2022 European Champions Cup, Day 2

On the second day of the 2022 European Champions Cup in the former German capital Bonn, the following games were scheduled: L&D Amsterdam Pirates @ Draci Brno, T&A San Marino @ Arrows Ostrava, Arrows Ostrava @ Bonn Capitals (make up game for yesterday’s rainout), Parmaclima @ Heidenheim Heideköpfe, and Bonn Capitals @ Curaçao Neptunus. Once again the tournament was plagued by inclement weather.

L&D Amsterdam Pirates  9  –  0  Draci Brno
After yesterday’s loss against the Heidenheim Heideköpfe, it was a must win game for L&D Amsterdam Pirates. The team stepped on it and thanks to several big innings, the team brushed aside Draci (Dragons) Brno. 
Pirates opened the score in the second inning. A double by Rashid Gerard and a single by Tommy van de Sanden, drove in two runs. That was only the beginning of the anguish for the Czech pitching. In the fourth inning, Pirates struck again. An RBI-single by Denzel Richardson, two wild pitches with runners on third base, and a 5-3 groundout by Kenny Berkenbosch, drove in four runs to put Pirates in the driver seat. Also in the third inning, the Czech pitching could not stop the Pirates’ offense. A wild pitch, a single by Delanso Selassa, and a single by Rashid Gerad drove in three more runs. 
In the sixth inning, the Pirates offense exploded. Back-to-back solo homers by Sharlon Schoop and Kenny Berkenbosch, a bases-loaded walk, drawn by Denzel Richardson, a two-RBI single by Sharlon Schoop added seven runs to Pirates’ total. But when Kalian Sams stepped into the batters box, the weather gods didn’t want to cooperate again and the game was suspended. Eventually the game was called and Pirates won 9-0 after 4.5 innings. Winning pitcher was Mike Groen, who pitched two innings in relief. He allowed one hit and struck out two. Filip Čapka took the loss. In 2.1 innings, he allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and two walk, and struck out two. Best hitter for L&D Amsterdam Pirates was Rashid Gerard, who wnt 2 for 2 with a double and three RBI.

T&A San Marino  4  –  0  Arrows Ostrava
This game between the “Italian” and Czech champions, was a walk over for T&A San Marino. For five innings, Ostrava could keep pace with San Marino, that opened the score in the third inning on a sac fly to right field by Leo Ferrini. One inning later, San Marino added another run when Oscar Angulo hit a solo home run to center field. San Marino’s pitching kept Arrows Ostrava in check very well as they allowed only one hit through seven innings. 
In the sixth inning, San Marino struck again. This time the team scored twice on a single by Jesus Ustariz. In the eighth, a solo home run by Gabriel Lino added one more run to the score. With Jesus Ustariz at bat with a 2-1 count, the weather was the party pooper and the game had to be suspended. Also this game was called after five innings. Carlos Eduardo Quevedo Viso earned the win. He hurled six perfect innings and struck out six. Marko Vykoukal took the loss after six innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out one. Oscar Angulo was the best hitter for San Marino. He went 2 for 3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored. 

Arrows Ostrava  3  –  6  Bonn Capitals
Until the final three innings, the game between Arrows Ostrava and the Bonn Capitals was extremely close. Arrows opened the score in the first inning when Jakub Malik grounded out 6-3 and drove in Radim Novotny. Bonn followed swiftly by tying the game when Eric Brenk could score from third base on Daniel Lamb-Hunt’s single through the left side. In the following six innings, neither team did score. Bonn’s pitching retired the side in each of those six innings, but Bonn had some runners in scoring position but did not cash in. 
In the bottom of the seventh, Eric Brenk gave the Capitals the lead when he scored on Vincent Ahrens’ single. But a single by Matthias Schwarzinger in the eighth and a wild pitch in the ninth, allowed Ostrava to score two runs. Arrows sent Ondrej Satoria to the mound to secure the win, but this didn’t pan out well. A walk and consecutive singles loaded the bases before Vincent Ahrens homered to left field. 
Former MLB and NPB pitcher Dovydas Neverauskas earned the win. He pitched the ninth and gave up a run on two walks and struck out three. Ondrej Satoria took the loss after giving up the grand slam home run to Vincent Ahrens. 
Daniel Lamb-Hunt was the best hitter for the Bonn Capitals as he went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. 


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