SAN MARINO – Defending Italian and Dutch champions T&A San Marino and L&D Amsterdam, respectively, will be the favorites at the 2012 European Cup tournament in San Marino.
The Titans lorded over the IBL last year claiming both the regular season crown and the Italian Series trophy. With a roster filled with a slew of former U.S. minor leaguers, the tourney host will be hard to beat.
The Pirates also put together an electric 2011 campaign, and features a gritty bunch that rarely beats itself. However, the depth of Amsterdam’s bullpen is a concern in a week-long event.
Another team to keep an eye on is Fortitudo Bologna, one of the IBL’s perennial title contenders. Bologna showcases a strong starting rotation that is arguably one of the best in all of European baseball.
Other teams competing in the tournament includes the Paderborn Untouchables (Germany), AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic) and the Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium).
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
Paderborn Untouchables (Germany) vs AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic)
Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium) vs T&A San Marino (San Marino)
Fortitudo Bologna (Italy) vs L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands)
THURSDAY, MAY 31
L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands) vs Paderborn Untouchables (Germany)
AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic) vs Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium)
T&A San Marino (San Marino) vs Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
FRIDAY, JUNE 1
L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands) vs Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium)
Paderborn Untouchables (Germany) vs Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
T&A San Marino (San Marino) vs AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic)
SATURDAY, JUNE 2
Fortitudo Bologna (Italy) vs AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic)
Paderborn Untouchables (Germany) vs Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium)
L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands) vs T&A San Marino (San Marino)
SUNDAY, JUNE 3
Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium) vs Fortitudo Bologna (Italy)
AVG Draci Brno (Czech Republic) vs L&D Amsterdam (Netherlands)
T&A San Marino (San Marino) vs Paderborn Untouchables (Germany)
Marvin Moore is a freelance writer and former int’l baseball coach. He currently teaches baseball to underpriviliged Filipino boys at the Future Stars Baseball School in Bohol, Philippines.
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Eric Bynum is Managing Editor here at Baseball de World and an ESL teacher in South Korea. He has played and/or written about baseball for the past 30 years and is an avid Atlanta Braves fan. Eric also writes for Braves Baseball World and for Call to the Pen.
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