Borgerhout Squirrels brings back Belgium to highest European level, the Netherlands must fear for one European ticket

 

In the final of the CEB cup (one level below the European Champions Cup), Borgerhout Squirrels from Belgium hosted the Bonn Capitals from Germany. In a very close game, the Belgian champion stayed at the right side of the score.

 The key to the Squirrels’ win was their pitching. Kenny van den Branden, who pitched in the Dutch hoofdklasse for several years, cruised through seven innings, giving up four hits and a walk and striking out five. His replacement, Oviedo Sanchez pitched two shutout innings in which he fanned five for the save.
But Riley Barr of the Bonn Capitals pitched a solid game as well. In a complete game effort, he only gave up two runs in the seventh as he allowed five hits and struck out nine. Barr had a perfect game going on until Steven de Iannoy singled down the right-field line in the fourth inning. But neither team got past second base until the seventh inning.
After Tim Veraghtert drew a walk, Steven de Iannoy doubled to center field and put runners in scoring position. Joannes Ochoa Blanco hit the game-winning single and drove in Veraghtert and De Iannoy for Borgerhout.

Just like the runs, the hits did not come cheap as Bonn collected four and Borgerhout five. Steven de Iannoy went 2 for 3 and was the best hitter for the Squirrels.

With this win, Belgium will participate in the European Champions Cup next year for the first time in decades.

Belgium will replace the Netherlands or San Marino as their representatives, L&D Amsterdam Pirates and T&A San Marino lost their games today and need to play to prevent relegation tomorrow.

T&A San Marino fell to the German champion Heidenheim Heideköpfe 6-5. San Marino blew a 3-0 lead as Heidenheim scored a run in the seventh, rallied for four runs in the eighth and scored once more in the ninth. San Marino scored one more run in the bottom of the ninth but its offense fell short.

L&D Amsterdam didn’t stand a chance for the second time this week. After a humiliating loss vs the Rouen Huskies on Thursday, the team was slaughtered by Draci Brno today as they lost 8-0.