By now it is old news that the Seattle Mariners will pull their single A team, the Modesto Nuts out of Modesto, after the 2024 season. It is not clear yet where the team will go to, but it is clear that the owners of the Mariners are too greedy to pay for the wanted improvements of John Thurman Field. | Earlier this week, the city of Modesto announced that the local affiliated ball club, the Modesto Nuts will leave the town after this season. There have been long negotiations between the Seattle Mariners (owner of the Nuts) and the city of Modesto. But the city of Modesto came up with this s ..read more

Today, yours truly attended the game in the Belgian Division 1 between the Brasschaat Braves and the Borgerhout Squirrels. Here are some photos of an attractive game ..read more

The only game today in the Belgian Division One: Borgerhout Squirrels @ Brasschaat Braves. What appeared to become a walk in the park for the Braves, turned out to become a close game in the end. After a close 7-6 victory yesterday, the Brasschaat Braves stayed at the right side of the score again, as they beat the Borgerhout Squirrels 6-5. Robbe de Boey pitched a solid game in the first six innings, but in the seventh inning the Squirrels started to see his pitches and the fatigue showed up. In the first inning, Raxon Martinez Miranda led off with a single, stole second and third and score ..read more

Today’s Match of The Day is the second game of the doubleheader between Deurne Spartans and Phoenix Mont-Saint-Guibert. After Deurne won game one 4-1, Mont-Saint-Guibert turned the tables in game two and beat the reigning Belgian champions 12-8. In game one, Mont-Saint-Guibert was limited to one run on four hits as it committed two errors. In the second game of the doubleheader, Phoenix would perform a lot better. In the first inning, Phoenix took a bold 3-0 lead. With one out and runners in scoring position (thanks to a passed ball), David Nuñez Alonso singled to center field to drive in the ..read more

In a relatively close game, the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to advance to the finals. Despite one fielding error and one hit less than the Czechs collected, the Dutch stayed at the right side of the score. The Dutch defense appeared to get through the first inning in a quick fashion as they recorded two quick outs. But then a bunt and a walk put runners on base for the Czech Republic. The Czechs even got to third base on a stolen bag but then a 4-3 groundout ended the Czech inning. In the bottom of the same inning, the Dutch grabbed the sole opportunity they got to take the lead ..read more

After victories over Lithuania and Austria, the Netherlands had to take on Italy, that was also unbeaten. Already in the first inning, the Netherlands took a 1-0 lead and never looked back. It was a game in which the Dutch scored many runs with two outs. After a threatening situation on the bases in the top of the first inning, with runners on first and second , Kjeld Koehorst turned a splendid, inning-ending double play. With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the first inning, Andrew Arends singled to right field to drive in the opening run. In the bottom of the second innin ..read more

After the opening game of the tournament, in which the Czech Republic beat France 14 – 4, the Netherlands took on Lithuania in the second game of the day. The Dutch only needed two-and-a-half innings to win it 26 – 0. In the bottom of the fist inning, the Netherlands scored twenty-one (!) runs and never looked back. Dutch starting pitcher Tijn Delamarre started the game by striking out the Lithuanian side in the first inning. The Dutch started with two walks followed by a passed ball and two wild pitches that lead to the first two runs.  After a couple of errors led to the third run, Ru ..read more

In a nail biter and extra innings, Deurne Spartans clinched a walk-off victory over the Austrian champions Diving Ducks Wiener Neustadt. Thanks to this victory, Deurne doesn’t relegate, and Belgium will have two spots in the European Cup in 2025. In a game with free baseball, Deurne Spartans needed to go deep to save Belgium’s spot in the European Cup. Only after three innings, both teams got on the board.  In the fop of the fourth inning, Melvin Perdue singld to third base and advanced to second on the error committed by the Spartans’ third baseman.  Perdue advanced to third on an ..read more

In the final of the Federation Cup in Zürich, Hoboken Pioneers clinched an easy victory over Swedish champions Rättvik Butchers. In nine innings Hoboken beat Rättvik 5-0. Even though today’s result wasn’t a blowout score, Rättvik never came close to winning this game. In no inning, the Butchers did not get past second base.  In the first inning, Hoboken took a lead that never was in jeopardy.  Benjamin Goffaux drew a leadoff walk. During Dennis de Quint’s at-bat, Goffaux stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Eventually, he scored on De Quint’s single down the left fie ..read more

In their fourth and final game of the round robin, Hoboken Pioneers also clinched a victory over the Greystones Mariners from Ireland. Pioneers needed eight mercy rule innings for the win. Hoboken Pioneers  13  –  2  Greystones Mariners In the first inning, Hoboken took a slim 2-1 lead and added a run in the second. But in the bottom of the fourth inning, Greystones cut the lead in half as it scored a run on single down the right field line, hit by Trojan Finarelli.  In the next inning, Pioneers flexed its muscles. Three singles, an HBP, a sac bunt and a double led t ..read more