In what amounted to a one-game playoff, Draci Brno advanced to the Final Four of the Baseball Champions League (BCL) Europe with a victory over Twins Oosterhout. The Czech Extraliga club finished second in the Regensburg Group behind Parma 1949, which finished undefeated after a commanding win.
Draci 9 – Oosterhout 3
The Twins jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but lost starting pitcher Misja Harcksen to an injury in the second. Brno’s first baseman Martin Pernička responded immediately with an RBI-single, the first blow of a monster day, in which he went yard twice and drove in five runs from the eight-hole. Filip Čapka earned the victory by tossing 6.2 frames of two-run ball, while seven Twins saw action on the mound. [Game Wrap]
Parma 18 – Regensburg 5
As it did in all three games, the hosts jumped out to an early advantage, but were undone by a big inning. With a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, Parma posted eight runs in the frame, capped by a grand slam from Noel González. Manuel Geraldo and Sebastiano Catellani also hit home runs for Parma, which iced the game via mercy rule after seven. González collected six RBI and two hits on the day, while Geraldo went 4-for-5. Naykel Cruz allowed only a run in four innings, whiffing six, and reliever Juan Carlos Infante Jr. earned the win. Thomas Kinskofer slugged a home run as part of a perfect 3-for-3 day for the Legionaere. [Game Wrap]
The Final Four will be played a single site currently under bidding on Sept. 26–27, featuring single-game semifinals and championship game.
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Baseball Champions League Europe [link]
BCL Regensburg Day 1 [link]
BCL Regensburg Day 2 [link]
BCL Rotterdam Day 1 [link]
BCL Rotterdam Day 2 [link]