Press Center - Eurobaseball 2007

Eurobaseball’07:

Netherlands defeats Great Britain and wins the European Championship

This morning the Dutch team defeated the British in 1st match of the 3 that will be played on the last day of the European Baseball Championship that has been played in Barcelona, Viladecans and Sant Boi since the 7th of September.

The match between Netherlands and Great Britain ended in 6-1 thus confirming the Dutch 5th consecutive European Championship and is qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Robert Eenhorn, the Dutch manager declared to be very satisfied with the tournament: “Some of the teams were pretty tough to beat and now we’ll have to work harder, it will not be as easy as the last 6 years. We’ll have to take everything serious, not only the pitches.” He said: "It is ridiculous that the organisation scheduled the championship game at eleven in the morning and a meaningless game between Spain and Sweden is played afterwards. I have never played a championshipgame at eleven in the morning in my entire life."

Great Britain will know after the tournament’s very last match if the metal of the team’s medal is silver or bronze. British Head Coach Stephan Rapaglia mentioned as key to their good results the support of some key players, like Ian Young and Brant Ust and “our quality pitching, quality defense and great leadership”.

In the other match, played simultaneously at Viladecans’ baseball stadium, Germany against France won by 7 to 1.

Today, at 17:00 Spain-Sweden, will take place at 5 pm in Montjuïc and the President of Catalan Government, La Generalitat, Mr.. Josep Montilla will do the ceremonial first pitch.

By the end of the 42nd and last match, with the qualification final, the awards ceremony will take place.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation. The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l’Esport, Barcelona City Council, Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO). Commercial sponsors are Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Eurobaseball day 8: Victories for Netherlands, Great Britain and Spain

The 7th day has also been the final day for some of the 12 participating teams in the European Baseball Championship that is being disputed in Barcelona, Spain.

Italy, initially one of the favorite teams, defeated the Czech Republic and is positioned on the 7th position.

The match between Croatia and Ukraine ended with the 9th position for Croatia that won with 2 to 1 after a long match with 13 innings, as the normal 9 ended with a draw at 1 run.

Austria, on the other hand, was the last team and leaves for home without any victory, after losing out to Russia, who got its first triumph, by 7 to 2.

Spain, the hosting country, will start the final round tomorrow, playing against Germany, and the other finalists will also get back on the field: Sweden–Great Britain and Netherlands–France are the other matches that will keep up the tension in the baseball stadiums of Barcelona and nearby Viladecans.

The final matches of the European Championship will take place in the baseball fields in Barcelona and Viladecans.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation. The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l’Esport, Barcelona City Council, Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO). Commercial sponsors are Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Netherlands , Germany and Sweden Group A and Great Britain , Spain and France Group B will be in the final tour of the European Baseball Championship

Netherlands , Germany and Sweden Group A and Great Britain , Spain and France Group B will be in the final tour of the European Baseball Championship Barcelona,

Netherlands qualifies in the 1st position of Group A as the only team that has not been defeated in the European Baseball Championship, that is being played in Spanish cities Barcelona, Viladecans and Sant Boi until September 16th. Germany that won against the Czech Republic had 4 victories and the 2nd position and Sweden also got another triumph over Austria and, with 3 successful matches, got the 3 rd position in its group. In Group B, the qualification has been tightly disputed. Both Great Britain and Spain have achieved 4 victories while France and Spain have 3 each.

Tomorrow will the 3 matches that decide the qualification from the 7 th to the 12 th position be played. The countries participating are: Italy , Czech Republic , Croatia , Ukraine , Austria and Russia . On Friday 14 th the final round of matches will begin: Sweden-Great Britain (11:00 Viladecans); Netherlands-France (11:00 Montjuïc-Barcelona) and Germany-Spain (19:00 Viladecans).

The European Championship will take place in the baseball fields in Barcelona , Viladecans and Sant Boi the 16 th of September.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation .

The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l'Esport , Barcelona City Council , Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO) .

Commercial sponsors are  Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Protest Dutch national team

The Dutch national team protests officially to the technical committee of the CEB (European Baseball Committee) against the participation of Giovanni Carrara, who is playing for Italy . Carrara played for Venezulea against Cuba during the World Baseball Classic in 2006. According to the rules of the CEB a player is not allowed to compete for a different country within a period of three years.

Carrara was the starting pitching for Italy against Great-Brittain Monday evening.

During the third day of the European Baseball Championship two matches were special: Spain defeated Ukraine by 5-4 and Italy lost 1-5 against France.

The Spanish selection almost lost its match against Ukraine, one of the most attainable among the 12 participants, while the Italians, one of the favorites, lost against a French team that is growing at an amazing speed.

