2023 European Champions Cup: HCAW Shoves Parmaclima Aside in The Championship Game
The unthinkable has happened. With mainly the same core as the team won the Dutch championship with in 2022, HCAW beat the reigning European Champion Parmaclima in come-back-from-behind fashion.
Parmaclima 4 – 11 HCAW
After two scoreless innings, Parma took a 2-0 lead and appeared to be on the way of three-peating. In the top of the third inning, Kaj Timmermans hit Riccardo Flisi with a pitch. With two outs and Flisi still at first base, Noel Gonzalez doubled to left center field, and allowed Flisi to score. The next batter, Manuel Marcelo Joseph Timo, drove in Gonzalez for the 2-0 lead. In the following inning, Victor Draijer personally cut the Italian lead in half as he hit a solo shot to left field. But two innings later, Parma would add two more runs to its score when Cesare Astorri hit a two-RBI double down the left field line. The bottom of the sixth inning, was just what HCAW needed. The offense jumped on Parma’s relievers Danny Rondón and Carlos Manuel Abreu Contreras. With runners on the corners and no outs, Jeandro Tromp singled through the left side and drove in Delano Selassa. Then, Kevin Dirksen bunted both runners into scoring position before Quintin de Cuba drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Victor Draijer to score and to move up the other base runners. Shurman Marlin followed with a three-run homer to center field to hand the lead to the team from Bussum. After Bob van der Meer got on base on a single, Max Draijer drove him in on a two-run home run down the left field line.
One inning later HCAW scored a few insurance runs to secure the victory.
With runners on the corners, Quintin de Cuba doubled down the right field line and drove in Jeandro Tromp. After Parma intentionally walked Shurman Marlin, Max Draijer drew a walk that scored Kevin Dirksen. Delano Selassa drove in the final run of the game with a single to left field.
How did the pitching do? Despite giving up four runs, Kaj Timmermans kept his team in the game and eventually earned the win after six innings of work in which he allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out two. Dennis Burgersdijk took over in the seventh. After he was pulled in the semi-final after only two innings, his arm was still fresh enough to take the mound. The workhorse pitched two frames and gave up one hit and struck out two. Nick Keur pitched the final inning and struck out two.
Danny Rondón took the loss as he gave up the four runs in only 0.1 inning.
Victor Draijer was the best hitter for HCAW as he went 3 for 5 with one RBI and two runs scored.
It is the first European Championship title for HCAW and the sixteenth title for a Dutch club overall. 
In the other games that were played today, Amsterdam Pirates beat Bonn Capitals 12 – 6 to clinch the bronze medal. Draci Brno beat Arrows Ostrava 14 – 10 in the battle for fifth place. Untouchables Paderborn saved Germany’s spot in the ECC by beating Rouen Huskies in the relegation game, 6 – 4.
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