Fortitudo Bologna and the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe are ranked one and two in the Final Standings at the European Cup in Brno and will make the trip to the European Cup Final Four in Barcelona in September. Jesus Matos and Bologna shut out CB Sant Boi in the morning game on Sunday for win number four. Afterwards Heidenheim stunned the Dutch club Konica Minolta Pioniers with a big rally in the eighth and a 10-7 win, also their fourth this week. The Rouen Huskies concluded the tournament in the evening with a 10-8 victory over host AVG Draci Brno, ending their winless drought.
Fortitudo Bologna – CB Sant Boi 2-0
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Fortitudo Bologna picked up win number four at the European Cup in Brno and a ticket to the Final Four in Barcelona with a 2-0 shutout over CB Sant Boi on Sunday. Jesus Matos (W 1-0) led the way by going eight strong scoreless innings, allowing just a pair of singles. He struck out 13. Victor Moreno closed it out for the save. Eddy Garabito and Juan Pablo Angrisano delivered the necessary run support with solo homeruns in the opening period and the seventh frame. Jose Estebin Cruz (L 0-1) issued nine hits, two runs and five walks in seven innings.
Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Konica Minolta Pioniers 10-7
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The Heidenheim Heidekoepfe became the first German team to qualify for the European Cup Final Four in Barcelona by beating the Konica Minolta Pioniers 10-7 at the European Cup in Brno on Sunday. The outcome was decided in the eighth inning. The Dutch vice champion took a 7-6 lead in the top of the frame, plating three runs, two on a two-run single by Mark Duursma. But it was not enough as the German champion came right back, putting four runs on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Pinch runner Felix Stahlecker scored on a sac bunt by David Fuesser to tie the game. A throwing error by third baseman Mervin Gario helped Johannes Schaeffler crossing the plate for the go-ahead run before Robert Gruber brought home two insurance runs with a single through the left side. Chris Beck and Brandon Taylor went deep for Heidenheim.
Dusty Bergman (HEI) dominated through the first five innings, allowing five hits, a run and three walks. Jurjen van Zijl (PIO) conceded eight hits, four runs and two bb in five innings too. Martin Dewald (W 2-0), who had pitched a complete game on Saturday, came in for the last 2 1/3 innings, picking up the win in relief. Dave Draijer (L 0-1) was responsible for the winning run.
AVG Draci Brno – Rouen Huskies 8-10
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In the evening game on Sunday, the Rouen Huskies finally were victorious, as they beat host AVG Draci Brno 10-8. The French champion scored three runs in each of the first, fourth and ninth frame and a single run in the third. Brno couldn’t come back in the end and had to settle for the third loss of the week.
David Gauthier hit a homerun and drove in three for Rouen. Aaron Hornostaj went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Martin Schneider homered for AVG Draci and combined with Wayne Ough to drive in five.
Anthony Piquet (ROU) surrendered six hits, six runs and two bb in 4 1/3 innings. Giovanni Ouin (W 1-1) picked up the win with 2 1/3 scoreless one-hit innings in relief. Pat Ahearne (L 0-2) gave up 14 hits, eight runs (5 ER) and two walks in eight-plus innings.