European Champions Cup 2019: UnipolSai Bologna new European champion

With the elimination of Neptunus by Bologna, it was clear we would get a new European Champion. The question was who? It turned out that Neptunus was beaten by the future European champion, who won easily by beating L&D Amsterdam Pirates 8-0. 

Both opponents brought the pitchers they used in the first game of the tournament when they faced each other. But this time things went completely different. Raoul Rivero brought his A stuff and Pirates hardly got a grip on it. Kevin Heijstek, on the other hand, was hit hard and was touched for six runs (five earned). By the time he was replaced by Tom Stuifbergen, the race was already run.

In the top of the second, Osman Marval led off with a double, followed by a groundout that moved him over to third and two singles and a walk to load the bases. A double down the left field line by Francesco Fizzi, followed by a fielding error cleared the bases to make it 4-0.

In the fourth inning, John Polonius hit a bases-clearing triple to right field that cleared the bases. One inning later, Bologna would add another run to their total when Ericson Leonora led off with a double, moved on to third on a balk and scored on a sac fly hit by Alessandro Grimaudo.

Throughout the game, Pirates had some opportunities when they had runners in scoring position but every time Rivero got in the way. Eventually, Rivero pitched 7.2 innings for the win, in which he limited Pirates to four hits and struck out thirteen. He needed one hundred and twenty pitches to accomplish that masterpiece. Kevin Heijstek took the loss.

Osman Marval, Ericson Leonora, Alessandro Vaglio and Francesco Fuzzi all went 2 for 4. Marval hit two doubles and had one RBI, Fuzzi hit one double and drove in two.

Unfortunately, L&D Amsterdam Pirates could not add luster to their 60th anniversary by winning the European Championship. But in all fairness, when being outscored and outhit, like this, they never could lay claim to the title.