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(Story & Photos by Marco Stoovelaar)
    Quick in Final ESF Cup; Adegeest, Pioniers eliminated
Nederlands
  STARANZANO / CASTIONS DELLE MURA (Italy) -
Quick Amersfoort has reached the Final for the ESF Cup during the European Super Cup Men Softball-tournament by coming from behind against Junior Alpina (Italy) and winning 3-2 in eight innings on Friday-evening (September 2).
In the final, Quick will meet the winner of the backdoor-game between Junior Alpina and Pessac Panthères (France).
Pessac played four games today, which it all won to reach the backdoor-game.
Earlier in the day, both Hoofddorp Pioniers and Adegeest were eliminated.
In the Super Cup-pool, Pioniers lost 6-3 to Stenløse Bulls (Denmark).
As it was the second loss for Pioniers, it meant elimination.
Later in the day, in the ESF Cup-pool, Adegeest lost 15-5 in five innings to Magos de Tenerife (Spain) and also was eliminated.
Defending champion Lupi Pro Roma (Italy) reached the Final of the Super Cup.
The second finalist comes from the backdoor-game bwteen Spectrum Praha (Czech Republic) and Brasschaat Braves (Belgium).
Other scores today:
Super Cup:
Stenløse Bulls (Denmark) vs. Eagles Praha (Czech Rep.) 8-1 (4½ inn.); Czech Under-23 (Czech Rep.) vs. Tempo Praha (Czech Rep.) 4-3 (8 inn.); Spectrum (Czech Rep.) vs. Czech Under-23 (Czech Rep.) 4-1; Hørsholm Hurricanes (Denmark) vs. Stenløse Bulls (Denmark) 9-14.
semi-finals
Lupi Pro Roma (Italy) vs. Brasschaat Braves (Belgium) 3-2 (8 inn.); Spectrum Praha (Czech Rep.) vs. Stenløse Bulls (Denmark) 8-1.
ESF Cup:
Pessac Panthères (France) vs. Cavigal Nice (France) 9-8; Gladsaxe (Denmark) vs. Magos de Tenerife (Spain) 8-15 (6 inn.); SK Medvedi (Croatia) vs. Pessac Panthères (France) 0-9 (5 inn.); Chicaboo's Stabroek (Belgium) vs. Pessac Panthères (France) 2-4.
semi-final
Magos de Tenerife (Spain) vs. Pessac Panthères (France) 2-6.
Highlights of these games
(September 2)
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Hoofddorp Pioniers vs. Stenløse Bulls
At Staranzano, Pioniers faced an early 4-0 deficit, did some scoring late in the game, but ended up losing 6-3.
With that, the team was eliminated for the Super Cup--final and has played its last game.
In the preliminary round, Pioniers was one of only two teams to stay unbeaten, winning all five games its played.
With that, the team became one of the contenders for a high ranking in the Super Cup-tournament.
However, the success didn't continue in the second round.
After losing its first game on Thursday, today's loss was its second, meaning Pioniers became the first Dutch team to be eliminated.
In the top of the first inning, Bulls scored two runs off of starter Jaudiel Olaiz.
With one out, Spaniard Juan Carlos Jarnes Macias singled, then Daniel Julenon homered.
Two runs were added in the second inning.
Dennis Nielsen led off with a single and stole second base, then moved on a bunt-single by Nicolas Werchmeister.
After the latter had advanced on a passed ball, Martin Simonsen delivered a 2-run single to lift the lead to 4-0.
In the top of the fifth, Bulls made it a 5-0 score on an error.
Veteran pitcher Kim Hansen dominated for the Danish team.
The righthander struckout 15 batters and gave up only six basehits.
After being retired in order in the first inning, Pioniers got on base in the second.
Enio Kwas led off with a single, then Gilward Wester singled with one out, but then Hansen struckout the next two batters.
In the third, Jefferson Delfina and Glennsig Polonius both walked with one out, but stranded on second and third base.
After being retired in order again in the fourth, Pioniers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to narrow the deficit to 5-2.
With one out, Jair Thompson singled, then scored when an error followed on a sacrifice bunt by Jefferson Delfina.
The latter moved to third base on a single by Glennsig Polonius, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Eldrick Dijkhoff.
The Bulls immediately added another run in the sixth on two errors.
Trailing 6-2, Pioniers managed to score one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With one out, Delfina singled and scored on a 2-out single by Enio Kwas.
But two runners were left behind and when a strikeout ended the inning and the game, it also ended the tournament for Pioniers.
