After the 2006-year-old had to admit defeat to the Czechs at the 2021 European Championships conceivably and unhappily by 3-4, this year’s 2007-year-old was able to take revenge on their behalf.
The final on Sunday, May 29th, 2022 started on the Mound Lefty Jonah Widmann from Neuenburg Atomics and he and the field acted confidently, efficiently and without making mistakes. Second shot – we were home team – promoted Short Stop Alessandro Carrasquilla (Cologne Cardinals) immediately hit the first pitch of the Czech pitcher on the left/center field fence – a tailor-made start. center fielder Julian Zistl (Freising Grizzlies) followed with a 9-pitch walk, 1st baseman Felix Stroell (Freising) promoted the one base advanced by double steal Alessandro Carrasquilla for the first run over the plate. Jack Schuman (3rd Base – Bonn Capitals) and Jonah Widmann followed up with hard rockets and so the DBA All Stars, the German youth national team, were able to take the lead with 4 to zero.
But those who know the Czechs like we do know that things are only just getting started and that’s how it was. Our neighbors to the east never gave up in Staranzano either, changed the approach against Jona’s varied pitch arsenal and kept coming up with hits and a few runs, but the shield wall held up and we were able to hit every run of the Czechs with our own runs up to the 4th inning respond. The spectators and thus above all the players and parents of the Austrian and Hungarian national teams got to see top European baseball and it swayed back and forth. At 6-2, the lead took over after the 4th inning Find Keuper (Bonn Capitals) the pitching, continued from the right against the emphatically defending Czechs where Jona Widmann had stopped and in the last inning came 2 out and the winning run on the plate Jakob Huber (Gauting Indians), who had thrown very well in the preliminary round. In between, the Czechs had been able to get a run in every inning, the shield wall was under pressure, but the boys didn’t let themselves be deterred by Boca Chica – tried and tested, Finnpitchte strong despite a few hits, the field made the plays and than Jakob Huber ended the game with a strike out, the cheering was great.
The final was great, the Czechs also have a strong team, and I wish them every success at the World Cup in Hermosillo, Mexico. But what also remains is that the Italian youth national team, which in the past had always given Ronchi a large part of its value as a local hero for the whole trip to Staranzano, did not compete. My information from the organizer was that national trainer Burato had canceled only 2 weeks before the start of the tournament, but it was also reported from another reliable source that he never intended to gather his boys in his own country, in Staranzano, in a year without a European Championship and immediately informed the Staranzano Ducks when he took over the U15s from the Italian U12s as well.
Be that as it may……, the Czechs, who had come with the whole band of players and staff to compete against Germany and Italy in view of the World Cup preparations, were above it not amused.
Of course, our games in the preliminary round against a regional selection from the north, against Hungary, the hosts Staranzano Ducks and the Austrian national team also brought instructive moments for everyone involved, but we sometimes had difficulties and had to find solutions, ours mind right to get. All of our deployed catchers – that is Owen Fierlbeck (also 1st Base/OF – Legionnaires Regensburg), Felix Stroell (also 1st Base – Freising) and Finn Niemeyer – did a great job, shared the innings. pitchers Pepe Stockhaus (Cologne Cardinals) came when it counted, was very convincing.
All the 2008s, who will still be eligible to play in 2023, were also used a lot and sold well, were ambitious and committed: Pepe StockhausLHP Tom apple tree from the Cologne Cardinals (in Germany you can also say Cologne Cardinals), who also played very well 1st base and outfield, Kyran Norgren (2nd Base/3rd Base – Berlin Rams), David Wei (2nd Base – Legionnaires Regensburg), Finn Niemeyer (Köln), Emilio Goetz (LHP/OF – 2009-er- Paderborn Untouchables).
The two Regensburgers Robin Spies and Matthew Bullman (RHP in two games, otherwise also outfield) rounded off the harmonious shield wall and were convincing.
The fact that the starting pitcher of the Hungarians Marco Morua, son of manager Roberto Morua made life difficult for our boys for 4 innings, remains a positive memory and that the Hungarians had some good players in their ranks.
5 games in 4 days, a great double decker Big-League Coach with sleeper seats, a pleasant return trip with our great drivers Vladi and Peter, the hotel, the facility, the Schildwallspirit….was a good trip even if, as I said, the Italians were missing.
As usual, Heiko Schumacher controlled our running game, Clemens Cichocki the bullpen and the training sessions for the pitchers, Grit Keuper, as a guest trainer, took great photos and supported everywhere and Greg Norgren was helpful and spot on as you know him.
It also makes me happy that while the U15s are in Italy, we were able to hold a DBA/Westfalenbande tournament for two U12 and U13 teams in Schriesheim at the same time, in which the DBA coaches Dominik Buder, Henry Matzpreiksch and Dennis Stechmann, with the help of Chris Keuper, had everything under control, I hear.
My special thanks also go to the Schriesheim Raubritter and above all to Andrea Grave, who ensured that the tournament ran smoothly in the best atmosphere
