When Great Britain and Spain open the 2007 European Baseball Championships on Friday in Barcelona, a collection of the best pitchers in Europe will be on hand to battle for regional supremacy. The tournament winner also secures a spot at next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Dutch will be heavy favorites to win their fifth tournament in a row and Coach Robert EENHOORN has assembled a formidable group. Corendon Kinheim’s David BERGMAN (12-2) and Door Neptunus Leon BOYD (9-0) anchor a pitching staff that includes two U.S. minor leaguers – Shairon MARTIS (Potomac Twins) and Tom STUIFBERGEN (GCL Twins). BERGMAN was more than sharp in Kinheim’s regular season finale tossing six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball in a 10-0 win. He threw 10 shutout innings and earned Best Pitcher honors at this year’s European Cup in San Marino. BOYD won two games at last month’s World Port Tournament on home soil and also claimed the top pitcher prize.
Italy will rely heavily on the arms of Sandy PATRONE (8-3, 1.91) and Matteo D’ ANGELO (7-2, 1.94) in their quest for an Olympic berth. Teammates Frailyn FLORIAN (7 saves, 2.06) and Giovanni CARRARA (5-1, 2.81) will also be counted on to chew up some innings.
Spanish hurlers Albert MAGALLON, Pedro BELMONTE, Yoel HERNANDEZ, and Renny DUARTE will carry the hopes of the host nation on their shoulders. Spain pitchers looked impressive in an exhibition series against the UCLA Bruins last week.
Southpaws Andre HUGHES (10-1, 1.64) and Enorbel MARTINEZ-RAMIREZ (7-1, 1.21) along with Mainz ace Manuel MOLLER (10-1, 2.06) anchor arguably Germany’s deepest collection of launchers. Bonn’s Tim HENKENJOHANN (10-2, 2.09) and Cologne’s Dirk FRIES (8-4, 2.19) will also be key for a squad looking to improve on their fourth place finish two years ago.
The French duo of Samuel MEURANT and Nicolaus DUBAUT will be the main men for France while the hopes of the Czech Republic will hinge on the performances of ace pitchers Marian GAJDOS and Boris BOKAJ.
