Pool play action at the 2019 Pony & Colt European Zone Championships in Prague, Czech Republic began today, as many teams competed in their first games of the baseball and girls softball spring seasons. Some teams proved they were already in mid-season form, while a few surprise teams excelled and started off the tournament on the right foot.
Colt 16U baseball:
Two-time defending European Zone Champion the Netherlands (Holland U16 A) picked up right where it left off from last year and came away with two wins by 20-plus runs. Catalonia, Spain, who finished in 14th-place at last year’s tournament, also finished the day 2-0 by picking up two, 10-run victories. In Pool B, Holland U16 C completed day one with two victories as well. The team jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings against the KMC Ambassadors of Germany and its pitching staff, comprised of Arjen Nijkamp, Sem Nijman and Nik Rijpstra, kept the German bats at bay through five innings, while only allowing one earned run, in a 5-3 victory. In Holland’s second game, the last game of the day, Caliste Jmar and Darnel Collins paced the Dutch offense with two-RBI singles each in a 6-3 victory over the Czech Academy. In Pool C, Lithuania rose to the occasion on day one and came away with two narrow victories, 9-8 over the Czech Republic’s U15 national team and the Belgium Academy 10-8. Danielus Kurbanbajevas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth to give Lithuania the win over the Czech Republic. A seven-run bottom of the second inning propelled Lithuania to its victory over Belgium, despite allowing seven runs in the top of the third inning. In Pool D, Holland U16 B ended day one at 2-0 as the group’s leader. The team started off the day hot, defeating Israel 13-2 in the early morning, but faced stiffer competition from the Berlin Academy in the afternoon. Tied at seven runs each with the 90-minute time limit set to end, Netherlands’ Dave Pronk came through with a game-winning single with one out and the bases loaded.
Pony 14U baseball:
Two-time defending European Zone Champion the Netherlands (Holland U14 A) nearly suffered a scare in the tournament’s first game of the day. The play of the game for the Netherlands came in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs, when Amarensio Franka smacked a triple, which scored Terrance Heemskerk from second base to give Holland a 6-5 lead that proved to be the final score. Franka closed the game out on the mound in the top of the fifth, as time ran out for Hrosi Brno of Czech Republic. Holland bounced back in its second game, defeating Poland 20-0. In Pool B, the German Academy and Euro Baseball Tour of Czech Republic each picked up a win. Israel, who finished in 10th place in 2018, finished day one as the leader of Pool C at 2-0. The squad had to hold off a late rally by the Future Star Academy of the Netherlands but won its first game of the day 5-4. Israel’s offense took advantage of several miscues by the defending World Series Zone Representatives from Vienna, Austria. It scored 15 runs over the final two frames, despite only six hits on the day, thanks in large part to walks, wild pitches, a couple of errors and hit batsmen. Ben Ami Rohm led the offense with four RBI in the game, while going 2-for-4 at the plate. France’s Bordeaux Academy impressed on day one in Pool D. The French came away with two decisive victories over Sweden (21-1) and Czech Academy (19-2).
Colt 16U girls softball:
Defending Zone Champion the Netherlands started slow to begin the day, picking up a 3-1 victory over Moscow, Russia, before heating up in the afternoon with a 20-0 victory over Croatia. The only other team to end day one at 2-0 was Catalonia, Spain, who came away with two one-run victories, first over Ukraine (9-8) and then Joudrs of Czech Republic (2-1). Annual contenders Arrows Ostrava and Beavers Chomutov picked up wins in Pool B. In Pool C, all four teams finished 1-1 on the day.
Pony 14U girls softball:
Four games were played on day one of the inaugural Pony 14U Girls Softball European Zone Championships. Lady Cozak of Ukraine, Joudrs Navy of Czech Republic and the Players Softball Team of Russia came away with double digit victories. To end the day, Joudrs Orange of Czech Republic beat the Stuttgart Reds of Germany 7-2.
Pool play continues tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. in Colt baseball, 9 a.m. in Pony and Colt girls softball and 10 a.m. in Pony baseball (all local time Prague). You can find the full scoreboards with links to the game stats and live streams here. Follow the tournament's official Facebook page for live updates and other content from Prague.