Gold Medal Game:
HCAW – ASD Parma 11-4 (Box score)

For the first time in Baseball European Champions Cup history the winner is HCAW. They defeated defending champion and record title holder ASD Parma 11-4 in the Gold Medal Game on Saturday evening in Bussum.

Parma was poised for the three-peat after winning in 2021 and 2022 and led 4-1 midway through the sixth inning. But a seven-run rally by HCAW turned the game around. Three more runs in the bottom of the seventh sealed the win and even a lengthy sun delay at the beginning of the eighth didn’t have any influence on the outcome.

Victor Draijer, Max Draijer and Shurman Marlin homered for HCAW and combined for seven RBI. Nine different players scored for the home town club. Kaj Timmermans pitched six innings for the win. Danny Rondon got charged with the loss.

Bronze Medal Game:
Amsterdam Pirates – Bonn Capitals 12-6 (Box score)

The Amsterdam Pirates defeated the Bonn Capitals 12-6 in the bronze medal game to finish in third place in the Baseball European Champions Cup 2023. After Bonn took a quick 4-0 lead after three innings, Amsterdam put a combined 11 runs on the board in the sixth and seventh to turn the game around and blow the score wide open.

Relegation Round:

Rouen Huskies – Untouchables Paderborn 4-6 (Box score)

The Untouchables Paderborn beat the Rouen Huskies 6-4 in the relegation round on Saturday morning. Rouen was poised to pick up their first win in the tournament entering the ninth inning with a 4-2 lead, but Paderborn used a four-run rally to secure the victory.

Draci Brno – Arrows Ostrava 14-10 (Box score)

In a high-scoring affair Draci Brno slugged by the Arrows Ostrava 14-10 in the relegation round on Saturday morning. In a back and forth battle Draci scored in seven of the nine innings played. Milan Prokop led the way by hitting a home run and scoring four runs overall. Arrows actually out-hit their Czech opponent 14-12, but was out-scored in the run department.

Photo by Louie Jay Sienders