The preliminary phase at the European Cups in Brno and Hoofddorp has been in the books. DOOR Neptunus is facing Rimini in Brno and the Vaessen Pioniers are taking on T&A San Marino in Hoofddorp. The two winners will play a best-of-three series to determine Europe Champions Cup winner.
In Brno the last day of the first round started with a 5-4 win of Rimini over KNTU Elizavetgrad. A balk call in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Pirates to the win. KNTU just had tied the game in the top half of the frame.
In the second game of the day Mike Bolsenbroek struck out 12 in a gem, leading the Buchbinder Legionaere Regensburg to a 5-1 victory over the Templiers Senart. Johannes Jung drove in three.
In the evening match DOOR Neptunus kept its clean slate with a 7-2 win over Draci Brno. Benjamin Dille and Urving Kemp scored twice.
In Hoofddorp T&A San Marino clubbed the Rouen Huskies 8-2 in the first game of the day. Lorenzo Avagnina went deep. Paul Macaluso collected four hits, two runs and three RBI. Nicholas Morreale out-dueled Owen Ozanich for the win.
Kotlarka Prague edged out the Solingen Alligators 3-2, but in the end they will be in sixth place due to the TQB tiebreaker. Marek Cervenka and Thomas Macy stifled the German bats. Daniel Sanchez had three hits and two RBI for Solingen.
In the evening game the Vaessen Pioniers won 7-6 over Nettuno. The Italian record title holder tied the contest in the ninth, but a RBI fielder’s choice by Dé Flanegin made the difference in the tenth. Dirk van’t Klooster and Vince Rooi had two RBI apiece.
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