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 and BREST stayed undefeated on the second day of the European Cup Qualifier in Ostrava, Czech Republic. ZUBRS defeated VOJVODE 13-7 in the morning thanks to ten runs in the last three frames. The left side of the infield provided the bulk of the offense, as shortstop Novik drove in three, while third baseman Sladzinski scored three times. Leonov scored three runs for VOJVODE. In the next game MGPU shut out AMZ KUTNO 9-0. Kiril Chermoshentsev struck out nine in 7 1/3 scoreless innings. Evseev went three-for-four with a double, a walk, two runs scored and a RBI. The ARROWS concluded game two of the tournament with their first win, a five-inning 20-0 beat down of BC JUADAS VIKINGAS. Vojtech Jurdzin allowed just one hit and two walks in five innings. Zdeblo and Truesdale each scored four runs. Robles drove in four.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Trnava, Slovakia
After the second day of the competition in Trnava, Slovakia only BC VINDIJA VARAZDIN remains without a loss. They crushed OBUDA BRICK FACTORY 18-5, scoring half of the runs in the last two innings. B Prather went four-for-five with two doubles, four runs scored and two RBI. J Fernandez drove in two for the Hungarian team. In the second match KARLSKOGA built up a 7-0 lead after eight innings and stopped a rally by KNTU in the ninth in a 7-4 win. They also profited from four errors, which led to all seven runs of the Swedish vice champion being unearned. Ronny Frid allowed ten hits, four runs and five bb in 8 1/3 innings. In the third match the Romanian champion ATLETICO ALEXANDRIA won 9-6 against host TJ STU TRNAVA. The final score already was finalized after four innings, as both teams put runs on the board in six of the first eight half innings. Alexandru Lazar gave up eight hits, six runs (1 ER) and four bb in nine innings for the win.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Attnang-Puchheim, Austria
The Swiss and the Austrian champion each picked up their second win of the Qualifier in Attnang-Puchheim. The CARDINALS scored nine runs in the third and eleven in the fourth of a 28-2 pounding of the Greek club KEFALONIA. Vitus Huber, Miro Bussman and Jean-Daniel Sessiani scored four runs apiece. Marcos de los Santos and Johnny Perigos each drove in four. In the late afternoon game host MOSQUITO ATHLETICS defeated ZAGREB 2-1 thanks to a Harald Pointer’s RBI double in the top of the eighth. The Croatian champion had tied the contest just in the bottom of the seventh with a homerun by Matija Grofelnik. The A’s led since a RBI double by David Burns in the opening frame. Jason Emers struck out 14 in a complete game win, allowing just four hits, a run and two walks. In between the two games, KRANJSKI LISJAKI scored 13 runs in the first three innings in a 14-7 slugfest against BLAGOEVGRAD. Jure Sinko and Aljaz Triler combined for six RBI.
Complete Schedule (including box scores)
Antwerp, Belgium
The day in Antwerp, Belgium started with a no-hitter. Michael Otto and Jens Heymer combined to allow just two base runners, on an error and a walk, in seven innings of a 11-0 shutout of MANNHEIM against the ESPOO EXPOS. TORNADOS-pitching now has allowed just one hit in 14 innings, while striking out 23. Martin Dewald led the offense with two runs scored and three RBI. Their biggest test will come on Wednesday, when they will square off with the HOBOKEN PIONEERS, which also won their second game in two days. They beat up the WHITE SHARKS 18-1 behind three RBI each of S de Lannoy, D van Herck and D Ribbens. TJ Antonacci struck out seven in four no-hit innings to start the game. Wouter Schats picked up the win in relief. The OSLO PRETENDERS celebrated their first victory against the LAUSANNE INDIANS (6-4) in the third match of the day. Ka Kuhlmeyer collected two hits, three runs and a RBI. Emil Fjellvang struck out twelve in a complete game win.