German Academy and Eagles Praha won the Pony League European Zone Championship Tournaments and qualified for the Pony World Series

German Academy and Eagles Praha won the Pony League European Zone Championship Tournaments and qualified for the Pony World Series
23/04/2023
The PONY U-14, COLT U-16 Baseball, and COLT U-16 Softball European Zone Championship Tournaments took place in Prague, Czech Republic, on April 22 and 23, as qualifiers for the Pony World Series.

During the weekend, thirty-seven teams from different countries participated in the Pony League European Zone Championship Tournaments for the U-14 baseball, U-16 baseball, and U-16 softball categories.

In the PONY U-14 Baseball tournament, the German Academy emerged as the champion, with the Falcons Baseball and Czech Academy finishing in second and third place, respectively. Other teams that participated in the tournament included SBS Baseball Academy, London Archers, Lithuania, RP Outlaws, EAST Austrian Academy, Izrael, NL Oriols, NL Angels, Desant Mykolaiv, Future Stars, and NL Twins.

Alessandro Garavalia from Falcons Baseball was named the best hitter, while Pepe Stockhaus from the German Academy was awarded the best pitcher. The MVP award went to Emilio Götz from the German Academy.

The COLT U-16 Baseball tournament also saw the German Academy take the top spot, followed by NL Giants and London Archers in second and third place, respectively. Other teams that participated in the tournament were Czech Academy, NL Braves, Czech U15, NL Rays, SBS Baseball Academy, Angels Trnava, Poland, Izrael, Future Stars, and Vindija International.

Lorenzo Willem from NL Giants was named the best hitter, while Paul Höff from the German Academy was awarded the best pitcher. The MVP award went to Kenny Fermin from the German Academy.

In the COLT U-16 Softball tournament, Eagles Praha emerged as the champion, followed by Fun & Play Praha and SaBaT Praha in second and third place, respectively. Other teams that participated in the tournament included Piranhas Beroun, Blue Angels, SBS Academy, Joudrs Praha, Lithuania, and the Ukrainian teams, Ukraina 1 and Ukraina 2.

Amálie Kalčevová from Fun & Play Praha was named the best hitter, while Nikola Škardová from Eagles Praha was awarded the best pitcher. The MVP award went to Lucie Červenková from Eagles Praha.

Pony League Baseball and Softball partnered with WBSC Europe to work on the development of our sports in Europe.

“PONY Baseball and Softball is honored to be a baseball and softball game development partner with WBSC-Europe,” stated Abraham Key, PONY Baseball and Softball President and CEO. “We look forward to working closely with all of the European Baseball and Softball Federations to help grow the greats games of baseball and softball and create more opportunities for more youth in Europe.”

Later in the spring, Stuttgart, Germany, will host the PALOMINO U-18 Baseball category from April 26 to May 1. The BRONCO U-12 baseball will be played in Gijón, Spain, from May 26 to 28. And, the city of Bordeaux in France will host another tournament for the COLT U-16 Baseball.

Cover photo by Petra Šlencová Bílská