by Thommy Brolin
Eimantas Zickus, who last year had a very central position when Tranås reached the Swedish finals and only narrowly lost to Stockholm, are joining the 2007 Swedish Champions Karlskoga Bats for the 2010 season.
Left-handed starting pitcher Zickus dominated the Swedish league last year, posting a 1.66 ERA and .176 batting against over 108.1 innings pitched, and an 11–2 record. He had almost one strike-out per innings pitched, as he recorded 106 Ks and 39 BB over the season.
One of his two losses came against his new club Karlskoga.
In the playoffs his stats were even more impressive. He pitched 23 innings, recorded a 3–0 record while giving up only one run and holding the opponents to a .069 batting average. He struck out 19 batters while allowing 11 BB.
And the one run he gave up in the playoffs was unearned.
He is also considered a good fielding pitcher, as he committed only one error in 32 plays as a pitcher last year. He hit .242 with one double in 81 plate appearances.
Eimantas Zickus has to be considered as major acquisition for Karlskoga, who lost last year’s semifinal to would-be Champions Stockholm.
Karlskoga has reached the Swedish playoffs every year since 2004, and won the championship against Sundbyberg Heat in 2007. With the addition of Eimantas Zickus the always dangerous club from the west side of Sweden has enhanced their chances significantly.