CZECH REPUBLIC – AVG Draci Brno bagged another Czech Baseball League regular season crown with a trio of victories last weekend.

The 16-time defending league champion claimed an impressive 18-5 victory Saturday over third-place Technika Brno before finishing off the twinbill sweep with a 9-6 win. Draci (28-7) completed its regular season slate a day later with a 6-5 triumph over cellar-dwelling NAVISYS Hrosi Brno.

Kotlarka Prague (25-10) disposed of Eagles Prague 6-3 to enter the postseason as the second seed. The Eagles (20-15) still managed to clinch the final playoff spot despite the setback.

CZECH BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. AVG Draci Brno (28-7)
2. Kotlarka Prague (25-10)
3. Technika Brno (22-13)
4. Eagles Prague (20-15)
5. Arrows Ostrava (15-18)
6. MZLU Express Brno (14-21)
7. Skokani Olomouc (7-26)
8. NAVISYS Hrosi Brno (7-28)

AUSTRIA – The Attnang-Puchheim Athletics moved into a tie for the top spot in the Austrian Baseball League with a rain-shortened 5-4 victory in five innings last Saturday. The Athletics (20-4), which are the reigning ABL champion, have won five straight games.

The second game between the two squads was cancelled due to wet weather.

The Schwaz Tigers (14-12) regrouped after forfeiting a pair of games the previous week with a 5-0 shutout win against the RiCo Highlanders. The Tigers have already clinched the final playoff berth.

The SU Kufstein Vikings squeaked past the Stock City Cubs, 10-9, in the front end of a twinbill. But the Cubs returned the favor in the next game with a narrow 5-4 win.

AUSTRIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. Vienna Wanderers (20-4)
2. Attnang-Puchheim Athletics (20-4)
3. Vienna Metrostars (15-8)
4. Schwaz Tigers (14-12)
5. Schwechat Blue Bats (10-18)
6. Stock City Cubs (10-18)
7. RiCo Highlanders (6-17)
8. Union Kufstein Vikings (6-20)

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SWEDEN – Both Goteborg Hajarna and the Leksand Lumberjacks secured their spots in the semi-finals last weekend in the Swedish Baseball League. The two squads will join Stockholm and the Karlskoga Bats in the postseason race to the league championship.

Goteborg (14-7) limited Gefle to a lone run in two games en route to a pair of easy victories, 11-1 and 8-0.

Leksand (13-9) torched first-place Stockholm 9-1 to keep its title hopes alive before the former champion rebounded to take the second game, 7-4.

SWEDISH BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. Stockholm (16-5)
2. Karlskoga (15-7)
3. Goteborg (14-7)
4. Leksand (13-9)
5. Sundbyberg (10-11)
6. Gefle (5-16)

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SWITZERLAND – The Zurich Barracudas clinched the final playoff spot with a 7-0 win over their crosstown rival Zurich Challengers this past Tuesday night in a Swiss Baseball League matchup at the Heerenschurli ballpark in Zurich.

The Barracudas opened the scoring in the first with three scores courtesy of an inside-the-park home run. It would prove to be more than enough for American import Kody Hightower, who tossed nine magnificent innings.

Hightower also went 4-for-4 at the plate with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs. Nderim Coma sealed the deal with a two-run shot over the center field wall in the fifth to end the scoring.

Tobias Siegrist delivered two hits for the Challengers, while Yanik Probst and Adrian Kämpfer had one hit apiece.

THERWIL FLYERS SWEEPS LUZERN EAGLES
The Therwil Flyers continued their winning ways with a doubleheader sweep over the Luzern Eagles last Sunday in the Swiss Baseball League. With the wins, the red-hot Flyers have won 25 of 27 games, including a 10-game winning streak.

The first game was a one-sided affair as Therwil captured a 12-6 win. Flyers starting pitcher Lukas Croton overmatched the Eagles’ hitters giving up two unearned runs in four innings of work, while striking out five.

Reto Siegel, who went 3-for-4, ignited the Flyers with a two-run blast in the first as Therwil scored early and often en route to the victory.

The second game was another lopsided contest as the Flyers routed the Eagles, 16-1. Ianis Boutaloup drilled a two-run shot in the second while Sebastian Zwyer and Stefan Koller both added three hits apiece for Therwil.

In other action last weekend, the Zurich Barracudas pounded the Sissach Frogs, 15-3.

SWISS BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. Therwil Flyers (25-2)
2. Bern Cardinals (21-5)
3. Embrach Mustangs (17-10)
4. Zurich Barracudas (12-13)
5. Luzern Eagles (10-16)
6. Sissach Frogs (11-17)
7. Zurich Challengers (9-15)
8. Zurich Lions (0-27)

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BELGIUM – The Hoboken Pioneers continued their quest for a third consecutive Belgian League title with a two-game split against the rejuvenated Namur Angels this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs.

