Draci Brno – Untouchables Paderborn 2-4 (Box score)
Following an emotional walk-off win over the Amsterdam Pirates, Draci Brno lost 2-4 against the Untouchables Paderborn on day two of Group A action in Amsterdam on Wednesday afternoon. Paderborn scored four runs in the top of the ninth to turn an 0-2 deficit into the win. Ladislaus Landwehr had the eventual game winner with a two-run single. RBI singles by Luca Rammelmann and Linus Nixdorf had tied the game. Brno led since a RBI single by Andres Angulo and a run after an error in the third inning. Quinn DiPasquale pitched eight strong innings for the win. Jackson Solarte took the loss.
Bonn Capitals – Rouen Huskies 7-2 (Box score)
The Bonn Capitals defeated the Rouen Huskies 7-2 in the afternoon game on Wednesday in Bussum to clinch their first victory of the tournament. After Rouen erased an early 0-2 deficit with two runs in the third, Bonn scored in four of the following five frames to secure the victory. Terrell Joyce reached base in all five of his plate appearances, scored twice and drove in two runs. Eric Brenk and Vincent Ahrens also crossed the plate twice each. Dylan Gleeson drove in both Rouen runs with a double. Sascha Koch struck out seven in seven innings for the win. Thibault Mercadier got charged with the loss, as the Huskies fell to 0-2 in the tournament.
Arrows Ostrava – HCAW 0-12 (Box score)
HCAW celebrated their second blowout win in as many games, as they downed Arrows Ostrava 12-0 in the evening game in Bussum on Wednesday. Six runs in the third inning decided things early. Ostrava dropped to 1-1 in the tournament. Quintin De Cuba, Jair van Borkulo and Julian Goins hit home runs for HCAW and combined for six RBI. Jeandro Tromp collected two RBI. Nathan Diaby earned the win relief of strong starter Kaj Timmermans, who allowed just two hits in four innings. Marko Vykoukal got charged for seven runs on five hits and two walks in three innings to take the loss.
Amsterdam Pirates – ASD Parma 5-7 (Box score)
In a back and forth affair ASD Parma celebrated a 7-5 victory over the Amsterdam Pirates in the evening game on Wednesday in Amsterdam. Parma prevailed after ten innings. Parma took a quick 4-0 lead midway through the fifth, but the Pirates answered with a five-run rally, which was highlighted by a bases clearing double by Kenny Berkenbosch. But Parma tied the game on a sac fly by Luis Gonzalez in the top of the ninth to force extra innings. Parma regained the lead, when Tommaso Battioni placed a nice sac bunt with two strikes and Amsterdam threw the ball away. A sac fly by Noel Gonzalez provided some insurance.
Outlook
On Thursday the preliminary round at the Baseball European Champions Cup 2023 ends with four games. In the afternoon ASD Parma takes on Draci Brno at 2pm in Amsterdam. At 3pm in Bussum the Rouen Huskies host Arrows Ostrava. In the evening at 7pm there will be two German-Dutch matchups between HCAW and the Bonn Capitals and Untouchables Paderborn against the Amsterdam Pirates. In Group A Parma leads with a 2-0 record, leading Draci Brno and Untouchables Paderborn at 1-1 and Amsterdam Pirates at 0-2 ahead of the final day of the first round. In Group B HCAW leads the standings with a clean 2-0 record with Arrows Ostrava and Bonn Capitals following at 1-1 and Rouen at 0-2.
All games from the Champions Cup 2023 can be followed by live play by play on the WBSC Europe website and through live streaming on WBSC Europe’s YouTube Channel.
Photo by Thomas Schönenborn
