by Raimundas Kalanta
Traditional international SPORTO VILKAI CUP 2008 under 14 baseball tournament was played in Utena, Lithuania on August 12-16. This year five teams have participated: Ladera Ranch, CA (USA), Arrows Ostrava (CZE), Zubry Brest (BLR), Vetra Utena (LTU) and Sporto Vilkai Vilnius (LTU). Despite of initial intentions and due to different reasons teams from Sweden, Russia and Poland did not come this year.
This tournament usually has some specific rules which makes it distinctive from all other tournaments in Europe: all teams use continuous batting orders, all players on team roster must play defensively at least three consecutive outs, there is also a Pitch Count rule applied so no one pitcher can pitch more than 95 pitches a day with two days mandatory rest.
The tournament was won by Arrows Ostrava for the first time of their fourth participation. The Czechs won 5-4 against Vetra Utena in exiting two-extra-inning Championship game. The American team stayed third after beating Zubry Brest 9-4 and last place took Sporto Vilkai Vilnius who have sent their best players to Little League Senior Division World Series in Bangor, ME right the same dates.
The organizers of the event say big thank you to Tournament Co-directors and umpires Sam Grifith and Jeff Chapman from California, baseball friends of Utena district Valentinas Bubulis and Gintaras Sadaunykas and to all umpires, scorekeepers and ground crew, to all who helped to conclude this tournament smoothly.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the tournament: Military Sport Club of Lithuanian Army, Lithuanian Baseball Association, Mr. Arūnas Mačiuitis, companies Kitoks Požiūris and Logipolija as well as Lithuanian School Sport Association.
The next Sporto Vilkai Cup 2009 tournament will be held on August 11-16, 2009 with at least one team coming from USA. Make your next year plans.