Hoboken (6-2), which swept the Angels earlier this month to open the postseason, dropped the first game on Saturday, 8-6. However, the two-time reigning league champion bounced back the following day to claim a hard-fought 3-1 victory over second-place Namur (4-3).

The Merksem Royal Greys resuscitated their finals hopes with a sweep, 13-2 and 10-1, against the Borgerhout Squirrels. The Royal Greys will next face Hoboken in a crucial two-game set while the Squirrels (1-6) will clash with the Angels.

Saturday, August 27
Namur Angels 8, Hoboken Pioneers 6
Merksem Royal Greys 13, Borgerhout Squirrels 12

Sunday, August 28
Merksem Royal Greys 10, Borgerhout Squirrels 1
Hoboken Pioneers 3, Namur Angels 1

BELGIAN PLAYOFF STANDINGS
1. Hoboken Pioneers (6-2)
2. Namur Angels (4-3)
3. Merksem Royal Greys (4-4)
4. Borgerhout Squirrels (1-6)

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USA four-hits Cuba 9-0 in the Finals to defend Title

Panamerican Stadium. Lagos de Moreno. August 28, 2011.

Team USA had defended successfully its title at the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship. They shut out Cuba 9-0 in the final game on Sunday afternoon at Panamerican Stadium in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. It was never the expected close game between the arch rivals, as the United States decided things quickly in the beginning and cruised to an easy victory.

While the American offense clicked as usual, putting runs on the board at will, it was actually the Keegan Thompson (W, 2-0) show in the finals. The starting pitcher allowed just a leadoff single to Jolio Martinez and a walk to Yusniel Diaz in the first six innings, retiring 16 consecutive batters at one point in his start. Overall he finished with a complete game shutout, issuing just a total of four hits and a walk in nine innings. He struck out 12 batters total.

At the plate Team USA scored four runs in the first, one in the third and four in the fourth. Not even a one-hour rain delay in the second inning slowed them down. Arden Pabst got the first run in with a sac bunt. Nicholas Ciuffo, Dominic Nunez and Bryson Brigman followed with RBI singles to make it 4-0 after two innings, chasing Cuba’s starting pitcher Noel Ortiz (L, 1-1) with just two outs in the frame.

The defending champion didn’t stop there, as Thompson himself drove in the next run with a RBI single in the third. He had another one in the fourth, capping another four-run rally after Riley Unroe had a RBI single and Austin Meadows hit a two-run homerun earlier in the frame. They couldn’t score again afterwards. But it didn’t matter.

Earlier Japan had beaten Mexico 8-7 one hour earlier in a thrilling bronze medal game. Doubles by Taishi Bamba and Toshiki Fukuda had decided the outcome in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the hosts had to settle for fourth place in the final standings. Chinese Taipei and Venezuela finished in fifth and sixth.

Final Standings

1.) USA
2.) Cuba
3.) Japan
4.) Mexico
5.) Chinese Taipei
6.) Venezuela
7.) Netherlands
8.) Australia
9.) Brazil
10.) Indonesia
11.) Dominican Republic

Individual Awards

Leading Hitter: Bryson Brigman (USA)
Pitcher Best ERA: Shota Tatsuta (Japan)
Pitcher Best W-L: Luis Gohara (Brazil)
Most Runs Batted In: Austin Meadows (USA)
Most Homeruns: Zachary Collins (USA)
Most Runs Scored: Riley Unroe (USA)
Most Stolen Bases: Franklin Barreto (Venezuela)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Zac Shepherd (Australia)
Most Valuable Player:  Zachary Collins (USA)

All Star Team

Starting Pitcher: Luis Gohara (Brazil)
Relief Pitcher: Chris Pelaez (USA)
Catcher: Zachary Collins (USA)
First Base: Julian Leon (Mexico)
Second Base: Bryson Brigman (USA)
Third Base: Yoan Moncada (Cuba)
Shortstop: Zac Shepherd (Australia)
Outfield: Austin Meadows (USA)
Outfield: Yu Chang (Chinese Taipei)
Outfield: Leonardo Munhoz (Brazil)

All coverage surrounding the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship can be found at www.ibaf.org. Follow the International Baseball Federation also on Facebook andTwitter for additional and instant information.

Courtesy IBAF.org

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Japan beats Mexico 8-7 in another Thriller

Romo Chavez Stadium. Aguascalientes. August 28, 2011.

