On Monday the European Cup Qualifier in Athens, Greece started with the first three games of the preliminary round. The first round continues through Friday with the top two qualifying for the final on Sunday. The winner of the European Cup Qualifier will secure a spot in next year’s CEB Cup.
Zurich Barracudas – Panathinaikos BC 8-7
The Zurich Barracudas celebrated an 8-7 walk-off victory over Panathinaikos BC in the Athens opener on Monday morning. Athens took an early 7-3 lead midway through the fourth. Zurich was able to cut the deficit to a run in the innings afterwards, but still trailed entering the bottom half of the ninth. With two outs and a runner on second Chris Michals singled down the left field line, where the outfielder misplayed the ball and Harry Wischnewski and Michals scored to end the contest in walk-off style. Michals finished the game with four RBI. Roger Savoldelli earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Pete Sikaras took the loss.
Atletico Alexandria – Vienna Metrostars 2-10
Austrian champion Vienna Metrostars defeated Romanian title holder Atletico Alexandria 10-2 in the afternoon game in Athens. Vienna scored five runs in the three innings and then five in the fifth to clinch the victory. Tobias Schermer tripled twice and drove in three to lead the Mets offense. Dominik Loeffler went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. Jakob Simonsen issued three hits, two unearned runs and two walks in six innings to pick up the win. Dan Panaitescu conceded all ten runs on 14 hits and four base on balls in nine innings.
Buffaloes Blagoevgrad – Olympic School 42 18-8 (7)
The Buffaloes Blagoevgrad defeated last year’s Qualifier winner Olympic School 42 18-8 in seven innings. It was an intense back and forth battle in the first three frames with the lead changing three times. Blagoevgrad scored four runs in the first. Moscow answered with seven in the second. Then the Buffaloes added three in the second and five in the third. The latter rally decided the outcome and the Bulgarian champion added more runs afterwards. Hristo Dundalov scored four runs for the Buffaloes. Kiril Balabanski went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Evgenii Chernozemsky struck out three in two scoreless innings for the win. Anton Kuznetsov got charged with the loss.
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