The Federations Cup 2016 in Brno, Czech Republic started on Tuesday with victories by the Deurne Spartans, Sölvesborg Firehawks and host Draci Brno. Only the tournament winner secures a spot for their respective federation in next year’s CEB Cup.
SSHOR Moskvich (RUS) – Deurne Spartans Antwerp (BEL) 0-14 (7)
The reigning Belgian champion Deurne Spartans Antwerp shut out SSHOR Moskvich with a 14-0 win in game one at the Federations Cup in Brno. After a pair of scoreless frames, the Spartans scored in each inning between the third and the seventh with a seven-run rally to cap the high-scoring affair. Frank Alves Vilacha struck out 13 batters in five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks. Jace Droogenbroeck closed it out. Leonel Reina Viant went 3-for-5 with four RBI out of the leadoff spot. Nikita Lobanov got charged with the loss after issuing six hits, six runs and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Sölvesborg Firehawks (SWE) – Buffaloes Blagoevgrad (BUL) 9-1
Parker Talbert pitched eight strong innings to lead the Sölvesborg Firehawks to a 9-1 win over the Buffaloes Blagoevgrad in the afternoon game at MBS Stadium. He conceded only two hits, a run and two walks. Kent Karlsson closed it out in the ninth. At the plate Joel Johnson collected four hits and two RBI. Evan Porter scored three times. Alexander Blagoev was responsible for 14 hits, nine runs (7 ER) and two base on balls in six innings.
Draci Brno (CZE) – Apollo Bratislava (ROM) 12-2 (7)
In the evening host Draci Brno downed Apollo Bratislava 12-2 in seven innings. Nine runs in the third broke a 1-1 tie and also blew the score open early. Premek Chroust and Tomas Polansky, who had big doubles during the rally, combined for six RBI. Michal Ondracek drove in three. Radim Chroust pitched 4 2/3 innings, conceding five hits, two runs (1 ER) and a walk. He struck out eight. Richard Gotschall allowed six hits, seven runs (6 ER) and a walk in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Complete schedule, live play by play and stats are available through www.baseballstats.eu
A live stream is available through www.draci.cz/static/tv/
Photo by Draci Brno