Groups for European Champions Cup set

The European Baseball Confederation (CEB) has drawn the teams for the two groups for the upcoming European Champions Cup which will be played in Rotterdam next year. Reigning champion Curaçao Neptunus will face two opponents from the Italian Serie A1 (recently the Italian Baseball Federation (FIBS) decided to fold the Italian Baseball League).

Neptunus will be in a tough group B with T&A San Marino, Fortitudo Bologna (2017 runner-up) and Draci Brno (champion of the Czech Republic) that earned a promotion to the ECC by winning the CEB cup last year.

The other Dutch representative and 2016 winner of the ECC, L&D Amsterdam Pirates, will be in group A with A.S.D. Rimini Pirates (current Italian champion and the runner-up in 2016), Heidenheim Heideköpfe (German champion) and Rouen Huskies (France’s champion).

The tournament that will be played from Wednesday, June 6 through Sunday, June 10. Neptunus will open its series of games vs T&A San Marino. L&D Amsterdam Pirates will start its tournament vs the Heidenheim Heideköpfe.

The tournament will have the following schedule:

Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Group A: L&D Amsterdam – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
Group A: ASD Rimini – Rouen Huskies
Group B: Curaçao Neptunus – T&A San Marino
Group B: CNF Unipolsai Bologna – Draci Brno

Thursday, June 7, 2018
Group A: Rouen Huskies – L&D Amsterdam
Group A: Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – ASD Rimini
Group B: Draci Brno – Curaçao Neptunus
Group B: T&A San Marino – CNF Unipolsai Bologna

Friday, June 8, 2018
Group A: L&D Amsterdam – ASD Rimini
Group A: Rouen Huskies – Heidenheim Heidekoepfe
Group B: Curaçao Neptunus – CNF Unipolsai Bologna
Group B: Draci Brno – T&A San Marino

Saturday, June 9, 2018
Winner Group A – Runner-up Group B (semi-final 1)
Winner Group B – Runner-up Group A (semi-final 2)
Number 3 Group A – Number 4 Group B
Number 3 Group B – Number 4 Group A

Sunday, June 10, 2018
Loser semi-final 1 – Loser semi-final 2
Winner semi-final 1 – Winer semi-final 2

The Italian participants have reinforced themselves with several players from the Dutch competition. Gilmer Lampe will come to Rotterdam with Fortitudo Bologna and A.S.D. Rimini Pirates will take Kevin Kelly with them. Two other players from the Dutch kingdom that will join Rimini are Phildrick Llewellyn and Cerilio Soleana.

The 2018 ECC will be organized by Curaçao Neptunus as part of the festivities because of its 75th anniversary.