Arrows Ostrava and the Therwil Flyers will play in the final of the European Cup Qualifier in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Saturday. Both clubs improved to 4-0 on Thursday before squaring off against each other on Friday evening in a finals preview. The winner of the ECQ in Ostrava clinches a spot in next year’s CEB Cup for their federation.
Apollo Bratislava – Therwil Flyers 10-20 (7)
In a wild game the Therwil Flyers prevailed 20-10 over Apollo Bratislava in seven innings. It looked like a lopsided victory for the Swiss champion, as they led 12-1 midway through the fifth. But reliever Swen Leeman uncorked a whopping five walks and six wild pitches in the span of five batters to pull Bratislava back into the game. Emanuel Raouzeos had more command, but still gave up five more runs with Apollo getting within two runs. But the Therwil offense added eight insurance runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win. Jack Shannon hit a grand slam and drove in six overall. Raouzeos picked up four RBI. Lucas Hagberg went four innings to get the win. Michal Kristin got charged with three hits 11 runs and nine walks in four innings to take the loss. In total the game featured 30 runs, 17 hits, 26 walks, eight wild pitches, three balks and four hit batters.
SDUSOR Diamonds – MKS Stal Kutno 3-2
In the second game of the day in Ostrava it was a close contest. SDUSOR Diamonds earned the win by defeating MKS Stal Kutno 3-2. The Diamonds broke a 1-1 tie with a RBI single by Pavlo Syvyrynchuk and a RBI groundout by Yurii Shvets. A bases loaded walk in the top of the ninth made things interesting, but Gracjan Bielecki fouled out to first to end the game. Heorgii Hvrytshvili allowed five hits, two runs (1 ER) and two walks in 8 2/3 innings. Three relievers then were needed for the last out. Jakub Kolasinski struck out eight in six solid innings, but still ended up with the loss.
Arrows Ostrava – Dornbirn Indians 6-4
After winning the first three games due to mercy rule, Arrows Ostrava prevailed 6-4 over the Dornbirn Indians in the evening game on Thursday. A four-run bottom of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and decided the contest. Dornbirn was able to answer with three runs, but an insurance run in the eighth sealed the win for Ostrava. Ales Navratil went deep for Arrows, Joachim Frick for the Indians. Ondrej Satoria struck out 11 batters in six innings, allowing seven hits, a run and a walk to receive the win. Marko Vykoukal had seven strikeouts in 2 1/3 shutdown innings to close the door.
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