Czech baseball is looking forward to September. For second time in European Championships history will European best national teams compete in Czech Republic for gold medal. For the first time EC was hosted here in the country in 2005 and during that tournament we proved we can organize such important event. Since that year other big events in Czech Republic – World Baseball University Games 2008 and even one of the round robin groups of World Cup 2009 were successfully organized within the country. But nor only because of organizational skills Czech Republic was selected as organizer.
Czech Baseball Association decided for new concept of the event, which is same as in many other sports, when championship will be hosted by two countries. Round robin groups will be hosted by Ostrava and Regensburg, then teams will move to Brno, teams on lower positions will compete in Třebíč. EC was scheduled also according Czech Television possibilities to cover live all Czech National team games. And this cooperation with Czech TV will have influence to potential small changes of games schedule, if any.
From organizational point of view preparations of European Championships are going on. The fact, that hosting cities support event from their budgets, is good sign for organizers and important for success of the event. So Czech Baseball Association can confirm to participating teams, that selection of Czech Republic by their delegates at CEB Congress several years ago was good choice.
Also Czech fans can prove on home fields, that their support to national team is bigger and bigger. For example during World Baseball Classic in Regensburg 2012 their support was outstanding and created good atmosphere in the stadium even during up and down weather conditions.
But the most important criteria for sports fans will be EC results of our team on the fields. Czech baseball is very active in youth categories, teams participate at European championships and World Cups and between senior´s teams we belong to continuously improving national teams. Team did very well during previous EC 2012 at Netherlands, where we for the first time ever beat Dutch national team, which was hot candidate for gold medal. And our team played close games against other top teams including further champions Italy. At the same year 2012 we received invitation to prestigious tournament of best pro players, World Baseball Classic, where we again proved to Major League Baseball quality of or players.
On the home fields, with support of Czech fans, we could attack the highest positions within Europe this September. Mike Griffin as head coach, with his assistants Lee Corry, Peter Baroch, Michal Müller and Hynek Čapka already started to get team ready for EC. The program started last year in USA and follows during several events in Europe.
The goal is to reach higher standings, moving up from fifths position within Europe. We already reached fifths place several times and it is time to promote to fourth position or even medal position. Position better then fifths will prove our game level continuing growth. On national team roster there are players, which went through complete youth program. They gained international experience, some of them played several year in USA, signed pro contracts with MLB teams and are followed by international scouts.
But to reach good results against traditional top medal teams is not easy. Top teams will be as always two. Italy, defending champions, has 10 gold medals and total 28 medals from EC. And Dutch team, which surprisingly did not succeed at home in 2012, has 20 gold medals and total 29 medal standings. Another successful team is Spain, which won 15 bronze medals. Another tough competitor will be Germany due to their improvements. Also all other teams can surprise, candidates for good positions will be more and each game in round robin group will be very important.
Now it is time to prove good results from international events and to entertain Czech baseball fans during games and also by final standings. If the team succeeded we will know September.
From: PBW Bulletin, Jan Bagin