alexander Resel scored.

Andrew Silva then roped a two-run triple deep to right field, scoring Andreas Lastinger and Lacayo to make it 8-7. Jakob Lazar tied the game up at eight with an RBI single to left field, scoring Silva.

Astros relief pitcher Engelbert Alvarez threw two innings and allowed six hits, five earned runs, walked one batter, and struck out three.

Wanderers relief pitcher Maurice Monot threw five innings, allowing one hit, one earned run, three walks, and striking out one.

Wanderers relief pitcher Luis Portner entered the game in the ninth inning to replace Monot, and he walked Galicia with the bases loaded and no outs, scoring Donnels. The Astros went beat the Vienna Wanderers by the score of 9-8, earning a spot in the 2023 European Confederation Cup semifinals.

The Wanderers offense had 13 hits during the one-run loss on Friday, and failed to record a win during the 2023 European Confederation Cup.

Group A: BK Olimpija (CRO) 4, Hoboken Pioneers (BEL) 10

The Hoboken Pioneers improved to 2-1 on Friday of the 2023 European Confederations Cup beating BK Olimpija (1-2) by the score of 10-4.

Pioneers starting pitcher Drew Janssen threw six innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, walking four, and striking out 11.

In the bottom of the first inning, catcher Benjamin Goffaux drove a solo home run to left field for the first run of the game for the Pioneers. The next batter, Lucas Rizzi, drove a solo home run over the left field wall for back-to-back Ding Dong Johnsons as the Pioneers went up 2-0.

During the bottom of the third inning, Lino Ballardi roped a two-run double to center field, scoring Dennis De Quint and Xander Verspreet to make it 5-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Janssen came up to help his own cause as well with a three run home run to deep over the left field wall as Goffaux and Rizzi came in to score to extend the lead to 8-0.

Olimpija starting pitcher Garrett Parkins did not fare well in his start as he threw 3.1 innings allowing three hits, six earned runs, walking six batters, and striking out three.

Pioneers relief pitcher Rizzi closed out the game pitching three innings from the bullpen allowing five hits, one earned run, no walks, and striking out two in the 10-4 win over BK Olimpjia to advance to the 2023 European Confederation Cup semifinals.