Japan has won the bronze medal at the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship in Mexico. They defeated Mexico 8-7 in another thrilling game at Romo Chavez Stadium in Aguascalientes. Toshiki Fukuda had the decisive hit, driving in Taishi Bamba with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh. Mexico couldn’t counter and has to settle for fourth place in the final standings. Mexico had qualified for the due to an 11-5 win over the Netherlands in the last second round game in the morning. Japan had defeated Team USA on Saturday.

It was a back and forth battle between these two teams. After each team put two runs on the board in the opening frame, Mexico struck next in the top of the sixth. RBI singles by Julio Urias and Carlos Rubio got them a 4-2 advantage. But the two-run lead lasted just a few minutes. Daiki Asama opened the bottom half of the same frame with a solo homerun. A RBI groundout by Kyuji Ogawa, a RBI double by Keita Nakagawa, a RBI single by Koki Abe and a two-run single by Yuuki Yoshida made it 7-4 for Japan. The hosts were able to answer one more time. In the top of the seventh a wild pitch and RBI doubles by Cesar Rodriguez and Antoni Cazarin evened the score again. Japan had one more run left in the tank and used it to seal the win.

The one-two punch out of the bullpen, Taishi Bamba (W, 1-0) and Shota Tatsuta (S 1), closed it out with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Daiki Tajima had started for Japan, allowing five hits, two runs and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. Juan Escamilla began for Mexico, but lasted just two outs, giving up two hits, two runs and two walks. Carlos Rubio (L, 0-1) took the loss, conceding the winning run in seventh.

All coverage surrounding the IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship can be found atwww.ibaf.org. Follow the International Baseball Federation also on Facebook and Twitter for additional and instant information.

Courtesy IBAF.org

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How did the Shankees get started?
I had been playing on local Argie teams for about five years when one day I was sitting in a gringo bar watching the Phillies. 

Where did the name Shankees come from?
Ever since I arrived to this country, back in 1990, people have be calling me a yanqui (pronounced shanki) …so, being from Philly and raised carrying a shank, I thought it appropriate.

Can you tell us a little bit about the league you play in? How many teams? Season length?
You can get league info off the league site (www.beisbolmetro.com.ar) there are a bunch of teams and divisions…which date back to the ’80s…but it’s worth mentioning that baseball was much popular than soccer during the ’30s and ’40s, and during WWI WWII. There are three tournaments a year…Summer,  Fall/Winter (optional), and  Winter/Spring.

You also mentioned there are other teams fielding foreigners either from the US or from Asian countries. How much of the league is made up of imports from baseball playing countries?
We are the only USA team…but we have many Venezuelans on our team…as well as a Brit, and a German…last season we had two Taiwan dudes. There are two Japanese teams and one Korean team…as well as one Cuban team.

What is the level of play like in your division, and the division above it?
Our division is equivalent to high school….the one above college level.

Is the game of baseball catching on in Buenos Aires? What about outside the city?
Yes, thanks to the Shankees.

Are there ample fields around town for game play and practice?
Now there are…We have our own field now. We are taking over the baseball scene. I won’t be surprised if the Shankees rule the baseball scene in a couple years.

On your website you say anyone in the city for a short time can play, providing they pay the proper fees, how often do you get or lose players during a season?
I get new players and lose players every weekend…never know who will show…it’s cheap and stress free to be a Shankee.

When does the season run in Argentina?
All year round…by way of tournaments.  I aim to propose one year long season with a winter break for the all star game…just like in the USA.

You mentioned in a previous email that there is little to no press coverage. Do you see this changing anytime soon or does soccer have such a strong foothold in the country that it is going to be difficult for anything else to gain ground?
Argies are afraid of any sport that interferes with soccer. Soccer represents everything that is screwed up in this country. That is why they embrace it. Suicidial tendencies that make up part of life here.  They can’t handle the discilpline that comes from a great team sport such as baseball.  Politicians need soccer. The poor need soccer, but baseball is growing eventhough it will never surpass soccer…it pisses me off!

How have the Shankees fared over the years?
Great…since it’s all about having fun and  making new friends in a foriegn country…it’s been an awesome experience becuase everyone who has passed through the shankee ranks has taken a memorable experience home with them…not to mention, relived that unique baseball feeling that takes one back to childhood.  to add, we got awesome pitching these season…all we lack is a title to make it perfect. 

I’d like to thank Paul for taking the time to answer some questions about baseball in Argentina. We love to hear about the great game continuing to spread around the world. If you would like to learn more about the Shankees or baseball in Argentina, visit their website at Shankees Baseball Club.