Spain’s coach, Jake Molina, had adviced, before the start of the tournament: "Watch out for Great Britain, France and Germany” and he turned out to be right for now because the 3 teams, after playing 2 matches each, are still unbeaten.

Now, with de defeat of the Italians and double victories for France and Great Britain, the match on Tuesday, Spain-Italy, in Viladecans, acquires a special tension as it might turn out to be decisive for the qualification of one of the countries.

The Dutch team, that defends the title after winning the last 4 editions, won the match against Czech Republic effortlessly in 7 innings, (11-0), and also sent the ball over the fence twice.

The European Championship is being played at the baseball stadiums in Barcelona, Viladecans and Sant Boi until the final match that will take place on Sunday 16th of September.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation. The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l’Esport, Barcelona City Council, Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO). Commercial sponsors are Coca-Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Spain-Ukraine (5-4) was, for sure, the most interesting match this morning during the European Baseball Championship. The Spanish team lost its first match against Great Britain and today had to change a negative result of 1 to 4 in 4 innings with 4 runs in the 8th inning. Spain’s coach Jake Molina.stated: “We won, that’s what is important and we still have options for the next round. In the first match the pitches failed, but today Remigio Leal was great”.

Right before this match, the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation presented their lifetime awards, a golden pin, to four Catalans: Fèlix Cano, the Spanish player that most times has been selected for the national team; Manel Baiges, the federation’s former president (1997-2002); Rafael “Tito” Domínguez, international umpire and Javier Pallarés, chosen “Umpire of the Year “ in 1992.

No surprises, the favorites won

The morning of the second day of the European Baseball Championship finished with the victory of the favorite teams, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic.

On the diamond Carlos Pérez de Rozas in Barcelona, Italy, one of the favorites for the final victory and the qualification for the upcoming Olympics in Beijing 2008 easily defeated its rival, Ukraine, with a convincing 0-13, a scoreboard that, with a difference of more than 10 runs, finished the match upon the end of the 8th inning.

In Viladecans Germany won over Sweden with 1 to 9 in a match in which the only Swede worth special mention was Rickard Reiner. The German team decided the match in the 4th inning, scoring up to 4 entries in the home, leaving the match sentenced in the 6th inning with another 4 scores.

The stadium in Sant Boi was the place for the Czech Republic to meet Croatia that ended up with a Czech victory of 4-1. The two entries scored by the Czech team in the 2nd inning opened the path to the victory though, in the 4th inning, Croatia reduced the difference (2-1). However the Croatian cut was nothing but a mirage and, in the 8th inning the Czech Republic scored with 2 runs and established the final result.

The Championship is played on the baseball stadiums in Barcelona, Viladecans and Sant Boi until the final match that will take place on Sunday 16th.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation. The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l’Esport, Barcelona City Council, Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO).

Commercial sponsors are Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Inglés, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

0-11 Easy, easy, easy for the Italian team that, like Spain , hopes to be in the final

Match 4 – 8/9/2007 Barcelona

0-11 Easy, easy, easy for the Italian team that, like Spain , hopes to be in the final

Group B

Ukraine - Italy

Italy , in the match 4 in group B for the European Baseball Championship, Eurobaseball, defeated Ukraine by 0 runs to 11, in an easy match for the Italian team that finished the match with a difference by the end of the 8th inning.

The match between Ukraine and Italy didn't tell a story. The Italian, candidates to dethrone Holland , won easily, without effort, achieving up to 17 good hits while their rivals only managed 1.

A home run by the Italian player Laidel Chapelli, in the 5th inning, which started with 0-2, forced the scoreboard up to 0-4, the Italian offence finished off the inning with two new scores that left the match sentenced, if it wasn't already.

Ukraine tried in every way to put a pitcher on each on of the 5 first innings, but the effort was in vain as the rival was clearly superior as was shown by the fact that the Ukrainians didn't reach the first base until the 6 th inning, when the Italian defense made an error on the 2 nd cushion. Oleksand Trofymenko was the lucky one who made the "historical" play that received applause from the team's dugout.

The match didn't tell anything more.

Technical information available at: http://www.eurobaseball20007.com

Spain lost 8-12 against Great Britain in the European Baseball Championship that is played in the stadiums of Barcelona , Viladecans and Sant Boi de Llobregat.

The Spanish team against a rival filled of outstanding players from the U.S.A. was able to equalize the scoreboard twice, first to 4 and later to 7. However, the 2 home runs by the English team's batters Brant Ust and Mike Nickeas, by the end of the 6 th inning, allowed Great Britain to score 4 that solved the tie to 7, setting the scoreboard to 7-11 that was difficult to overcome.

