30/06/2023 1 Minute Read

U-12 Baseball European Championship 2023 commences on Wednesday in Valenciennes, France

Eight teams start into the U-12 Baseball European Championship 2023, which will be played from July 5 to 9 in the French city of Valenciennes. As the only Baseball European Championship on the calendar the tournament is being played every year. In 2023 it doesn’t serve as world championship qualifying event, as the U-12 Baseball World Cup is being played this year.

Germany is entering the U-12 Baseball European Championship 2023 as defending champion, having beaten Czechia in a thrilling Gold Medal Game last year in Vienna, Austria.

Germany and Czechia are hoping for a finals return, but also are using this year’s U-12 Euros to prepare on a high level for the upcoming WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan City, Taiwan at the end of the month.

The preliminary round features two groups of four teams each. Germany is slotted into Pool A together with host France, Italy and the promoted Great Britain. In Pool B Czechia, Netherlands, Austria and Lithuania vie for a spot in the medal round. After the round robin the top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals on Saturday. The Gold Medal Game is scheduled for Sunday at 6pm.

Since 2006 the Czech Republic has won seven U-12 Baseball European Championships. However they haven’t raised the winner’s trophy since 2015. Since then, Germany won in 2016 and 2022. In 2017, 2019 and 2021 Italy celebrated the championship.

All games from the U-12 Baseball European Championship can be followed by live play by play through the WBSC Europe website.
Also all games are being live streamed through the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.

Photo by Theresa Bentz