So far this season the Shankees are

If you, or anyone you know, coach or play baseball outside the USA, we would like to talk to you. We can always be reached by email at info AT baseballdeworld.com.

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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa – Braydon Salzman pitched a complete game 3 hitter holding the Japanese offense to just 1 run en route to earning his second victory of the LLWS and helping earn California its 7th Little League World Series title.

Salzman struck out 9 in the victory. On the offensive side of the ball, Nick Pratto went 3-for-4 to improve his average for the tournament to .429. Pratto came up big for California in the bottom of the 6th inning. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Pratto came up big with a single to centerfield to win the game.

Salzman had led off the inning with a walk. Dylan Palmer followed with a single to center field to put two runners on with no outs. After a strikeout, Hagen Danner reached on an error by the shortstop loading the bases for California. Trevor Windisch was next up and grounded into a force out keeping the bases loaded for Pratto. After two straight balls, Pratto laced the next pitch up the middle for the winning hit.

Hagen Danner drove in the first run for California in the 3rd to tie the game at 1 with his 2nd homerun of the tournament. Of the 3 runs to score in the game, Danner’s home run was the only one that was earned. Both teams were plagued by errors that were very costly, none more so than the error in the top of the 6th by Japan’s shortstop.

California is now tied with Japan with 7 titles which ranks 2nd behind Taiwan’s 17. California has now won 2 of the last 3 titles. Japan goes home as the runner up after having defeated Hawaii in the 2010 championship game.

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GREAT BRITAIN – The final weekend of the British National Baseball League (NBL) regular season this past Sunday saw a host of teams jostling for pool positions and final playoff spots.

LAKENHEATH DIAMONDBACKS AT BRACKNELL BLAZERS
The Diamondbacks ensured a finish at the top of Pool B with a brace of wins at Bracknell, leaving the Blazers to sweat over their own playoff ambitions.

The opening game was a tight affair, with Ryan Riniker’s home run proving decisive as Lakenheath emerged 4-1 winners.

The second contest was much easier for the visitors, with the Diamondbacks going on a tear in a 16-7 win, with Ken Reber taking the honours on the mound.

ESSEX ARROWS AT CROYDON PIRATES
The Arrows and Pirates played a doubleheader to make up postponed games, and both sides claimed a win.

Essex were the victors in Game 1, with Matt Gilbert out-pitching Jose Sosa as the Arrows won 11-7 .

But Croydon bounced back in Game 2. Sosa clubbed a home run as the Pirates gave themselves the sniff of an unlikely playoff spot with a 9-7 win.

Tim Ssali was the winning pitcher, while Richard Chesterton was saddled with the loss.

SOUTHERN NATIONALS AT HERTS FALCONS
The Nationals prepared for the playoffs with a sweep of the ailing Falcons.

Jason Roberts pitched a shutout and Edwin Alcantara smashed his sixth home run of the season as the Nationals rolled to a 7-0 triumph in the opening game.

Things were even easier in Game 2. Jamie Ratcliff dominated on the mound as the Nationals crushed Herts to the tune of 16-1.

There was also added good news for Edwin Alcantara, who claimed the prestigious NBL triple crown, having led the league in home runs, batting average and RBIs – the first time this has been done since 2005.

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE – POOL A
1. Richmond Flames (19-5)
2. Southampton Mustangs (17-7)
3. Bracknell Blazers (9-15)
4. Croydon Pirates (8-15)
5. Essex Arrows (7-16)

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE – POOL B
1. Lakenheath Diamondbacks (19-5)
2. London Mets (16-6)
3. Southern Nationals (14-10)
4. Mildenhall Bulldogs (4-14)
5. Herts Falcons (2-20)

Simon Fitzjohn is a writer at the British Baseball Federation website

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This is a ridiculous play at the plate. This took place in 2006 in a college game with Montclair State taking on Rowan. As the ball is hit to the outfield, the runner from second tries to score and the plate at the play is pretty awesome. It is shot from 2 different angles. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Have an amazing baseball video? Send us an email and let us know about it.

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Mexico has a long history of the great game, and nobody covers it like Bruce Baskin at Baseball Mexico. He covers it all from the Mexican League in the spring and summer, to the Mexican Pacific League in the winter.

Bruce has been covering baseball in Mexico for years. He started Baseball Mexico in 2009 after writing for other publications previously. He gives an insight that is not seen elsewhere, and he does it in English.

So head on over and see what’s going on in the world of baseball in Mexico. If you want to stay up to date, you can email BaseballMexico AT live.com to be added to the weekly newsletter. You can also find Bruce doing his great work on Facebook.

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ITALY – After winning a shootout in 12 innings in Game 1, Danesi Nettuno took a 2-0 games lead over regular season champion T&A San Marino on Saturday winning 10-3.

