The European Cup Qualifiers started in four cities around Europe on Monday with the first games of the preliminary round. The tournaments, which determine four contestants, which will battle against the TEMPLIERS SENART (FRA) and the TENERIFE MARLINS PUERTO CRUZ (ESP) later this year for two spots in next year’s European Cups, last until Saturday.
Ostrava, Czech Republic
MGPU also won its third game at the Qualifier in Ostrava, shutting out VOJVODE 12-0. Evgeny Khazov struck out nine in seven scoreless four-hit innings for the win. M Monakhov went four-for-five with two RBI. Veshkin had four hits and drove in three.
In the second game of the day BREST ZUBRS suffered their first loss in the tournament. Aleksandr Trofimenko struck out 15 batters in a complete game four-hitter to lead BC JUADAS VIKINGAS to a 7-1 victory. He also excelled at the plate with two RBI. His battery mate Mickunas also drove in two. In the late afternoon game, the people in attendance saw a no-hitter.
Jon Jon Robles struck out twelve in six perfect innings to lead the ARROWS OSTRAVA to a 14-2 win in seven innings, their second victory in the event. Jiri Gal pitched the seventh and allowed two unearned runs to complete the no-no. Truesdale and Kubovcik scored three runs apiece.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Trnava, Slovakia
KNTU shut out OBUDA BRICK FACTORY 9-0 in game one on Wednesday. Maksym Lisnitsky struck out nine in a complete game seven-hitter. M Symchyna went three-for-five with three RBI. D Nelipa scored three runs.
Afterwards ALEXANDRIA used an eight-run second frame to beat KARLSKOGA 10-8. The BATS tried to rally in the end, putting runs on the board in five of the last six innings, but it was not enough. C Fetcu and A Opincarlu each drove in two. Every player in the starting lineup of ATLETICO scored at least one run. H Herron homered and crossed the plate four times for the Swedish vice champion. H Johansson went two-for-four with a homerun and three RBI.
Later in the day VINDIJA won their third match in three days, defeating host TRNAVA 3-2. B Prather went three-for-three with a double and two runs scored. Greg Harder struck out twelve in a complete game win. He gave up five hits, two runs (1 ER) and a walk.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Attnang-Puchheim, Austria
It was another day for lopsided wins in Attnang-Puchheim, Austria. In a matchup between undefeated clubs, last year’s Qualifier winner BERN CARDINALS crushed the hosting club MOSQUITO ATHLETICS 15-3. Johnny Perigos went three-for-four with a homerun, three runs scored and six RBI. Severin Fries conceded four hits, three runs (2 ER) and two bb in seven innings for the win.
KRANJSKI LISJAKI won their second game this week, a 17-7 pounding of the Croatian champion BC ZAGREB. Jesus Delgado drove in four. Aljaz Triler went four-for-five with two runs scored and three RBI. They put six runs on the board in the second and seven in the sixth. ZAGREB actually had a perfect start into the game, scoring four runs in the opening frame. But LISJAKI answered right away.
The BUFFALOES BLAGOEVGRAD opened the games against AINOS KEFALONIA with ten runs en route to a 21-4 victory. Petar Petrov hit a homerun. Krum Temelkov scored three times and collected four RBI. Martin Andonov was four-for-six with three runs scored and three RBI.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Antwerp, Belgium
In the highly anticipated match between the undefeated clubs HOBOKEN and MANNHEIM, prevailed the German vice champion 6-0 thanks to a complete game shutout by Rene Franke. He allowed just five hits and four runs, while striking out seven. Kenny van den Branden allowed twelve hits, six runs (5 ER) and three bb in 6 2/3 innings. Billy Hess led the offense with two RBI. Martin Dewald had three hits in the game.
In the morning game, the LAUSANNE INDIANS won by a ridiculous high final score of 21-20 against the WHITE SHARKS from Portugal. The SHARKS scored runs in eight of the nine innings and led 20-14 at the midpoint in the ninth. But LAUSANNE rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the frame to turn the score into their favor. A RBI fielder’s choice by W Pierot ended the contest in walk-off style. Shortstop Marte Torres went four-for-six with a homerun, three runs scored and nine RBI. J Casimiro scored five times and drove in four. J Silva, R Lopes and S Silva, the numbers one to three in the Portuguese batting order, scored four runs each. R Santo had four hits and four RBI.
In the Scandinavian duel between the champions of Finland and Norway, the PRETENDERS prevailed 5-4, thanks to four runs in the bottom of the ninth. L Lara capped the rally with a walk off RBI single. Kasey Kuhlmeyer struck out 15 in a complete game victory. He allowed eight hits, four runs (3 ER) and two bb in nine innings.