The powerful offense of Sweden and Germany’s superb pitching staff met in the final of the Germany Qualifier of the Under-23 European Baseball Championship B-Pool, with the result a low-scoring game that kept the fans in Paderborn on the edge of their seats until the very end. Earlier in the day, Belgium claimed third place convincingly over Poland, while Denmark earned its first win of the B-Pool in a matchup with Lithuania. The result ensured promotion to the next U23 Baseball Euros for Germany.
Championship
Both Philipp Kleehaupt for Germany and Sweden’s Olle Jerfsten were strong in the early innings, with the latter’s lone mistake in the first three innings a 1-2 pitch to Kilian Redle, which the German catcher deposited over the left field fence to start the second. A bout of wildness by Kleehaupt set up Simon Horne for a game-tying single an inning later, but the game was still 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth.
In that inning, Germany mounted a two-out rally after Darrion Richards daryingly laid down a bunt, beating out the throw from third. Recent Detroit Tigers’ signee Emilio Götz then loaded the bases on an another infield hit, before Elias Huber worked the count well and drew a free pass for the run.
That was all for either team until the sixth, by which point the Houston Austros’ Jona Widmann was the pitcher opposing Jerfsten. Moritz Köhler led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot to almost the same location as Redle. Alessandro Carrasquilla then lashed a triple to the alley in right center, scoring on a wild pitch. Widmann then finished the game—and his fourth frame in relief—with his best inning of work, striking out the side on 11 pitches.
The 18-year-old professional was aces on the mound, firing four shutout innings after entering with the score 1-1. Widmann surrendered just a single hit and a free pass, punching out four. Kleehaupt was solid himself, whiffing six in three frames, allowing three hits and two base on balls. Jerfsten took the loss, throwing 5.2 innings. Huber and Carrasquilla both finished with two hits, as did Victor Vahlberg (formerly Wahlberg).
Third-Place Game
Belgium set the tone early, with Nando Mostaert doubling home Adam Troch, who had reached on a single, and scoring himself on a wild pitch. Poland would get one back in the third on a Wojciech Zagawa double and a two-single by Adam Sarota, but that was all the Polish baseballers could managed against Sam T’siobbel (also written “Tsiobbel”) and the Belgian pitching staff.
T’siobbel allowed only an unearned run in 3.2 innings, striking out three. Jonas Belmans then got the next four batters in order, and Arthur Gonthier finished with a two-inning save, permitting no hits and two walks, punching out three. Mostaert and Troch each had two hits, the former scoring three runs and the latter crossing home twice and stealing two bags.
Placement Game
Fred Rasmussen fired a three-hit shutout for Denmark, and the Danish baseball squad managed just enough offense against Lithuania’s Braydon Titas to earn the Scandinavian country’s first-ever win at the Under-23 level. Competing in its first tournament, most of Denmark’s U23 squad would be eligible for an Under-16 tournament, and have improved as the event progressed.
Rasmussen struck out six in the win, scattering three hits and three walks. In two starts in the event, the left-hander registered a 2.70 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, surrendering only a .200/.304/.225 line to opposing hitters. At the plate, he added two hits, finishing with a team-leading .625 average. Max Gamarra added two hits of his own, swiping two bases, and Oliver Lindtner notched a triple and a walk. Titas allowed only one earned run on six hits and three walks, striking out five.
Tomorrow, we break down the awards and statistical leaders for the U23 Baseball Euros Germany Qualifier.
Box scores are available here [link]. Previous coverage includes: Day 4 [link]. Coverage of the U23 Baseball Euros Spain Qualifier can be found here [link].
Playoff Results
Aug. 8
Placing: Denmark 3 – Lithuania 0
Third: Belgium 8 – Poland 1
Final: Sweden 1 – Germany 4
Final Standings
| Team | W-L | RF | RA |
| Germany | 4-0 | 35 | 2 |
| Sweden | 4-1 | 49 | 11 |
| Belgium | 3-2 | 36 | 18 |
| Poland | 1-3 | 15 | 35 |
| Ukraine | 2-2 | 31 | 40 |
| Denmark | 1-3 | 9 | 35 |
| Lithuania | 0-4 | 2 | 36 |