August 17:
Ukraine – Italy 4-1
ITA 000 000 100 1 7 2 UKR 000 130 00X 4 9 2
The first day at the Under-21 European Championship in Brno, Czech Republic started with a big surprise, as the Ukraine stunned 2008 runner-up Italy with a 4-1 win in the first game of the tournament. Kostyantyn Korolev (W 1-0), who also pitched for the senior national team at the European Championship in July, stifled the offense of the Squadra Azzurra through nine innings. He allowed just one unearned run on seven hits and four walks, while striking out eight. He needed 134 pitches to complete the game.
At the plate, the Ukraine took the lead in the fourth on a RBI single by Olexiy Nezhiborets. One frame later RBIs by Roman Boyko, Arlem Borsch and Maksym Symchyna plated three more runs. Italy only was able to avoid the shutout with a RBI single by Pierangelo Cit in the seventh. Filippo Bertolini (L 0-1) surrendered seven hits, four runs (1 ER) and a bb in 4 1/3 innings for the loss.
Russia – Slovakia 15-0 (5)
SVK 000 00 0 2 7 RUS 723 21 15 16 1
Russia had a perfect start into the tournament, crushing Slovakia 16-0 in five innings. They already had put seven runs on the board in the opening frame. Kiril Chermoshentsev went 2-for-3 with a homerun, a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Nikita Monakhov also crossed the plate thrice. Nikolay Lobanov and Yury Bakalets combined for six RBI. Maxim Shevchenko, Denis Leonov and Evgeny Vorotyntsev (W 1-0) shared the work load on the mound, giving up just a pair of singles and a walk in five scoreless frames. Jakub Izold (L 0-1) took the loss.
Czech Republic – France 4-3 (10)
FRA 000 100 001 1 3 7 2 CZE 200 000 000 2 4 6 1
The Czech Republic needed a bases loaded walk by Martin Cervenka in the bottom of the tenth to beat France 4-3 in the evening game. A RBI single by Matej Sucha two batters earlier had tied the contest. France only was able to score once in the top of the first extra inning, courtesy of a RBI single by Maxime Lefevre. The French team had forced overtime when Andy Paz doubled in Brice Lorienne with two outs in the ninth. The Czech Republic had led since the opening frame. Marek Cervenka (CZE) was perfect through three frames. Joris Navarro (FRA) issued five hits, two runs and two bb in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight. Vojtech Jelinek (W 1-0) received the win; David van Heyningen (L 0-1) took the loss.
Schedule Day 2:
August 18:
- 13:00 Italy – Russia
- 16:00 France – Ukraine
- 19:00 Slovakia – Czech Republic
Complete Schedule, Stats and Live Scoring
Official Tournament Website
Photo: © Ferrini/FIBS