The preliminary phase at the European Cup in Rotterdam, Netherlands concluded on Saturday with three games. Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam won its highly anticipated matchup against ASD Rimini to remain undefeated. With the loss by Rimini and Draci Brno’s win over the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe the Czech champion advanced to the finals. The Templiers Senart defeated KNTU Elizavetgrad in the third matchup of the day.
Draci Brno – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe 5-1
Draci Brno scored two runs in the sixth and two in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie in a 5-1 win over the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe on Saturday morning. Heidenheim erased an early deficit in the fourth when James McOwen scored on a wild pitch. But an Adam Hajtmar run after an error returned the lead back to Brno in the sixth. Jakub Hajtmar also came around in the frame. Two more runs in the eighth provided insurance. Edvard Matusevicius and Nathan O’Brian kept the Heidekoepfe to six hits, a run and a walk in nine innings. Luke Sommer got charged with six hits, three runs (1 ER) and two walks in six innings to take the loss.
Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam – ASD Rimini 5-3
Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam defeated ASD Rimini 5-3 to improve to 5-0 for the tournament. Neptunus erased a 0-3 deficit in the process. A two-run single by Rien Vernooij got them on the board in the sixth. Stijn van der Meer scored Benjamin Dille with a single in the seventh to tie the game. A two-run double by veteran Raily Legito sealed the win a couple of batters later. Rimini had scored twice in the second and once in the fourth to take a quick lead. Alexis Candelario, who struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings, dominated early, but probably stayed in the game too long, as he couldn’t retain the three-run advantage. Victor Moreno was on the mound for Legito’s double. Jorian van Acker picked up the win with a scoreless seventh. He relieved a solid Gijs Timmer.
KNTU Elizavetgrad – Templiers Senart 3-7
The Templiers Senart won its second game of the week, defeating KNTU Elizavetgrad 7-3 in the evening game on Saturday, ending the first round. Senart scored five of its seven runs in the first two frames. Rolando Merino once again had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Pierrick Lemestre drove in two. He also pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game. Leonel Cespedes, who had shut out Draci Brno on opening day, picked up his second win by allowing six hits, three runs (2 ER) and a walk in seven innings. Serhiy Shtapura issued five hits, five runs (3 ER) and two base on balls in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Outlook
On Sunday at 1pm the European Cup in Rotterdam ends with a final between host Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam and Draci Brno. The winner will qualify for the best-of-three European Champions Cup final series in August.
Final Standings First Round
Pos
|
Team
|
GP
|
WO
|
LO
|
AVG
|
GB
|
1
|
Curaçao Neptunus (NED)
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
1000
|
0
|
2
|
Draci Brno (CZE)
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
600
|
2
|
3
|
A.S.D. Rimini (ITA)
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
600
|
2
|
4
|
Heidenheim Heideköpfe (GER)
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
400
|
3
|
5
|
Templiers Senart (FRA)
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
400
|
3
|
6
|
KNTU Elizavetgrad (UKR)
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
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