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| Hoofddorp Pioniers - Stenløse Bulls 3-6 |
| R | H | E |
| Stenlø Bulls (Denmark) | 220 | 011 | 0 | - | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Hoofddorp Pioniers | 000 | 020 | 1 | - | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| pitcher Bulls | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Kim Hansen, W (3-1) | 7 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| pitchers Pioniers | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Jaudiel Olaiz, L (3-2) | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
|
| Angel Brunken | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
| Homerun: Bulls: Daniel Julenon (2)(1st,2-run,off Olaiz). |
Umpires: HP-Diego Vitale (Italy), 1B-Megan Hylton (Germany),
3B-Benny Van Nuffel (Belgium).
Official Scorers-Barbara Marangoni (Italy), Stefano Burlini (Italy),
Roberto Saletti (Italy).
Technical Commissioner-Libby Moss (Great Britain).
Starting Time-12:30 PM.
Time-2:00 hr.
Site-Campo Comunale, Staranzano (Italy).
Game Notes:
Weather conditions at game time: Sunny, 29° C (84,2° F); wind direction south;
wind speed 10 kmh (6,1 mph); wind force 1 Bft; humidity 39%. |
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Adegeest vs. Magos de Tenerife
At Castiòns delle Mura, Adegeest trailed 2-0 after the top of the first inning, then scored four runs.
However, the lead was briefly, as Magos went on to add 13 more runs and won 15-5 in five innings.
With the loss, Adegeest became the second Dutch team to be eliminated.
On the other hand, Magos reached the second semi-final of the ESF Cup-tournament.
In the top of the first inning, starting pitcher Rikkert Wienia walked lead-off hitter Luiger Orlando Pinto Suarez, then gave up a single to Roberto Camejo Fernández, who had a productive afternoon.
With one out, both scored on a triple by Italian Julian Andres Stefani.
Adegeest answered with four runs in its first at bat.
Magos-starter Carl Martinez Criado hit lead-off hitter Travis Havins, saw him advance on a wild pitch, then walked Sherman Laveist.
That led to a quick pitching change, as Jorge Luis Giraut Ponte took over.
However, Adegeest was successful in this first inning.
Giraut began with a wild pitch, then followed with a strikeout, but then gave up a runscoring to Jurnest Virginie.
After another strikeout, Giraut gave up a 2-run double to Martijn Timmer that gave Adegeest a 3-2 lead, followed by a runscoring single by Jaap Twisk that made it 4-2.
The lead was shortlived, as Magos reacted immediately in the second inning.
With two runners on base, Roberto Camejo Fernández homered to make it 5-4 in favor of the team from Tenerife.
From their, the game belonged to Magos.
The team scored three more runs in the third inning, then rallied for five runs in the fourth at bat.
There were six basehits in the fourth, including a 2-run single by Eumir Nielsen Daniel.
In the fifth, Roberto Camejo Fernández homered again (his seventh of the tournament) after Venezuelan Luiger Orlando Pinto Suarez had led off with a double.
This lifted the lead to 15-4.
Adegeest had one run left, which was scored in the bottom of the fifth.
Sherman Laveist then reached second base on an error and went on to score on a sacrifice fly by Jurnest Virginie.
However, a mercy-rule loss couldn't be avoided.
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| Adegeest - Magos de Tenerife 5-15 (5 inn.) |
| R | H | E |
| Magos de Tenerife (Spain) | 233 | 52 | | - | 15 | 16 | 2 |
| Adegeest | 400 | 01 | | - | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| pitchers Magos | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Carl Martinez Criado | - (*) | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 |
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| Jorge Luis Giraut Ponte, W (1-1) | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| (*) - Martinez pitched to two batters in the first inning |
| pitchers Pioniers | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Arjan Baanen | - (*) | - | - | - | - | - |
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| Rikkert Wienia, L (0-3) | 2 (**) | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
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| Arjan Baanen | 1.2 | 1 | - | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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| Jaap Twisk | 1.1 | - | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| (*) - Baanen was announced as starting pitcher, but was replaced by Wienia when top 1st inning began |
| (**) - Wienia pitched to three batters in the third inning |
| Homeruns: Magos: Roberto Camejo Fernández 2 (7)(2nd,3-run,off Wienia; 5th,2-run,off Twisk). |
Umpires: HP-Richard Silva (Austria), 1B-Franck Lautier (France),
3B-Susila Branislav (Czech Rep.).
Official Scorers-Fabio Zaccaria (Italy), Paolo Gasparini (Italy).
