Press release World Baseball Softball Confederation
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Italy and Czech Republic will represent Europe in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup® 2019 in Tainan, Taiwan.
Fourteen nations, the most ever, competed in the U-12 European Baseball Championship 2018 in Budapest.
World No. 15 Italy defeated No. 18 Czech Republic, 11-0, in the Final of the U-12 European Championship 2018, where the top two finishers qualified for the U-12 Baseball World Cup.
In the bronze medal match, No. 27 Russia shocked Europe’s top-ranked nation, No. 9 Netherlands, 10-3.
The two European representatives are the first nations to be entered into the 12-nation global battle For the Title of World Champion at the V U-12 Baseball World Cup.
“Congratulations to Italy and Czech Republic, who proved in Budapest to have the best U-12 teams in Europe this year, and next year they will compete against the best youth teams on the planet at the U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan,” said WBSC President Fraccari. “Congratulations also to Russia on earning the bronze medal. This biggest-ever U-12 European Baseball Championship showcases baseball/softball as a leader in youth sports. WBSC is proud to be the first and only international sports federation to stage an official World Cup at the U-12 level.”
Italy will make their first return to the U-12 Baseball World Cup since 2013, while Czech Republic finished in 8th Place at the last U-12 Baseball World Cup (2017).
Through the continental championships/qualifiers, the composition of the U-12 Baseball World Cup is as follows:
|
Continent
|
No. of Representatives |
| Africa | 1 |
| Americas | 4 |
| Asia | 3 |
| Europe | 2 |
| Oceania | 1 |
| Wild Card | 1 |
USA Baseball’s U-12 National Team has been the best youth team on the planet, claiming three consecutive World Championships at the U-12 Baseball World Cup (2013, 2015 and 2017).
FINAL STANDINGS – U-12 European Baseball Championship 2018
- Italy
- Czech Republic
- Russia
- Netherlands
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Belgium
- Ukraine
- Slovakia
- Great Britain
- Austria
- Poland
- Croatia