The qualifying tournament for the World Baseball Classics starts in Regensburg on Friday. In addition to the hosts Germany, four other top European teams, Great Britain, France, Spain and the Czech Republic, as well as the team from South Africa, will compete. The top two teams qualify for next year’s World Baseball Classics.
Full article: Baseball and Emancipation: The Series “A League of Their Own”
One of the biggest baseball events in Europe
The German team hopes to use their home advantage in the Armin-Wolf-Arena. Finally, the pitchers Sven Schüller, an active Regensburg legionnaire, and Niklas Rimmel, a former legionnaire, are represented. Rimmel has a professional contract in Major League Baseball (MLB) and currently plays with the Minnesota Twins. The national team starts the tournament on Saturday (September 17, 7 p.m.).
Even if Steve Janssen, head coach of the German national baseball team, does not want to be tied down to a prediction in the run-up to the tournament: the chances for his team are good. His players met in Regensburg ten days ago to start preparing for the tournament. Six friendlies against the Czech Republic in Prague and South Africa in Heidenheim ended for Germany with three wins, one draw and two defeats. Nevertheless, the preparation was successful, according to the association.
Arena rebuilt for the tournament
In order to offer the best conditions for the team and tournament, the Armin-Wolf-Arena – home of the Regensburg legionnaires – was expanded. Among other things, a new state training center was built. Preparations for one of the biggest baseball events in Europe are almost complete. “The team is doing a really good job here. The organization is in place. We can look forward to great days – with great sport and everything else that belongs to baseball,” said Armin Zimmermann, Managing Director of the Legionnaires, in a press release.
International Legionnaires players involved
In addition to the two German players, the Bundesliga team from Regensburg will also be represented in other nations. Legionnaire pitcher Jan Tomek plays for the Czech Republic. Daniel Mendelsohn will be active in the first game (Friday, September 16, 1 p.m.) when South Africa meets Spain. The decision as to which team is allowed to go to the World Baseball Classics 2023 will only be made on the last day of the tournament (Wednesday, September 21, 7 p.m.).
World Cup next spring
The World Baseball Classics are organized by the MLB and are therefore of great importance for baseball. There are two qualifying tournaments: one in Regensburg and one in Panama, where teams from South and Central America, as well as teams from Oceania and Asia will compete for two tickets to next spring’s World Cup. On the other hand, the top favorites from the USA and Japan have already qualified.
