Super 6 Recap Day 3

20 september 2018

A small recap of all the games played at Day 3 of the Super 6 Baseball and Softball

 

Softball

Greece vs Russia

Both teams entered the game with no wins in their Super 6 records. Russia scored in five out of seven innings, they hit a total of 17(!) hits and with only one error, they didn’t let the Greek team with too many scoring opportunities. Efthimia Marinakis hit a double at the best possible moment, so her teammates on second and third could score. But except for this one moment in the 3rd innings, Team Greece didn’t score. Russia earned their first win in the tournament 7:2.

(Photo: Corrado Benedetti)

Great Britain vs Czech Republic

A scoreless game until the 6th. Veronika Peckova allowed three hits in the complete game. The Czechs hit seven times; four of those were hit in the 7thinning, however those didn’t result in a single run. IT was the 6th inning that decided this game. The Czech team put down a few bunts, and with bases loaded, Tereza Kubicova hit a sacrifice fly. With this win, Team Czech Republic becomes the only undefeated team in the tournament. But the real challenge is still ahead of them - they need to win or keep the score really low against the Netherlands tomorrow to make it to the final.

 

Italy vs Russia - Softball

When you hit a two-run homerun in your first at-bat you’re going to have a good game; just like Erika Piancastelli (2 for 2, 4 RBIs). Italy maintained productive offense throughout the whole game and earned 8 runs.  Batters from Russia were struggling with Greta Cecchetti’s pitches and hit only twice. Team Italy recorded their third win in the tournament, and with one loss (from the Czech game) they have to wait till the very last round-robin game to see if a spot in the final will open up for them.

 

Netherlands vs Great Britain - Softball

Both dugouts celebrated their first runs in the 3rd; Team GB hit three and scored one, Team Kingdom of the Netherlands hit two and scored one, as well. In the bottom of the 4th, Virginie Anneveld hit an inside-the-park homerun when the British right-fielder couldn’t make a tough catch. An error followed making the score 3-1. Great Britain came back in the 5th; two errors by the Dutch and a hit; game tied at 3-3. The Dutch took the game in the bottom of the 5th and didn’t let go from that point on. The final score was 8-3.

 

Not much has been decided in the softball tournament before the last day of the round-robin. Three teams have a shot on the final – the Czech Republic, Italy, and the Netherlands; if both Italy and the Netherlands beat Greece, only the last Friday’s game can resolve this puzzle. Winner of the GB against Russia will take the remaining top four spot in the bronze-medal game. Unless the Greek team (with no wins so far) surprises with a win.

 

Baseball

The Czech Republic vs Belgium

Game 1 of Thursday’s baseball tournament couldn’t have been more of a rollercoaster for either of the two teams. When Martin Muzik drove the ball over the outfielder to clear the bases and score three of his team mates, the Czech Republic was already leading 5-0. But then the Belgians unpacked their bats and went to work, scoring four with a homerun and three doubles in the second inning. The game continued in the same manner, running up the score board. While the Czech added another run in the third, De Quint launched another homerun for the Belgique to take the lead, but the Czech answered making it a 7-7 ballgame. With one more run in the sixth and a 2-run homerun in the seventh by Thomas De Wolf, it seemed like Belgium could walk away with a win, but the Czech Republic weren’t finished yet and answered with a Premek Chroust dinger and another run to tie the game: 10-10. Eager to win the first game of the tournament, the win was up for grabs, but it was the Czech who once again showed their power. Hejma started off the eighth with a homerun and after Martin Muzik took another big hack, the score was already 14-10. When Cervinka added another solo-shot for the 15-10, the Czech’s first win was signed, sealed, and after a 1-2-3 inning of closer Martin Schneider and a game time of 3 hours and 35 minutes, finally delivered.

(Photo: Glenn Gervot)

Germany vs Spain

In Thursday’s second game, Germany was longing for its first success with ace Markus Solbach on the mound. Spain’s leadoff hitter Luis Guillorme took Solbach deep and once again in this tournament showed what he has learned during his Major League career with the NY Mets. A triple and a ground out scored the second run, as the Furia Roja stayed hot over the rest of the game, when a 2-run shot by Richard Muntiel in the third made it 4-0. Daniel Alvarez showed a great performance as Spain’s starting pitcher, keeping the ball in yard. By walking a batter after a leadoff hit followed by a wild pitch, he didn’t really helped himself. Soon after the Germans could score their first run, making it 4-1 after three frames. After that, Alvarez found his rhythm allowing no further runs. Solbach could keep Spanish batters quite in the fifth and in the sixth, but when they saw his pitches the fourth time through the lineup, they could land one hit after the other, scoring four more runs. The game ended with a score of 9-1, pushing Spain’s record to 3-0 after three days.

 

Italy vs Netherlands

The clash between Italy and the Netherlands is clear classic. Both seeking to take the next step to the final of this Super 6 tournament. And as it is a good manner to bring a hostess gift, Italy started the game with a Colabello-Homerun, scoring the first two runs of the game. An inning later, Alex Liddi scored two more runs with a hard hit ball through the left side. 2-0 Italy. Starting Pitcher Alex Maestri first wore the jersey of the Azzuri in 2005, while never facing them on continental soil in a European Championship. While the Dutch stayed silent in the first, they eventually came through in the second. Sicnarf Loopstock added a homerun to his resume, making it 4-2 and one inning later his team mate Kurt Smith followed his lead with a 2-run shot, tying the game at 4.
 
In the fourth, the Dutch brought themselves into trouble. After a walk and a drop popup, they had runners on first and second. Giuseppe Mazzanti hit a stroke down the right field line for a double, taking back the lead in a hurry. Robel Garcia followed with a sac-fly for the 6-4. As Kalian Sams could hit another homerun for the host of this Super 6 tournament, Italy extended its lead right away after Liddi tripled and was later driven in.
The Dutch went into their last inning with a 2-run deficit, but didn't give. Both Kalian Sams and Sicnarf Loopstok had already proven their power with a homer each, but when their team needed them most, they, again could deliver and tied the game in the ninth to a 7-7, forcing the game into extra-innings.
 
The fans in the packed ETO ballpark of Hoofddorp got an extra portion of baseball. With the speed-up rule in place, Italy started with runners on second and first. After an Andrew Maggi single they were able to score one run but left out a chance to do more out of it. The Dutch laid down a perfect sac-bunt to move both runners in scoring position with one out. Dwayne Kemp attacked the second pitch he saw, drove it to right field and tied the game at 8. Randolph then followed with another single, ending the game at a score of 9-8. The crowd was cheering all along, as they had an happy ending, following their team’s third win.