Cover photo by Walter Keller / Catchthefever
The game started strong for the home team, as Guggenberger Legionäre took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Alexander Schmidt singled to left-center, stole second, and was brought home by a 1 RBI single from Marlon Chayanne Jimenez Ramos, making it 1-0.
Draci Brno quickly responded in the top of the second inning when Martin Červinka, the inning leadoff hitter, launched a solo home run to deep center field, tying the game at 1-1.
However, the Legionäre retook the lead in the bottom of the second. Antonios Torres Skerrett singled, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice, and scored on a throwing error. Schmidt later crossed the plate, thanks to a single by the club captain Matthew Vance, pushing the score to 3-1 in favor of the Germans.
Draci Brno fought back in the top of the fourth, stringing together three consecutive singles from Prokop, Červinka, and Pernička. A pitching change by Guggenberger Legionäre couldn’t halt the momentum. A sacrifice hit by Lucena allowed Prokop to score, and a crucial throw to second by the German catcher, despite the walk to the batter, allowed Červinka to score the tying run. Pernička then scored on a wild pitch, putting Draci ahead 4-3.
The middle innings remained a defensive battle, with both teams unable to add to their scores from the fifth through the eighth innings.
In the top of the ninth, Draci Brno added two key insurance runs. Milan Prokop walked, setting up Červinka, who had a stellar day at the plate (3/4 with 2 home runs and a single), to blast his second home run of the game to center field, sealing the score at 6-3.
In the final German attempt to rally, Alexander Schmidt singled to second base but hopes for Guggenberger Legionäre were dashed as two consecutive strikeouts and a flyout sealed their fate. Draci Brno held strong to claim the victory, becoming the Baseball European Champions Cup 2024 champions.
The victory handed Draci Brno their first European title in history, capping off a remarkable season with a triumph on the continental stage as well as the one in the Czech national one.
All the game of the Baseball European Champions Cup 2024 were streamed on baseballeurope.tv. Results and statistics are available at www.wbsceurope.org.
