The European Cup Qualifiers started in four cities around Europe on Monday with the first games of the preliminary round. The tournaments, which determine four contestants, which will battle against the TEMPLIERS SENART (FRA) and the TENERIFE MARLINS PUERTO CRUZ (ESP) later this year for two spots in next year’s European Cups, last until Saturday.
Ostrava, Czech Republic
MGPU also won their fourth game of the week in Ostrava, turning an early 0-4 deficit against BREST ZUBRS into a lopsided 15-5 victory. N Monakhov scored three times. Evseev went two-for-six with two runs scored and three RBI. Afterwards BC JUADAS edged out AMZ KUTNO 11-10 thanks to a RBI single by Jankoitis (3-6, 3 runs, 4 RBI) in combination with an error by the right fielder in the bottom of the ninth. KUTNO had taken a 10-9 lead in the top of the same frame on a two-run single by Kolasinski. In the third match of the day the ARROWS prevailed 16-9, scoring eight runs in the last two frames. They are also 3-1 going into the last day of the preliminary round. Truesdale scored four times. Janko collected three RBI.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Trnava, Slovakia
At the probably most balanced Qualifier KNTU defeated VINDIJA 4-1. Both clubs now are 3-1, but still have to defeat the 2-2 teams ALEXANDRIA and TRNAVA on Friday to reach the finals. R Deikun went three-for-five with a RBI. Dmytro Lymarenko allowed just three hits, one unearned run and two bb in seven innings for the win. OBUDA BRICK FACTORY handed ATLETICO their second loss with a 9-2 win. J Fernandez led the team with three hits, three runs and two RBI. Zsolt Zalabai struck out 14 in a complete game win, allowing three hits, two runs (1 ER) and two bb. In game three of the day the ANGELS defeated KARLSKOGA 7-1 behind three hits, two runs and four RBI by Stefan Lopusn. Marcel Nagy gave up just one hit, a run and four bb in eight innings for the win.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Attnang-Puchheim, Austria
The BERN CARDINALS needed 13 innings to stay undefeated against KRANJSKI LISJAKI. A single by Marcos de los Santos plus an error helped to push the two decisive runs over the plate in the fourth extra inning for a final score of 5-4. LISJAKI had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the frame on a RBI single by Kenny Flythe. BERN had to score single runs in the last three periods of regulation to erase a 0-3 deficit. Player/coach John Baum pitched the complete game, allowing 15 hits, four unearned runs and four walks. He struck out twelve. Jesus Delgado punched out 19 in twelve innings, conceding four hits, three unearned runs and two bb.
The CARDS’ most likely opponent in the finals will be host MOSQUITO ATHLETICS, which crushed AINOS KEFALONIA 19-1. Harald Pointner went three-for-six with three RBI. Martin Libiseller scored three times. However the Austrian champion still has to defeat the BUFALLOES BLAGOEVGRAD on Friday. They defeated BK ZAGREB 6-4 on Thursday and improved their record to 2-2. Teodor Dimitrov struck out seven in seven innings, allowing four hits, three unearned runs and three walks.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Antwerp, Belgium
On the fourth day in Antwerp, Belgium three teams celebrated lopsided wins. The TORNADOS defended their perfect record with a 22-1 pounding of the LAUSANNE INDIANS. The allowed run was the first in the tournament by the pitching staff of MANNHEIM. The game was relatively close until the fifth, when the German vice champion put nine runs on the board. Rene Franke and Alex Szalay collected four hits each and combined to drive in seven. Martin Dewald (5-6) and Chris Falls scored four runs apiece.
Earlier in the day the OSLO PRETENDERS crushed the WHITE SHARKS 13-2. L Sandvik homered and drove in four. Kevin Kuhlmeyer scored three times. Ray Wells allowed one hit, a run and two walks in six relief innings for the win. The HOBOKEN PIONEERS shut out the ESPOO EXPOS 17-0 in the third game of the day. Tom Lorrentop went nine innings, allowing just four hits and a walk. He struck out nine. D de Quint received four RBI. Steven de Lannoy and D Ribbens combined for six runs at the top of the batting order. OSLO and HOBOKEN are tied with 3-1 records. The Norwegian champion will face the dominating TORNADOS on Friday. The Belgian host takes on the LAUSANNE INDIANS.
