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Men’s Softball European Super Cup 2023 - Official Payoff

The Oslo Alligators win the 2022 Men's Softball European Super Cup

The Oslo Alligators win the 2022 Men's Softball European Super Cup
28/08/2022
For the first time, the Oslo Alligators (NOR) won the Men's Softball European Super Cup, defeating the Stenløse Bulls (DEN) in the championship game in the first extra inning, 1-2. Hørsholm Hurricans (DEN) won the bronze medal.

After a long day of games affected by the rain, the championship game started a little after 22:00. Oslo Alligators (NOR) won their ticket to the final in the afternoon, defeating the Stenløse Bulls (DEN), 1-0. 

Thanks to the double elimination system, the Stenløse Bulls (DEN) obtained their spot in the final by topping the fellow Danish and defending champions Hørsholm Hurricans (DEN), 2-5, 2022 bronze medallists.

Gold medal game
It took eight innings to crown the 2022 Men's Softball European reining champion. The Oslo Alligators (NOR) topped the Stenløse Bulls (DEN) in the eighth inning, 1-2, to win their first continental title.

The Stenløse Bulls (DEN) scored in the top of the first when SIMONSEN Martin Munk hit a leadoff single, advanced to second on a passed ball, to third thanks to a defense choice, and eventually scored with two outs on a wild pitch.

From then on, the starting pitcher for the Norwegians, the Argentinian MAXIMILIANO Montero was in control of the game and did not allow any more runs. He will close the game with 8.0 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, and 13 strikeouts.

On the other side, pitchers HANSEN Kim Lunderød and KILPATRICK Bradley had 17 combined strikeouts but 4 hits allowed, including the long shot over the fence by MIGLIAVACCA Teo in the top of the third for the Norwegians to tie the game.

With the game tied until the seventh, one extra inning was necessary to crown the 2022 European champions.

The Danish reached third thanks to the sacrifice bunt by NIELSEN Mikkel Aarestrup, but JUAQUIN Dyron did not score: one strikeout and a fly ball closed the Bulls' attack. 

CARRIL Santiago Nicolas was placed on second base for the Alligators. GAROLINI Juan struck out swinging on a dropball on the ground but the Bulls had to throw to first to complete the out, giving the opportunity to CARRIL to reach third.

With two outs and man on third, SELLICAERTS Jarno hit a grounder on the pitcher who threw to first. Not in time, CARRIL scored and the Oslo Alligators won the Men's Softball European Super Cup for the very first time.

Access to the final
The sixth day at the Men's Softball European Super Cup started with the interrupted game from the night before between the Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes (DEN) and the Chomutov Beavers (CZE).
In a do-or-die battle, the Danish succeeded in advancing to the next game defeating the Czech, 7-9, to play in the next eliminatory game.

Soon after the Locos Břeclav (CZE) topped the fellow Czech Joudrs Praha, 4-8, in a game stopped by the rain in the fifth inning and advanced in the tournament.

The Hurricanes (DEN) managed to win again, 4-0, fighting against the Locos Břeclav (CZE). 

With the lower ranked teams battling to advance, the top 2 ranked teams, Stenløse Bulls (DEN) and Oslo Alligators (NOR) played for the ticket to the final: the Alligators won, 1-0, thanks to SHELEM, on base on an error, scoring on a double by SABATE.

In the last chance to reach the final, the Stenløse Bulls (DEN) faced the Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes (DEN). Despite a strong start by the Hurricanes scoring twice in the first, the Bulls won 5-2 after a two-hour battle, accessing the final and leaving the Hurricanes with the bronze medal.

Final standings:
1 Oslo Alligators (NOR)
2 Stenløse Bulls (DEN)
3 Hørsholm Von Holmbäck Hurricanes (DEN)
4 Locos Břeclav (CZE)
5 Chomutov Beavers (CZE)
5 Softball Club Joudrs Praha (CZE)
7 Brasschaat Braves (BEL)
7 Czech Republic (CZE)

All games of the Men's Softball Europe Cup are on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
All the pictures can be found on the Czech Softball Association's Flickr profile.
Results, stats, and standings can be found on the WBSC Europe website.

Cover photo by Grega Valancic