Draci Brno and the Sölvesborg Firehawks will play in the final of the Federations Cup in Brno, Czech Republic on Sunday (2pm CET). Draci reached the final after going 5-0 during the preliminary round, defeating SSHOR Moskvich on Saturday. Sölvesborg beat the Deurne Spartans on Saturday to join Draci in the title game. The winner will secure a spot for their federation in next year’s CEB Cup. The Buffaloes Blagoevgrad edged out Apollo Bratislava in the third game on day five of the first round to secure Bulgaria’s spot in the Federations Cup.
Deurne Spartans (BEL) – Sölvesborg Firehawks (SWE) 3-10
In a meeting between two teams trying to reach the finals on Saturday morning, the Sölvesborg Firehawks scored five runs in the first and three in the fourth en route to a 10-3 victory over the Deurne Spartans. The first seven batters in the game reached base, as the Firehawks chased Spartans starter Morris De Vriendt (0.0 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 HBP) quickly. Daniel Johnson went 5-for-6 with two runs and a RBI to lead the Firehawks offense. Riugino Jonis collected four hits, a home run and two RBI for Deurne. Brian Johnson earned the win, allowing just one run on five hits and three base on balls in seven innings.
Buffaloes Blagoevgrad (BUL) – Apollo Bratislava (SVK) 14-13
In a thrilling back and forth affair the Buffaloes Blagoevgrad edged out Apollo Bratislava 14-13 in nine innings. Blagoevgrad first took a quick 7-0 lead after five innings. Apollo however managed a mammoth comeback, scoring 13 runs between the sixth and the ninth. They took a one-run lead with a four-run rally in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the frame the Buffaloes tied the game through veteran player-manager Yasen Nedelchev, who scored on an error, and won it on Petar Petrov’s walk-off RBI single. Ten different players scored for Bratislava. Teodor Dimitrov went 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBI for Blagoevgrad. Nedelchev (3 IP) also earned the win on the mound after blowing the lead in the ninth. Martin Roman got charged with the loss.
SSHOR Moskvich (RUS) – Draci Brno (CZE) 2-19
Draci Brno scored six runs in the second and ten in the fourth of a 19-2 rout against SSHOR Moskvich in the evening game on Saturday. Adam Hajtmar and Martin Schneider each went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Arnost Dubovy tripled and drove in four for Draci. Filip Capka and Ondrej Furko shared the time on the mound with Furko picking up the win. Pavel Maksimov was charged with 16 hits, 19 runs (13 ER) and six base on balls in four frames to take the loss.
Standings after the Preliminary Round:
1) Draci Brno 5-0
2) Sölvesborg Firehawks 3-2
3) Deurne Spartans 3-2
4) Buffaloes Blagoevgrad 2-3
5) Apollo Bratislava 2-3
6) SSHOR Moskvich 0-5
Complete stats, schedule and live play by play are available through www.baseballstats.eu
A live stream is offered through the website of host Draci Brno www.draci.cz/static/tv/