2023 European Champions Cup: Day 2

On the second day of the European Champions Cup, the two Dutch representatives HCAW and Amsterdam Pirates took on Arrows Ostrava and Parmaclima respectively.

HCAW  12  –  0  Arrows Ostrava
The Dutch champion only needed seven innings to clinch the victory. The two-time Czech champion did not stand a chance as it was limited to two hits. HCAW, on the other hand, collected ten hits. 
After a one-run first inning, HCAW blew the game wide open in the third inning. After back-to-back singles by Julian Goins and Delano Selassa, Victor Draijer drew a walk to load the bases. Jeandro Tromp also drew a walk that allowed HCAW to score its second run of the game. A 6-3 groundout by Kevin Dirksen drove in another run. After Quintin de Cuba got on base on a fielder’s choice, Victor Draijer could score the third run of the inning before Jair van Borkulo hit a three-run bomb to deep left field to give the club from Bussum a 6-0 lead. 

After HCAW scored one run in the fourth inning, Quintin de Cuba hit a solo shot in the fifth. When Bob van der Meer grounded out 5-3, Jair van Borkulo could score the second run of the inning. Julian Goins completed the inning with another solo home run. 
Eventually, HCAW would score one more run in the seventh to reach the final score. 

Manager Danny Rombley didn’t let his pitchers throw many pitches to save their arms. Kaj Timmermans pitched four shutout innings, in which he allowed two hits and a walk and struck out two. Relievers Nathan Diaby (two innings) and Jasper Elfrink (one inning) had perfect outings as the respectively struck out three and two. Nathan Diaby earned the win. 
Marko Vykoukal took the loss. In three innings he gave up seven runs on five hits and two walks and struck out one. 

The best hitter for HCAW was catcher Julian Goins, who went 2 for 2 with an RBI and four runs scored. 


Parmaclima  7  –  5  Amsterdam Pirates
After yesterday’s surprising loss vs Draci Brno, it was a must win situation for Amsterdam Pirates to stay in contention for a spot in the semi-finals. But they had to do that against the reigning European champion Parmaclima. 
After three innings, Pirates trailed 3-0 and it looked like they would be shoved aside easily by the Italians. But in the fifth inning, after Parma scored another run in the top of that frame, the Pirates offense caught fire. With two outs already and the bases loaded, a fielding error allowed Denzel Richardson to get on base and Jorrit Penseel and Jason Jakobus to score. After Tommie van de Sanden was walked intentionally to load the bases again, Kenny Berkenbosch hit a bases-clearing double to right field to hand the lead to Amsterdam Pirates. 

Nelmerson Angela kept Parmaclima at bay for four innings but had to surrender the game-tying run in the top of the ninth, when Manuel Marcelo Joseph Timo scored from third base on a sac fly hit by Luis Gonzalez. Pirates wasn’t able to push through, so the game went into extra innings. With a runner placed on second base, Tomasso Battioni bunted to advance both runners but a throwing error by Oliver van der Wijst allowed Parma to score the go-ahead run. With Battioni at third, Noel Gonzalez hit a sac fly to extend Parma’s score with a run. Anderson Alberto de Leon Ramirez remained dominant in the tenth inning and didn’t allow Pirates to score a run. As a result, he earned the win, while Pim Vijfvinkel earned the loss as he allowed two unearned runs. 

Best hitter for Parmaclima was Luis Gonzalez, who went 2 for 3 with two RBI. 

Other results of today: 
Untouhables Paderborn  4  –  2  Draci Brno
Rouen Huskies  2  –  7  Bonn Capitals


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