Danesi Nettuno 10, T&A San Marino 3

Carlos Richetti pitched 7 strong innings to earn the victory and put Nettuno up 2 games to 0. Richetti allowed only 2 runs giving up 7 hits and 2 walks.

Mirco Caradonna led the way offensively going 4-for-5 driving in 3 runs and scoring 1. Paolino Ambrosino chipped in with 3 hits of his own scoring 4 runs.

T&A San Marino pounded out 11 hits, but they couldn’t capitalize and get the much needed runs. Jairo Ramos went 3-for-4 scoring 2 runs, and shortstop Wuillians Vasquez added 3 hits as well.

Italian League Finals Schedule:

Game 3 Thursday September 1
Game 4 Friday September 2
*Game 5 Saturday September 3
*Game 6 Friday September 9
*Game 7 Saturday September 10
*if necessary 

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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT – In the International Championship, Japan downed Mexico avenging its only loss in the tournament fromnearly a week earlier. In the US Championship, the West defeated the Northwest 11-2 to earn a trip to the championship. Like Japan, the win avenged its only loss in the tournament which came 1-0 to the Northwest.

Japan 5, Mexico 2

Yoshiki Suzuki, who got a no-decision in the first match up, pitched a complete game to earn his 2nd victory of the tournament. He went all 6 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 7 hits while striking out 7 to put Japan in the championship game. Japan pounded out 10 hits to score 5 runs getting 2 in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th, and 1 in the 5th.

West 11, Northwest 2

Third baseman Dylan Palmer went 2-for-4 driving in 3 runs and blasting his 1st home run of the series to led the way for the West offense. Nick Pratto added 3 RBIs of his own going 2-for-4 with a double. He also pitched 5.1 innings to pick up the win. Hagen Danner continued his hot hitting streak by setting the table going 3-for-4. He is hitting .556 in the series as the West heads into the championship game.

Cole McKenzie blasted his first home run for the Northwest going 2-for-3 in the loss.

The Championship Game will take place at noon on Sunday from Lamade Stadium.

Japan is looking for its 8th title (2nd behind Taiwan), while California will be trying for its 7th title (1st among the States and 3rd overall).

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By Bruce Baskin

An unlikely hero emerged from the bullpen and Carlos Gastelum’s grand slam in the seventh inning busted open a tied game as the Quintana Roo Tigres polished off the Mexico City Diablos, 13-9, Friday at Foro Sol to complete a four-game sweep of their rivals and win the franchise’s tenth Mexican League pennant since 1955.

Both teams were putting runs on the board in the early going as Gastelum homered in the first inning and Doug Clark went deep in the third and the two most storied teams in Mexican baseball battled to a 5-5 tie heading into the fourth inning. Enter Jorge Campillo in relief of Tigres starter Enrique Lechuga.

Campillo, a former MLB pitcher with Seattle and Atlanta who has fought with injuries over the years, turned in four superlative relief innings for manager Matias Carrillo’s side, blanking the potent Diablos on one hit in four innings of work, just long enough for Gastelum to swat his second homer of the night in Quintana Roo’s five-run seventh, breaking the tie and sending the Tigres to a win and a pennant. Mexico City’s Luis Terrero scored on a Ivan Terrazas double off Eder Llamas to close the gap to 8-6 in the eighth, but Albino Contreras bashed a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to stretch the Tigres’ lead to 11-6. The Red Devils put another three scores on the board in the bottom of the ninth, but they went for naught.

Gastelum ended up with five RBIs and Sergio Contreras batted 5-for-5 for Quintana Roo. Alexis Gomez and Leo Heras both had three hits for Mexico City with Gomez driving in three runs. Campillo won his first playoff game while Salvador Robles took the loss for the Diablos. The pennant is the first for the Tigres in Cancun and for Carrillo as a skipper.

Bruce Baskin is the Editor/Producer at the BASEBALL MEXICO website.

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GREAT BRITAIN – The Richmond Flames flexed their muscles and built their season record to 19-5 by comfortably disposing of the ailing Bracknell Blazers.

Richmond crushed four home runs across the two games as they rolled to 14-2 and 20-9 triumphs.

William Schmitt clubbed two (including a grand slam) long balls, along with further homers for Robbie Unsell (another grand slam just one inning later) and Guy Lidbetter.

Pitching honours went to Unsell and Matt Spaulding.

SOUTHERN NATIONALS AT CROYDON PIRATES
The Nationals and Pirates split their doubleheader, albeit in wildly contrasting match-ups.

