by Michal Hanus
This weekend five of the eight Extraleague teams played preseason games in Prague and Olomouc. In Prague in the Eltodo Cup started with KRC ALTRON and TEGOLA TITANS, both teams from the capital of the Czech Republic. In Olomouc in the Warm Up Cup the ARROWS OSTRAVA, BLACK HILL BLANSKO and the host SKOKANI OLOMOUC participated. The two tournaments showed the results of the club’s winter preparation and club’s staff works.
In Prague KRC ALTRON dominate during the whole event, only the final game against MOSKWICH from Moscow was finished in the middle because of heavy rain. KRC ALTRON is prepared for a very well season and they are one of strong aspirants for the playoffs this fall. On the other hand the young prospects from TEGOLA TITANS were very weak offensive wise and the loss to SOKOL HLUBOKA meant a fifth place finish and the negative surprise of the tournament. If the TITANS want to clinch a berth for the playoffs, they need to work very hard on their offense.
In Olomouc, the home team SKOKANI worked during the offseason very hard and winning the tournament reminded, that Czech baseball must include SKOKANY as an adept for the autumn playoffs. The ARROWS OSTRAVA finished in second and played very good baseball. The ARROWS will probably stay at the top in the Extraleague 2008. The third Extraleague team BLACK HILL BLANSKO finished fourth and it seems, that they fight again with TEGOLA TITANS for Extraleague preservation.
Results of tournaments:
Eltodo Cup – Prague
Krc Altron – Kotlarka 5-0
Moskvich – juniors CR 9-2
Tegola Titans – Kotlarka 2-0
Old Boys – Louny 1-7
Hluboka – Krc Altron 0-7
juniors CR – Old Boys 2-10
Kotlarka – Hluboka 2-9
Louny – Moskvich 4-14
Krc Altron – Tegola Titans 11-0
Moskvich – Old Boys 13-3
juniors CR – Louny 2-3
Tegola Titans – Hluboka 4-7
Moskvich – Hluboka 6-2
Krc Altron – Louny 21-5
Kotlarka – juniors CR cancelled
Tegola Titans – Old Boys 4-2
Louny – Hluboka 2-5
Krc Altron – Moskvich 2-2*
* interrupted after 4th inning due to heavy rain
Final Standings:
1. Krc Altron
1. Moskvich Moscow (RUS)
3. Sokol Hluboka nad Vltavou
4. Loko Louny
5. Tegola Titans Praha
6. Old Boys Praha
7. Kotlarka Praha
7. juniors CR
Warm Up Cup – Olomouc
Skokani B – Wanderers 6-13
Black Hill – Spiders 3-0
Arrows – Skokani B 7-2
Spiders – Skokani A 3-13
Wanderers – Arrows 1-7
Skokani A – Black Hill 13-1
Spiders – Skokani B 13-8
Wanderers – Balck Hill 8-7
Skokani A – Arrows 12-6
Final Standings:
1. Skokani Olomouc A (CZE)
2. Arrows Ostrava (CZE)
3. SUPERFUND Wanderers Vienna (AUT)
4. Black Hill Blansko (CZE)
5. Spiders Bratislava (SVK)
6. Skokani Olomouc B (CZE)