The Spanish coach, Jake Molina, tried to turn the match over but his changes weren't productive though they did add to the emotion in the last minute. When the scoreboard showed 8-12 Marc Carrillo had a time at bat with 2 men on base leaving a minimum difference.

Jake Molina had already announced that " England is very strong and it will not be easy". His prediction turned out to be true so now it's only to concentrate on the match that will be played in Viladecans against Ukrania.

The Catalan player Javier Civit started the match for Spain as pitcher. The mount was also occupied by Eric Gonzalez, Manuel Olivera and Remigio Leal, while Great Britain started its defence with Brian Essery who was followed on the first position by S. Spragg, Geoff Freeborn y A. Smith.

It's important to highlight the receiver of the British team, Mike Nickeas, who made a complete match both as defence and as an attacker, achieving several good hits and a home run that made the difference.

The European Baseball Championship has started today in Barcelona , Spain

The European Baseball Championship has started today in Barcelona , Spain

This afternoon the European Absolute Baseball Championship has opened in the Baseball Stadium Carlos Pérez de Rozas. The ceremony was presided by Martin Miller , President of the Confederation of European Baseball and, among other authorities, Anna Pruna , General Secretary of Sports in the Generalitat; the Delegate of Barcelona City Council's Sports' Department; Sr. Pere Alcober ; Josep Monràs , Deputy of Sports in Diputación of Barcelona, Josep Ballester , President of the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation and Pepita Miret , Sports Manager Viladecans City Council attended the ceremony.

Before a stadium, that has been increased with seats and was filled with public, 24 children marched with the flags and the names of the participating countries, Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia , France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Great Britain, Ukraine, Russia, and Spain. Then the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation presented its “ Hall of Fame” of important baseball and softball players, managers and umpires. A tribute was also made to the team that played the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992.

The inauguration was presented by the singer Javián and the act was closed by Victor, who sang “El Himno de la Alegría ”.

Juli Pernas , President of the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation, declared to be “very satisfied with the development of the opening” and looks forward to “a competition that lets us enjoy great matches of baseball ”.

The competition's first match, with Mr. Martin doing the first pitch, between Spain and Great Britain , started at a quarter past seven in the afternoon.

The European Championship will take place in the baseball fields in Barcelona , Viladecans and Sant Boi.

  The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) offered last night an official dinner for more than 70 of the international participants and baseball authorities that have arrived in Barcelona for the celebration of the European Baseball Championship, Eurobaseball 2007, that will start in Barcelona this afternoon with an opening match between Spain and Great Britain, in the baseball stadium Carlos Pérez de Rozas in Barcelona.

Among the guests were John Ostermeyer, IBAF's General Secretary, Julio Pernas , the President of the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation ; Joan Garrigós , Vice-President of the Spanish Olympic Committee ; Pere Alcober , Delegate of Barcelona City Council's Sports' Department and Manel Ibern from the Consell de Esports .

Mr. Ostermeyer mentioned in his speech his appreciation to the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation, represented by, and the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation for hosting this competition, that will take place between the 7 th and the 16 th of September. He also stressed the importance of the outcome of Eurobaseball as the winning country will automatically qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008. He then presented a baseball ball made of glass to Mr. Pernas, Mr. Garrigós and Mr. Ibern.

Mr Ibern, representing the Spanish and Catalan federations, thanked IBAF for the invitation and encouraged the international federation to make baseball become included as an Olympic sport in 2016.

Tomorrow, the Spanish federation will hold its assembly and a tribute will be made to its former Vice-President, Miguel Pozueta , who will receive a tribute and a gift for his efforts.

Eurobaseball's competing countries are Austria, Chec Republic , Croatia , France , Germany , Netherlands , Sweden , Italy , Great Britain , Ukraine , Russia and Spain .

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation . The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l'Esport , Barcelona City Council , Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO) . Commercial sponsors are  Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Further information is available at the championship's website: http://www.eurobaseball2007.com/

The official opening ceremony will take place in Barcelona's baseball field (Montjuich) on Friday 7th, from 6 pm. The opening match will be between Spain and Great Britain.

 •  The match will take place at 18:00 en el Campo Municipal de Viladecans

The Spanish baseball team will meet the Dutch selection tomorrow, Tuesday September 4 th in Viladecans as a part of the preparation for the European Baseball Championship, Eurobaseball, that will take place in Barcelona between the 7 th and the 16th of September. This match will allow the two teams to measure their options and fitness.