Jose Sosa pitched Croydon to a 6-2 win in game one, out-dueling the league’s 2010 Best Pitcher, Jason Roberts.

But the Nationals came back big-time in the second encounter, crushing the Pirates 21-0, backing a dominant pitching performance by Jamie Ratcliff in which the 17-year old delivered a six-inning complete game shutout with just three hits allowed.

ESSEX ARROWS AT LONDON METS
The London Mets boosted their season record to 16-6 with a sweep (5-3 and 7-2) of the Essex Arrows, tightening their grip on second spot in Pool B in the process.

Essex is left clinging to fourth spot in Pool A with just one weekend of regular season play remaining, but three games left unplayed.

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE – POOL A
1. Richmond Flames (19-5)
2. Southampton Mustangs (17-7)
3. Bracknell Blazers (9-13)
4. Croydon Pirates (7-14)
5. Essex Arrows (6-15)

NATIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE – POOL B
1. Lakenheath Diamondbacks (17-5)
2. London Mets (16-6)
3. Southern Nationals (12-10)
4. Mildenhall Bulldogs (4-14)
5. Herts Falcons (2-18)

Simon Fitzjohn is a writer at the British Baseball Federation website

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MEXICO – The IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship is underway in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. The USA team slugged their way to victory over Australia winning 21-11. Venezuela needed 10 innings to defeat Japan 10-9, and The Netherlands  and Indonesia picked up wins via forfeit.

Friday August 19, 2011
Dominican Republic 0, Indonesia 9
Mexico 8, Chinese Taipei 6
Cuba 0, Netherlands 9
Australia 11, USA 21
Venezuela 10, Japan 9

Saturday August 20, 2011
Dominican Republic 0, Venezuela 9
Chinese Taipei 7, Brazil 6
Netherlands 21, Indonesia 2
Mexico 5, Australia 3
Cuba 6, Japan 5

Sunday August 21, 2011
Cuba vs Dominican Republic
Chinese Taipei vs USA
Indonesia vs Venezuela
Brazil vs Mexico
Netherlands vs Japan

Monday August 22, 2011
Dominican Republic vs Netherlands
Brazil vs Australia
Japan vs Indonesia
USA vs Mexico
Venezuela vs Cuba

Tuesday August 23, 2011
Japan vs Dominican Republic
Australia vs Chinese Taipei
Indonesia vs Cuba
USA vs Brazil
Netherlands vs Venezuela

Group A Standings:
1. Mexico (2-0)
2. USA (1-0)
3. Chinese Taipei (1-1)
4. Brazil (0-1)
5. Australia (0-2)

Group B Standings:
1. Venezuela (2-0)
2. Netherlands (2-0)
3. Indonesia (1-1)
4. Cuba (1-1)
5. Dominican Republic (0-2)
6. Japan (0-2)

You can follow the games live online at the IBAF website.

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Williamsport, PA – The 65th Little League World Series (LLWS) kicked off on Thursday with some exciting games. To kick off the tournament, Mexico squared off with Asia-Pacific. All of the first day games were close except for one where Japan took it too the Caribbean team 12-1.

Sunday’s slate of games should be good as the 4 undefeated teams in both brackets will all face off against each other.

Thursday August 18, 2011
Mexico 3, Asia Pacific 0
Northwest 6, Midwest 4
Japan 12, Caribbean 1
Southeast 0, Southwest 2

Friday August 19, 2011
Middle East and Africa 5, Canada 6
West 11, New England 0
Europe 1, Latin America 6
Mid-Atlantic 0, Great Lakes 1

Saturday August 20, 2011
Asia-Pacific 20, Caribbean 3
Southeast 6, Midwest 3
Middle East and Africa 4, Europe 2
New England 0, Mid-Atlantic 2

Sunday August 21, 2011
Latin America vs Canada
Northwest vs Southwest
West vs Great Lakes
Japan vs Mexico

International Bracket
Japan (1-0)
Latin America (1-0)
Mexico (1-0)
Canada (1-0)
Asia-Pacific (1-1)
Middle East and Africa (1-1)
Caribbean (0-2)
Europe (0-2)

U.S. Bracket
West (1-0)
Northwest (1-0)
Southwest (1-0)
Great Lakes (1-0)
Mid-Atlantic (1-1)
Southeast (1-1)
Midwest (0-2)
New England (0-2)

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SWITZERLAND – The Therwil Flyers continued their quest for a second national title with a doubleheader sweep against the Zurich Challengers Saturday in the Swiss Baseball League.

Therwil (21-2) rolled to a blowout 12-1 victory in the first game as Lukas Croton (pictured) and Stefan Koller combined to silence the Challengers’ batting lineup. American playing coach JB Tucker’s squad notched its sixth consecutive win with an 8-2 triumph over Zurich (9-13) in the second affair.

