Juan Mojica delivers a pitch for Draci Brno at the 2023 European Champions Cup. (Photo by Minke Faber/WBSC)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The World Baseball Softball Confederation’s European Champions Cup started Tuesday at Rob Hoffmann Vallei in Bussum, The Netherlands and Loek Loevendie Ballpark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The eight club teams in the tournament are playing in two separate groups. All WBSC Europe events are streamed on the WBSC Europe YouTube page.
Group A: Loek Loevendle Ballpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Untouchables Paderborn (GER) 4, Draci Brno (CZE) 2
Untouchables Paderborn scored four runs in the top of the ninth to beat Draci Brno 4-2 Wednesday. With no outs in the top of the ninth inning, Paderborn designated hitter Linus Nixdorf tied the game up at two with a RBI single to left center field, scoring Christiaan Beyers.
A few batters later, Ladislaus Landwehr ripped a two-run single to center field and Finn Bergmann and Luca Rammelmann both came in to score as the Untouchables went up 4-2.
Paderborn starting pitcher Quinn Dipasquale pitched eight innings allowing four hits, one earned run, walking three batters, and striking out eight during his performance.
Draci Brno starting pitcher Juan Mojica went eight innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, walking two batters, and striking out 11 in the loss. Draci Brno starting catcher Andres Angulo had an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the third inning that scored Filip Dubov to tie the game at two.
Untouchables Paderborn (1-1) will play the Amsterdam Pirates (0-2) today at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Group A: Loek Loevendle Ballpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1949 Parma Baseball Club (ITA) 7, Amsterdam Pirates (NED) 5 F/10
Parma improved their record in the European Champions Cup to 2-0, beating the Amsterdam Pirates on Wednesday 7-5.
Parma got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Luis Gonzalez hit an RBI single to center field that scored Stefano Desimoni.
In the top of the third inning, Parma extended their lead when Alberto Mineo ripped a double to left field, scoring Manuel Joseph to make it 2-0. A few batters later, Cesare Astori singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Alberto Mineo to make it 3-0.
Pirates starting pitcher Scott Prins got taken out of the game in the third inning during yesterday’s start as he just went 2.2 innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, one walk, and striking out two.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Amsterdam’s Denzel Richardson reached on a fielder’s choice by Parma shortstop Luis Gonzalez and Jorrit Penseel and Jason Jakobus came in to score to cut the lead to 4-2. A few batters later, the Pirates Kenny Berkenbosch ripped a three-run double to right field as Roelie Henrique, Denzel Richardson, and Tommy Van De Sanden came in to score to go up 5-4.
In the top of the ninth inning, Luis Gonzalez’ sacrifice fly to right field scored Joseph to tie the game at 5-5.
During the top of the tenth inning, Pirates third baseman Duco Nuijten overthrew first base on Parma’s Tommaso Battioni’s sacrifice bunt, allowing Riccardo Flisi to score from second base to give Parma a 6-5 lead. A few batters later, second baseman Noel Gonzalez lofted a sacrifice fly to right field and Battioni came in to score to put Parma up 7-5.
Parma starting pitcher Carlos Abreu threw five innings, allowing four hits, no earned runs, walking four batters, and striking out four. Parma relievers Danny Rondon and Ramirez combined for five innings. allowing one hit, no earned runs, no walks, and six strikeouts in the win.
Parma (2-0) will play Draci Brno (1-1) on Thursday at 8 a.m. EDT.
Group B: Rob Hoffmann Vallei, Bussum, Netherlands
Rouen Huskies (FRA) 2, Bonn Capitals (GER) 7
The Bonn Capitals got their first win of the European Champions Cup Wednesday, beating the Rouen Huskies 7-2.
In the bottom of the first inning, Capitals starting catcher Vincent Ahrens drove a single to right field and Terrell Joyce came in to score the first run of the game.
During the top of the third inning, the Huskies’ Dylan Gleeson ripped a two-run double down the right field line, scoring Yoel Jarreau and Martin Visaac to tie the game up at two apiece.
The Capitals’ Phildrick Llewellyn ripped a single to second base in the fourth inning and Daniel Sanchez came in to score to make it 3-2.
During the bottom of the sixth inning, Joyce ripped a ground rule double to right field scoring Erik Brenk, and the Capitals went up 5-2.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Joyce smacked a single to left, scoring Brenk once again to extend the lead to 6-2.
Huskies starting pitcher Thibault Mercadier went 4.2 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, walking five batters, and striking out six along with receiving the loss.
Bonn Capitals starting pitcher Sascha Koch went seven innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, walking two batters, and striking out seven.
The Bonn Capitals (1-1) will play HCAW (2-0) at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
Group B: Rob Hofmann Vallei, Bussum, Netherlands
HCAW (NED) 12, SKSB Arrows Ostrava (CZE) 0 F/7
HCAW remains undefeated at the 2023 European Champions Cup as they routed the SKSB Arrows 12-0 Wednesday in seven innings.
The HCAW pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts, allowed just two hits and walked one batter in the win. HCAW starter Kaj Timmermans threw four innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, walking one batter, and striking out two.
HCAW center fielder Jeandro Tromp had three RBI, with a bases loaded RBI walk and two RBI ground outs. Jair Van Borkulo hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning that capped a six-run outburst during the third.
Designated Hitter Quintin De Cuba hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth.
SKSB Arrows starting pitcher Marko Vykoukal received the loss, going three innings and allowing five hits, seven earned runs, walking two batters, and striking out one.
SKSB Arrows (1-1) will play the Rouen Huskies (0-2) today at 9 a.m. EDT.