EUROPE – L&D Amsterdam, the 2008 Dutch Major League Champions, finished atop the final BaseballdeWorld European Top 30 Poll. The Pirates received 480 points to wrestle the top spot away from two-time reigning European Champion Corendon Kinheim.

The Dutch and Italian circuits – the two most dominant leagues in Europe – tallied 10 of the first 14 spots.

The poll is voted on by the BaseballdeWorld staff with a criteria based on strength of league, won-loss record, and performance at international tournaments. The CEB Final Four tournament results, which had no Dutch League team and featured squads missing several key players, were excluded from consideration.

The Pirates finished the regular season in third place with a 29-13 record before knocking off DOOR Neptunus to reach the Holland Series against top-ranked Corendon Kinheim. The Amsterdam-based club swept Europe’s strongest squad the last two years in three games to capture the Dutch title.

Corendon Kinheim collected 464 points to place second followed by Italian League Champion T&A San Marino, Spanish League Champion Marlins Puerto Cruz, and Danesi Nettuno, the runner-ups in the Italian League.

Two-time defending CEB Cup Champion, FC Barcelona (Spain), claim the sixth slot with DOOR Neptunus (Netherlands), Fortitudo Bologna (Italy), the Konica Minolta Pioniers (Netherlands) and Montepaschi Grosseto (Italy) rounding out the Top 10.

Final 2008 BaseballdeWorld European Top 30 Poll

1. L&D Amsterdam Pirates – Netherlands (480)*

2. Corendon Kinheim – Netherlands (464)

3. T&A San Marino – Italy (448)*

4. Marlins Puerto Cruz – Spain (432)*

5. Danesi Nettuno – Italy (408)

6. FC Barcelona – Spain (390)

7. DOOR Neptunus – Netherlands (384)

8. Fortitudo Bologna – Italy (360)

9. Konica Minolta Pioniers – Netherlands (348)

10.Montepaschi Grosseto – Italy (342)

11.Regensburg Legionaere – Germany (312)*

12.Rouen Huskies – France (302)*

12.Sparta/Feyenoord – Netherlands (302)

14.Cariparma Parma – Italy (262)

15.Mannheim Tornados – Germany (260)

16.AVG Draci Brno – Czech Republic (230)*

17.Heidenheim Heideköpfe – Germany (220)

18.CB Sant Boi – Spain (204)

19.Solingen Alligators – Germany (200)

20.El Llano – Spain (190)

21.Telemarket Rimini – Italy (180)

22.Mr.Cocker HCAW – Netherlands (150)

23.London Mets – Great Britain (138)*

24.MGPU S.Y.O.S. – Russia (126)*

25.Senart Templiers – France (100)

26.Port of Antwerp Royal Greys – Belgium (70)*

27.KNTU Kirovograd – Ukraine (38)*

28.Mainz Athletics – Germany (28)

29.Paderborn Untouchables – Germany (20)

30.Bern Cardinals-Switzerland (18)*

30.Stockholms BSK – Sweden (18)*

30. Richmond Flames – Great Britain(18)

Also receiving votes: Arrows Ostrava-Czech Republic (10), Karlskoga Bats – Sweden (10)*, Hoboken Pioneers-Belgium (6), ESHSM Moscow-Russia (6), MOSQUITO Athletics-Austria (6)*, Zagreb BK-Croatia (4)*, Rattvik Butchers-Sweden (4), Technika Brno-Czech Republic (4), Savigny Lions-France (2), Sundbyberg Heat-Sweden (2), Beisbol Navarra-Spain (2), TNU Tigers-Ukraine (2), MZLU Express Brno-Czech Republic (2), Olimpija Karlovac-Croatia (1), Union Kufstein Vikings-Austria (1), Montpellier Barracudas-France (1).

* National Champions

Photo courtesy of gespot.at5.nl

Tags: Europe