Technical Commissioner-Ami Baran (Israel).
Starting Time-4:10 PM.
Time-1:51 hr.
Site-Campo Parrocchiale, Castiòns delle Mura (Italy).
Game Notes:
Weather conditions at game time: Sunny, 29° C (84,2° F); wind direction south;
wind speed 5 kmh (3,2 mph); wind force 1 Bft; humidity 46%. |
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Quick Amersfoort vs. Junior Alpina
In an exciting game, Quick Amersfoort trailed 2-0 halfway the first inning, came alongside in the fifth and went on to win 3-2 after eight innings to reach the Final of the ESF Cup-tournament!
Junior Alpina now has to play in the backdoor-game on Saturday.
Homeruns decided the first part of the game, which was dominated by Canadian Quick-pitcher Shawn Koster.
The righthander struckout 21 (!) batters and gave up only three basehits.
However, two of these hits were homeruns that gave the Italian opponent a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Koster began the game with a strikeout, but then gave up homeruns to Venezuelan Rafael Angel Flores Sánchez and Marcello Malatesta.
A single by Eros Genero followed, but he was forced out.
Koster then closed with a strikeout.
As pitcher you have to be very convinced of yourself, as well as your defense when you look to some decisions in following inings.
Koster struckout the side in the second inning.
He began the third inning with another strikeout, but then walked Flores (who had homered) intentionally!
Hereafter, two more strikeouts followed.
Koster added three more strikeouts in the fourth.
In the meantime, Quick was silenced by Juan Ado Potolicchio.
In the first inning, Manuel Bouwman singled with one out, but stranded on second base, as two strikeouts followed.
In the second, Davy van Venrooij walked, but was caught stealing.
Potolicchio struckout the side in the fourth, but then saw Quick get into scoring position in the bottom of the fourth.
However, the team failed to score.
Manuel Bouwman led off with a triple, then was eliminated trying to score on a grounder to second base by Karel Kadečka.
A single by Anthony Beaumont followed, but two runners were left behind.
In the top of the fifth, still trailing 2-0, some daring decisions were taken, which could have turned the game definitively to the Italians.
Koster struckout the first two batters, but then walked Stefano Ocera.
Instead of pitching to homerun-hitters, Flores and Malatesta, Koster walked both intentionally, which loaded the bases.
Koster then closed the inning with another strikeout.
These bold moves and the eventual outcome must have stimulated Quick, as it came alongside in the bottom of the fifth inning, also by hitting two homeruns.
Revin Brooks led off with a homerun, but two outs followed.
Emeron Lourens then also homered to make it a 2-2 score.
After Koster again had struckout the side in the top of the sixth, the game was interrupted for a sun-delay, which lasted 19 minutes.
When the game resumed, three Quick-batters flied out.
In the top of the seventh, Koster added three strikeouts to raise his total in this game to 20.
In the bottom of the seventh, Davy van Venrooij led off with a single, but stranded, meaning the game went into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, with the tie-break runner on second base, Koster walked Flores intentionally for the third time.
The Italians stranded two runners, as a flyout, strikeout and groundout followed.
Quick then decided the game in the bottom of the eighth.
With Ron Dix as tie-break runner on second base, Emeron Lourens was walked intentionally.
Hereafter, Anthony Hosé entered the game as pinch-hitter and delivered a walk-off single that gave Quick the win and a spot in the final!
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| Quick Amersfoort - Junior Alpina 3-2 |
| R | H | E |
| Junior Alpina (Italy) | 200 | 000 | 00 | - | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Quick Amersfoort | 000 | 020 | 01 | - | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| (no outs when winning run was scored in the bottom of the 8th inning) |
| pitchers Alpina | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Juan Ado Potolicchio | 5 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
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| Diego German Drigani, L (1-1) | 2 (*) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - |
| (*) - Drigani pitched to two batters in the eighth inning |
| pitcher Quick | inn. | SO | BB | H | R | ER |
| Shawn Koster, W (4-1) | 8 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Homeruns: Alpina: Rafael Angel Flores Sánchez (4)(1st,solo,off Koster), Marcello Malatesta (1)(1st,solo,off Koster); Quick: Revin Brooks (1)(5th,solo,off Potolicchio), Emeron Lourens (1)(5th,solo,off Potolicchio). |
Umpires: HP-Megan Hylton (Germany), 1B-Jesper Arnø (Denmark),
3B-Benny Van Nuffel (Belgium).
Official Scorers-Francesca Valenti (Italy), Barbara Marangoni (Italy),
Roberto Saletti (Italy).