Netherlands is one of the favorites, with a history of 19 gold and 7 silver medals in the 29 former editions and then comes Italy with 8 golds, 15 silvers and y 3 bronce. Spain is, on this occasion among the favorites because it has repeated a bronce medeal on the last two European competitions, playing at home and they'll arrive to the European with a great preparation and the conviction that they can reach victory.

The Spanish team, managed by Jake Molina , started his concentration in the Catalonian capital on the 15 th of August. The plan combines training with several matches. From the 16 to the 18 th of August they played against a team of national and foreign players that play in the Spainsh league anf, from the 29 th of august and through September 2 nd the team has played five matches against the UCLA ( Los Angeles , U.S.A. ) with the final Spanish selection that includes 5 players from the American professional leagues.

On the other hand, Orange , as the Dutch team is called, as a preparation for the weekly preparation that their players do every year, it has participated in the World Port Tournament (from the 2 nd through the 12 th of August). In this tournament, organized by the Dutch Baseball Federation, the participants were the teams from Cuba , Taiwan , USA and Japan . The Netherlands gained a fourth position, with results being really tight and the winner was Cuba . Robert Eenhoorn , the Dutch manager, has 7 players from the American professional leagues.

Four days before the start of Eurobaseball 2007 the teams are getting prepared for the last opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games, as this sport will be excluded after Beijing 2008. The winner of the European Championship will gain a direct place to the Olympics and the second will have another chance in an intercontinental trophy. And the 4 best teams will participate in the Baseball World Championship 2009.

The Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation, according to the recommendations from the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations' program for the environment in order to prevent the contamination provoked by the event, reducing the consummation of energy and the separation of residuals, among other actions that favors the use of more sustainable resources.

The competing countries are: France , Germany , Netherlands , Sweden , Italy , UK , Ukrania , Croatia , Austria and Spain .

The championship is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation . The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l'Esport , Diputació de Barcelona , Consejo Superior de Deportes and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO) . Commercial sponsors are  Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Further information is available at the championship's website: http://www.eurobaseball2007.com/

Only one week to go before Europe's biggest baseball event starts in Barcelona, Spain

When there is only one week left before the opening of the European Baseball Championship, Eurobaseball 2007, that will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from the 7 th to the 16 th of September, today there was an official presentation that was held in the Colet Museum , the General Secretary of Sports from Catalonia's Generalitat, Ms. Anna Pruna , who said, among other things, “that Catalonia has a long tradition in baseball and the Catalan Baseball Federation is Spain's oldest and we are sure that this competition will help to increase the interest for this sport”.

On the other hand Jake Molina, the general manager of the Spanish team, who was accompanied by one of his players, Juan García, explained: “ I feel very happy with the quality of the team. The preparation for a competition of these characteristics is difficult, but the players are making great efforts and the stage is tough, because there is training and matches daily.” He also said that ” many teams in this tour do really pretend to win. Before this was not really the case, but now there are 4 or 5 teams that could win, because the quality is outstanding. And there will be a lot of pitching and batting during the matches. Real baseball will be seen! ”

During the presentation there were also other authorities present, like Jordi Cavero , Head of the Sport Service in Barcelona's County Council; Juli Pernas, President of the Spanish Royal Federation of Baseball and Softball; Josep Ballester , President of the Catalan Federation of Baseball and Softball and, as special guests, Pepita Miret, Sports Manager in the Viladecans City Council; Concepció Castillo , Sports Manager in the Sant Boi City Council; Ioia Arisa, Head of Sports Promotion at the in the Sant Boi City Council and Eduard Reñé, Collaborator of the Sports Area in Barcelona's County Council.

It was also commented that the winning teams from the Eurobaseball competition will participate, as well, in other competitions. The most important will be for the winning team that will take part in the upcoming Olympic Games, Beijing 2008. The second classified team will be present in the International Baseball Cup and the 4 first classified teams will compete in the World Championship, in 2009. The competing countries are: France , Germany , Netherlands , Sweden , Italy , UK , Ukrania , Croatia , Austria and Spain . The European Championship will take place in the baseball fields in Barcelona , Viladecans and Sant Boi.

Eurobaseball 2007 is organized by Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation together with the Catalan Baseball and Softball Federation . The competition is also supported by the Consell Català de l'Esport , Barcelona City Council , Superior Council of Sports and the Association of Olympic Sports (ADO) . Commercial sponsors are  Coca Cola, Hispano Igualadina, Viajes El Corte Ingles, Subaru, Deportes El Pitcher and Aramark.

Further information is available at the championship's website: http://www.eurobaseball2007.com/

INTERVIEW

Juli Pernas, President of the Royal Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation