Press Release Bulgarian Baseball Federation
After exactly 20 years of Southwestern dominance a new ruler has been crowned in the kingdom of Bulgarian baseball. Sofia Blues won the 2013 National championship overtaking Dupnitza Devils by a master 3-0 margin in the best-of-five final series and lifted the trophy for the first time in history.
And that’s how the trophy returned to the Bulgarian capital for the first time since Sofia Academics won the inaugural three editions of the modern days Bulgarian baseball championships in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Ever since there have been only two other ball clubs to win it all – Blagoevgrad Buffaloes, who made history with 18 titles in 19 years, and the Devils, who dethroned the Predominant in 2004 and 2012.
The Blues reached the crown with a heartbreaking 7-6 rally in Game 3 last weekend. Inspired by a hundred noisy fans in the crowd of Diana Stadium in Sofia last Saturday, the team managed to overturn a 6-0 deficit after five innings and swept the series with a four-run sixth, two-run seventh and a championship-run eighth. Dimitar Nassapov tied the game with a two-run home run and Filip Boyadzhiev scored the decisive run thanks to a throwing error in Dupnitza’s defence.
Everything else was done by Evgenii Chernozemsky (W 2-0) who went the distance from the mound. The 21-year-old phenomenon worked a complete game, allowing five hits and two walks, and throwing unbelievable 21 strikeouts. The Devils’ reliever Nikolay Alexandrov (L 0-1) took the loss after entering the game with one out in the sixth inning. Dupnitza’s starter Petyo Petkov took a no-hitter through five innings, but lost his control in the sixth when he allowed a run and left three runners on base.
The first Sofia Blues championship title was dedicated to the late club founder and Bulgarian Baseball Federation co-founder Emil Nassapov. Up till his death in 2008 the Blues reached the National finals twice (1998, 2005) but never won them. The only trophy in Nassapov’s baseball biography forever remained the 2007 Sofia Cup.
2013 BULGARIAN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
October 5th, Game 1
DUPNITZA – SOFIA 1-7
October 6th, Game 2
DUPNITZA – SOFIA 1-7
October 13th, Game 3
SOFIA – DUPNITZA 7-6
2013 FINAL STANDINGS
1. Sofia Blues
2. Dupnitza Devils
3. Sofia Athletic
4. Blagoevgrad Buffaloes
5. Sofia Academics
6. Sofia Yunak