Technical Commissioner-Libby Moss (Great Britain).
Starting Time-5:30 PM.
Time-2:04 hr.
Site-Campo Comunale, Staranzano (Italy).
Game Notes:
 19-minute sun-delay halfway the sixth inning.
Weather conditions at game time: Partly cloudy, 30° C (86° F); wind direction south;
wind speed 8 kmh (4,2 mph); wind force 1 Bft; humidity 42%. |
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Highlights other games
...Belgian umpire...
...Benny Van Nuffel...
...did three games today...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Stenløse Bulls vs. Eagles Praha
Stenløse began the day with an 8-1 victory against Eagles, which was therefore eliminated, while the Danish team remained in contention for the final.
Leading 1-0 after the first inning, the team added seven runs in the next two at bats.
The Bulls had only five basehits, including two doubles by New Zealander Alfons Oveninikovas, who batted in three runs, while Martin Simonsen homered.
Pessac Panthères vs. Cavigal Nice
This ESF Cup-game between two French teams offered a lot of suspense.
Panthères took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by a 2-run inside-the-park-homerun by American Eric Herman.
But they then trailed 5-4 halfway the third at bat, as Nice scored four runs it the third via a lead-off homerun by Cyril Grimaldi and a 3-run homerun from Argentinian Facundo Carril.
In the bottom of the third, Panthères scored three runs to re-take the lead, 7-5.
However, that lead was erased in the top of the seventh when Nice scored three runs.
Now trailing 8-7, Panthères had something left.
They got the bases loaded quickly, then scored the tying run on a passed ball.
Hereafter, Marc Thevenon singled to bring in the winning run.
With that, Nice was eliminated, while for Panthères a long, but successful day began.
In this French match-up, there were two Dutch umpires, Bob Gieskens behind the plate and Gerrit-Jan van der Hoeven at first base.
They were joined by Danish umpire Jonas Kristensen at third base.
Czech Under-23 vs. Tempo Praha
The Under-23 Czech Team trailed 3-1 after six innings against Tempo Praha in the Czech match-up for the Super Cup.
Tempo had opened the score in the fourth inning on a homerun by Miluláš Klas, but the U-23 team came alongside when Jan Cabalka homered in the bottom of the fourth.
Tempo then took a 3-1 lead in the fifth when Karel Rozehnal hit a 2-run homerun.
In the bottom of the seventh, the U-23 team tied the score on a passed ball and a single by Martin Turek, but also left three runners behind.
They then scored the winning run in the eighth at bat on a basesloaded walk for Michal Bala, resulting in the elimination for Tempo.
Gladsaxe vs. Magos de Tenerife
Magos trailed 5-2 after two innings, but then rallied for six runs in the third inning and added seven more runs in the next three to register a big 15-8 win against Gladsaxe.
With the loss, the Danish team was eliminated in the ESF Cup-pool.
Magos collected 15 basehits, including three by Roberto Camejo Fernández and Ernesto Gonzalez Lombardi.
Camejo and Luiger Orlando Pinto Suarez both hit two homeruns.
American Johanny Reyes and Martin Schwartz Jensen homered for Gladsaxe.
SK Medvedi vs. Pessac Panthères
Panthères shutout Medvedi 9-0 to register its second win today in the ESF Cup-tournament.
With that, the team from Croatia was eliminated.
The French team rallied for six runs in the first inning.
Marek Volf led off the game with a homerun to set the tone.
Later, Anthony Cros added a 2-run double and another run was scored on a triple by Eric Herman.
A wild pitch and a grounder produced the other runs in the first at bat.
Winning pitcher Tomas Orlando Diaz Barrera gave up only two basehits.
...Enrique Javier plays for Brasschaat Braves...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Lupi Pro Roma vs. Brasschaat Braves (semi-final Super Cup)
Roma won 2-1 in eight innings, handing Brasschaat its first loss of the tournament.
With the win, Roma became the first team to reach a final, as it qualified for the all-deciding Super Cup-final on Saturday, while Brasschaat now has to play in the backdoor-game.
Last year, Roma won the Super Cup by winning the final against Brasschaat.
The Belgians scored a run in the first and third inning, respectively on a double by Dutchman Enrique Javier and a homerun by Argentinian Juan Malarczuk.
The Italians came alongside in the fourth on singles by Argentinians Manuel Godoy and Maximiliam Montero.
Brasschaat left two runners behind in the fifth and sixth inning.
Roma decided the game in the eighth on a basesloaded, walk-off single by Montero off of Roman Godoy Herbel, who struckout 10 batters.