The Embrach Mustangs (17-10) snapped the 10-game winning streak of the Bern Cardinals with a 4-3 decision in the front end of a doubleheader on Sunday. Bern (19-5) got back on the winning track in the second contest, 6-1.

On Saturday, the Sissach Frogs (11-16) and Luzern Eagles (9-14) also settled for a twinbill split.

SWISS BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. Therwil Flyers (21-2)
2. Bern Cardinals (19-5)
3. Embrach Mustangs (17-10)
4. Zurich Barracudas (11-12)
5. Zurich Challengers (9-13)
6. Sissach Frogs (11-16)
7. Luzern Eagles (9-14)
8. Zurich Lions (0-25)

Marvin Moore is a freelance international baseball writer who coached in Europe for six years. He currently teaches baseball to Filipino Kids at the Future Stars Baseball School.

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BELGIUM – The Hoboken Pioneers remained perfect in the postseason with two narrow victories last weekend against the Antwerp Royal Greys in the Belgian Baseball League.

Hoboken (4-0) limited the Greys to just a lone score en route to 3-1 and 3-0 wins to sweep the two-game set. With the losses, the Greys playoff card dropped to .500 at 2-2.

The Namur Angels (1-2) notched their first win of the postseason with an 8-3 victory Sunday over the winless Borgerhout Squirrels (0-3). The matchup between the two squads on Saturday was postponed due to bad weather.

BELGIAN PLAYOFF STANDINGS
1. Hoboken Pioneers (4-0)
2. Antwerp Royal Greys (2-2)
3. Namur Angels (1-2)
4. Borgerhout Squirrels (0-3)

Marvin Moore is a freelance international baseball writer who coached in Europe for six years. He currently teaches baseball to Filipino Kids at the Future Stars Baseball School.

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AUSTRIA – The Vienna Wanderers stretched their winning streak to nine games with a pair of lopsided victories over the Union Kufstein Vikings last Sunday in the Austrian Baseball League (ABL).

The Wanderers (18-3) pounded the Vikings (5-17) in the twinbill opener, 21-0, as left-hander Clemens Cichocki threw seven innings of one-hit ball. The ABL frontrunner finished off the sweep with a 13-3 win in the second game.

The Vienna Metrostars (13-8) and the Stock City Cubs (9-15) battled to a draw on the same day. The Metrostars rallied from three runs down to capture a 6-4 decision in the first encounter. However, the Cubs prevailed 5-4 in the second meeting to salvage a doubleheader split.

The matchup between the Schwaz Tigers and Athletics Attnang-Puchheim was rescheduled for Monday due to rain, while the RiCo Highlanders earned a pair of forfeit wins against the Schwechat Blue Bats.

AUSTRIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. Vienna Wanderers (18-3)
2. Attnang-Puchheim Athletics (17-4)
3. Vienna Metrostars (13-8)
4. Schwaz Tigers (13-10)
5. Schwechat Blue Bats (10-16)
6. Stock City Cubs (9-15)
7. SU Kufstein Vikings (5-17)
8. RiCo Highlanders (4-16)

Visit the Austrian Baseball and Softball Federation website

Marvin Moore is a freelance international baseball writer who coached in Europe for six years. He currently teaches baseball to Filipino Kids at the Future Stars Baseball School.

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CZECH REPUBLIC – AVG Draci Brno continued its late-season surge with a pair of impressive victories last Saturday to extend its Czech League winning streak to seven games. The reigning 16-time national champion has a 1 1/2 game lead over second-place Kotlarka Prague.

Draci (23-6) picked up a key 7-2 win against Kotlarka (23-9) in the front end of a mixed doubleheader, and completed a twinbill sweep with a 15-5 rout over Eagles Prague. Technika Brno (19-11) also dealt setbacks to both the Eagles and Kotlarka.

Saturday, August 13th
AVG Draci Brno 7, Kotlarka Prague 2
Technika Brno 6, Eagles Prague 5
AVG Draci Brno 15, Eagles Prague 5
Technika Brno 11, Kotlarka Prague 1

On Sunday, MZLU Express Brno (13-18) tallied wins over Arrows Ostrava (13-17) and Skokani Olomouc (7-23) in another set of mixed twinbills featuring four squads.

Sunday, August 14th
MZLU Express Brno 4, Arrows Ostrava 3
Skokani Olomouc 9, NAVISYS Hrosi Brno 5
MZLU Express Brno 7, Skokani Olomouc 4
Arrows Ostrava 6, NAVISYS Hrosi Brno 2

NAVISYS Hrosi Brno (7-25) remained in the league cellar after suffering losses at the hands of Ostrava and Olomouc.

