The 2021 Regensburg Gateway Tournament wrapped up with the U18 national teams of the Czech Republic and the Netherlands bringing the event to a close with a 1-1 draw (box score) at lunchtime on Friday, July 2.
Three U18 national teams — host Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands — competed in Regensburg this past week, alongside a team of European talent, the Gateway All-Stars, in preparation for next week’s U18 European Championship in Macerata, Italy.
Georg Bull’s German U18 squad and the All-Stars played a three-game series beginning Saturday, June 26, to kick off the tournament, with the tourists taking two of three from the hosts.
The U18 Czech squad, which also competed at last week’s 40th Prague Baseball Week, joined the fray — alongside the Dutch — from Wednesday, June 30. It was the Czech squad that had the best offensive performance of the national squads over the the course of the event, with the Czech sluggers posting a collective slash line of .313/.426/.349 in the competition. The German squad, in its five games, slashed .231/.344/.299, with the Dutch bats managing just a .135/.256/.189 slash line.
The Netherlands managed to score only five runs in its three games, but it remained competitive thanks to strong pitching and defense, with only four runs allowed, including just one against the Czechs on Friday. The Dutch also blanked the Germans 3-0 on Thursday evening.
The U18 European championship begins on July 5 in Macerata, with the Czechs and Germans scheduled to meet again to start the event. The Dutch, meanwhile, begin play by taking on Team Israel.
In addition to Israel, the Dutch will also face Lithuania, Italy, and France in Group A. Group B includes Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Spain.
The tournament final is scheduled for July 11.
Regensburg Gateway Tournament Results
| June 26 | ||
| Gatway All Stars | 5 | |
| Germany U18 | 0 | |
| June 27 | ||
| Germany U18 | 5 | |
| Gateway All Stars | 12 | |
| June 28 | ||
| Gateway All Stars | 1 | |
| Germany U18 | 11 | |
| June 30 | ||
| Gateway All Stars | 3 | |
| Netherlands U18 | 1 | |
| Germany U18 | 13 | |
| Czech Republic U18 | 4 | |
| July 1 | ||
| Czech Republic U18 | 13 | |
| Gateway All Stars | 10 | |
| Netherlands U18 | 3 | |
| Germany U18 | 0 | |
| July 2 | ||
| Czech Republic U18 | 1 | |
| Netherlands U18 | 1 | |