Winning pitcher Maximiliam Montero struckout 15 batters and gave up only five hits.
Spectrum Praha vs. Czech Under-23
Spectrum eliminated the Czech Under-23 team in the Super Cup-tournament by winnig 4-1.
Spectrum scored two runs in the first and sixth inning.
A 2-run single by Tomáš Petr gave Spectrum the lead in the first at bat.
Singles by Ondř Lakomý and David Mertl raised the lead to 4-0 in the sixth.
A homerun by Krystof Effenberk then gave the U-23 team its lone run in the seventh.
Chicaboo's Stabroek vs. Pessac Panthères
In its third game today, Panthères won 4-2 against Chicaboo's to reach the second semi-final of the ESF Cup.
The French squad took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on grounders by Anthony Cros and Eric Herman.
The Belgians came alongside in the third at bat.
With two outs, Kevin Vervloet singled, then Mexican José Luis Garza Luna homered to tie the score at 2-2.
Panthères then decided the game in the top of the seventh inning.
With one out, Tomas Orlando Diaz Barrera homered to give the French team a 3-2 lead.
Hereafter, Anthony Cros singled and later score on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the seventh, winning pitcher Diaz Barrera hit the lead-off hitter of Chicaboo's, but followed with two strikeouts.
A grounder then ended the game, which led in elimination for Chicaboo's.
Hørsholm Hurricanes vs. Stenløse Bulls
Hurricanes led 8-1 after three innings, but lost 14-9 to Bulls, which therefore reached the second semi-final of the Super Cup.
On the other hand, the loss meant elimination for the Hurricanes.
Bulls scored once in the top of the first inning, then Hurricanes scored three runs in the bottom of the first.
A basesloaded walk for Jan Weichardt tied the score, then Anders Bendix Svane delivered a 2-run single.
In the second inning, Hurricanes added four more runs, then a single by Martin Holmberg lifted the lead to 8-1 in the third inning.
Stenløse started to come back from the fourth inning on.
The team then scored twice, then rallied for five runs in the fifth to come alongside!
In the fifth, there were only two basehits, but also two errors, which led to four unearned runs.
Back-to-back homeruns by Daniel Julenon and Kevin Stockford in the sixth inning gave Bulls an 10-8 lead.
Hurricanes got one run back in its sixth, but Bulls then added four more unearned runs in the seventh, as the result of two errors.
...Stefano Pieri handles the stats...
...during this event...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Spectrum Praha vs. Stenløse Bulls (semi-final Super Cup)
Spectrum won 8-1 against Stenløse on Friday-evening to reach the backdoor-game in which it meets last years silver medalist Brasschaat Braves from Belgium.
With the loss, Bulls was eliminated and finished in fourth place.
Spectrum opened the score in the first inning when Petr Vácha homered, but the Danish opponent came alongside in the second when Briton Kevin Stockford led off with a double and scored on a triple by New Zealander Joshua Niu.
A walk followed, but hereafter, Czech hurler Ales Jetmar struckout the next three batters.
The Bulls would get only one more baserunner in the remainder of the game.
The Czechs broke an 1-1 tie in the second inning when Tomáš Petr led off with a homerun.
The team then added two runs in the third at bat on a sacrifice fly and a grounder.
In the fourth inning, the Prague-squad took more distance, scoring four runs and reached the mercy-rule 7-run difference.
In the at bat, David Mertl delivered a 2-run double, while the other two runs were scored on an error.
Winning pitcher Ales Jetmar struckout ten batters and gave up only four basehits.
Magos de Tenerife vs. Pessac Panthères (semi-final ESF Cup)
Pessac completed a very successful in the evening by winning 6-2 against Magos de Tenerife, which was eliminated and finished in fourth place.
With that, the French won its fourth game of the day to reach the backdoor-game in which it will face Junior Alpina from Italy.
And so, Pessac is now one win away from the final.
The French squad opened the score in the second inning on a lead-off homerun by Anthony Cros, then doubled its lead in the next at bat.
Panthères decided the game with a 4-run rally in the fifth.
With two outs, Tomas Orlando Diaz Barrera doubled, then next batter Anthony Cros was walked intentionally.
But that decision backfired, as Eric Herman followed with a 3-run homerun.
A walk, single and hit batter then loaded then bases and another hit batter led to a run and raised the lead to 6-0.
Pessac left three runners behind, but had a comfortable lead by adding some additional runs.
Magos scored its lone two runs in the bottom of the seventh on two errors.
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