After four days of outlasting the best Pony 14U and Colt 16U baseball and girls softball teams in Europe, four teams came away with the four European Zone titles up for grabs and the Zone's automatic bids to PONY’s World Series events this July and August. In Colt baseball, the Czech Academy survived a late rally by Holland U16 B to win the championship 10-9. In Pony baseball, the London Archers overtook the two-time defending Zone Champions from the Netherlands in a 7-6 classic of a championship game, winning the Zone title for the first time. In Colt girls softball, defending Zone Champion the Netherlands repeated as the victors, after beating the Chomutov Beavers 12-2 in the title bout. In Pony girls softball, the Players Softball Team of Russia upended previously undefeated Joudrs Orange of the Czech Republic 4-3 in the championship game.
The Czech Academy receives the Zone’s automatic bid to the Colt World Series, Aug. 2-5 in Marion, Illinois. London receives the Zone’s automatic bid to the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pony World Series, Aug. 9-15 in Washington, Pennsylvania. Both the Netherlands and the Players Softball Team receive the Zone’s automatic bid to the first-ever PONY International Softball World Series, July 23-27 in Deer Park, Texas.
Colt 16U baseball:
Sunday morning, both the Czech Academy and Holland U16 B made easy work of their semifinal contests, defeating Holland U16 C 9-0 and the Berlin Academy 10-2, respectively. The game was proving to be a one-sided affair, until the Czech Academy exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead 8-4. Tadeas Zavadil’s grand slam started the rally for the Czechs. Later, Michal Kovala scored on a wild pitch. David Bauer scored Dominik Polgar on an RBI triple, and then Matej Vlach hit an inside-the-park homerun to complete the scoring in the Czech Republic’s big inning. Trailing 10-5 going into the top of the sixth, Holland gave one last strong effort for a comeback. Dave Pronk started the scoring, when he knocked in Jesse Velders from second on a single. After a fly out, Vincent Mevissen cut the deficit further, when he cashed in Luca Pastor and Pronk on a single. After the throw and an error on the play, Mevissen landed on third base. Jemayro Amatkarijo reached on an the Czech Academy’s sixth error of the day, allowing Mevissen to score and cut the lead to one run (10-9). Fortunately for the Czech Academy, it recorded a ground out and a strikeout to end the threat and win the championship. Vlach and Zavadil tied for a game-high four RBI in the contest.
Tournament MVP: Milan Prokop (Czech Academy)
Best Hitter: Jesse Velders (Holland U16 B)
Best Pitcher: Jan Konrad (Czech Academy)
Champion: Brno, Czech Republic (Czech Academy)
Finalist: The Netherlands (B)
Pony 14U baseball:
The Pony baseball championship game was set going into Sunday, featuring the two-time defending Zone winner the Netherlands and the London Archers, as both were undefeated. The game lived up the to the expectations and was one for the ages. The game was tied at four apiece going into the top of the sixth inning. Django Hendrickson led off the inning with a single and stole second. After a strikeout, Matthew Furst doubled on an 0-2 count, scoring Hendrickson and giving London a lead it wouldn't surrender. Charles Johnson singled, which allowed Furst to advance to third, and on the throw, Johnson took second base. Nitin Rao was intentionally walked to set up a force play. Gavin Crawford then hit a ground ball to Dutch third baseman Terrance Heemskerk, who tossed it home to get the force out at home. Immediately following the out, the catcher threw the ball away trying to make a play, but instead, the error allowed Johnson to score the British's second run of the inning. Ricky Sumii walked, once again loading the bases, and after a pitching change, Andrew Painter came through with a pivotal insurance run, when he singled home Rao to make it 7-4. A pop up ended the rally. Holland never quit and immediately responded with a lead off single by Amarensio Franka, who took second on an error. Maarten Smit walked, following Franka stealing third base during his at-bat. During the next at-bat, Smit stole second, but the batter lined out to second. Jamie Beerman came through with a run when he singled (7-5). Beerman stole second base and Ryan Hoogendoorn followed it up with a walk, setting up the bases loaded for Boris Hartman. On a 3-2 count, Boris singled, as Smit scored from third. The play of the game came when Beerman tried to score from second, on the hit, but was tagged out at home. A strikeout ended the rally, as London came out ahead by one run 7-6.
Tournament MVP: Matyas Pjontek (Czech Academy A)
Best Hitter: Terrance Heemskerk (Holland U14 A)
Best Pitcher:Matthew Furst (London Archers)
Champion: London (Archers), Great Britain
Finalist: The Netherlands (A)
(Please email photo to [email protected])
Colt 16U softball:
On championship Sunday, the tournament's final four came down to the defending Zone Champion the Netherlands squaring off with Moscow, Russia, the team that gave it its most competitive game in pool play. In the other semifinal, the Players Softball Team of Russia battled the Beavers Chomutov. Holland defeated Moscow 6-1 and the Beavers Chomutov won 10-8, respectively. In the championship game, Holland rolled to the title 12-2. The Players Softball Team took third place 6-3.
Tournament MVP: Amy Felix (Holland)
Best Hitter: Matylda Bubenikova (Eagles Praha)
Best Pitcher: Victoria Poleschuk (Players Softball Team 1)
Champion: The Netherlands
(Please email photo to [email protected])
Finalist: Chomutov Beavers (Czech Republic)
Pony 14U softball:
After upsetting the previously undefeated Joudrs Navy team on Saturday evening 5-4, the Players Softball Team of Russia once again came away with a one-run victory, 4-3 over Joudrs Orange, to win the inaugural Pony Girls Softball European Zone title. Joudrs Navy rebounded in the tournament's third place game, defeating the Dutch Lions 6-4.
Tournament MVP: Polina Gerasimova (Players Softball Team)
Best Hitter: Marketa Vlckova (Joudrs Orange)
Best Pitcher: Mariia Salamtina (Players Softball Team)
Champion: Players Softball Team (Russia)
(Please email photo to [email protected])
Finalist: Joudrs Orange (Czech Republic)