CZECH BASEBALL LEAGUE
1. AVG Draci Brno (23-6)
2. Kotlarka Prague (23-9)
3. Technika Brno (19-11)
4. Eagles Prague (18-14)
5. Arrows Ostrava (13-17)
6. MZLU Express Brno (13-18)
7. Skokani Olomouc (7-23)
8. NAVISYS Hrosi Brno (7-25)

Marvin Moore is a freelance international baseball writer who coached in Europe for six years. He currently teaches baseball to Filipino Kids at the Future Stars Baseball School.

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THE NETHERLANDS – Wesley Connor and Vince Rooi both delivered two-run singles in a pivotal seventh-inning rally to help the L&D Amsterdam Pirates sweep Corendon Kinheim with a 6-4 comeback win Sunday in the first round of the Dutch Major League playoffs.

Kinheim (0-3) grabbed a quick lead with a pair of opening frame scores off Amsterdam starter Frank van Heijst. The Pirates cut the lead in half in the fourth on Roland Henrique’s run-scoring base hit, but the visitors added an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of Rene Cremer in the top of the seventh to hold a 3-1 lead.

DUTCH MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
1. L&D Amsterdam Pirates (3-0)
2. Vaessen Pioniers (2-1)
3. DOOR Neptunus (1-2)
4. Corendon Kinheim (0-3)

The Pirates (3-0) sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the same frame and plated five scores to finish off the three-game sweep.

Reliever Rik Geestman (1-0) worked a scoreless inning to earn the decision, and bullpen mate Jurrian Koks tallied the final four outs to notch the save.

VAESSEN 6, NEPTUNUS 0
American right-hander Eddie Aucoin tossed a two-hit complete game shutout and the Vaessen Pioniers stunned DOOR Neptunus 6-0 in the rubber match of a Dutch League playoff matchup at Family Stadium in Rotterdam.

Aucoin (1-0), who led the league with 11 wins while spinning an impressive 1.98 ERA in 100 innings, limited the two-time defending Dutch champion to lone singles in the first and fifth. The former fastpitch softball pitcher retired the last 14 batters he faced to finish off a dominant outing.

Mark Duursma paced fourth-seeded Vaessen (2-1) with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate and three RBIs. Michael Duursma and Zerzinho Croes also chipped in a trio of hits.

Thursday, August 11th
DOOR Neptunus 8, Vaessen Pioniers 1

Friday, August 12th
L&D Amsterdam Pirates 2, Corendon Kinheim 1 (10)

Saturday, August 13th
Vaessen Pioniers 4, DOOR Neptunus 2
L&D Amsterdam Pirates 13, Corendon Kinheim 2

Sunday, August 14th
Vaessen Pioniers 6, DOOR Neptunus 0
L&D Amsterdam Pirates 6, Corendon Kinheim 4

* Top two teams after round robin advances to Holland Series

Marvin Moore is a freelance international baseball writer who coached in Europe for six years. He currently teaches baseball to Filipino Kids at the Future Stars Baseball School.

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MLB Players to bring Baseball to the Youth of Europe

After the tremendous success of the inaugural event in 2010, the European Big League Tour proudly announces – in cooperation with Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) – the Tour’s return for 2011.

This November, a group of MLB stars are set to participate in the second European Big League Tour. Events will be held from Saturday, November 5, 2011 through Sunday, November 13, 2011 for youth baseball audiences in The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Italy.

Tour organizers are expecting as many as ten big league players to make the trip across the Atlantic to help make the dreams come true for many young baseball players in Europe.

Opening Day for the 2011 European Big League Tour will be Friday November 4. The event will commence with a VIP Dinner and auction at the Barbizon Palace, Amsterdam, with all proceeds benefitting the Ronald McDonald Foundation.

The Tour was founded by Major League pitcher and native Dutchman, Rick VandenHurk (Baltimore Orioles), and has been supported by MLB and MLBPA. It was established to promote the game of baseball throughout Europe, stimulate baseball’s return to the Olympics, support the many Baseball Academies in the region and bring the dream (that turned into a reality for Rick) closer to the aspiring youth baseball players throughout Europe.

Dates:
November 4 th VIP Dinner and Auction at Barbizon Palace, Amsterdam
November 5 th Clinic – Utrecht
November 6 th Clinic – Ronald McDonald Centre Amsterdam
November 9 th Clinic – Krc gym, Prague, Czech Republic
November 12 th Clinic – Parma or Rome, Italy.

For additional information visit www.europeanbigleaguetour.com

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