On the diamonds of Amsterdam and Bussum, Parma Clima on the hunt for the sixteenth Baseball Champions Cup

On the Dutch diamonds of Amsterdam and Bussum the European Champions Cup kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, with Italy representing only from Parma Climate European champion 2021 and 2022, after the renunciations of San Marino and UnipolSai Bologna.

The Emilian formation is the queen of the Cups of the Old Continent, with 15 trophies placed on the bulletin board and five finals. Marcello Saccardi’s boys have been in the Netherlands since Sunday evening, in view of the debut on Tuesday at 3pm against the Untouchables Paderborn (Germany), second team with a record of 12-8 in the northern group of the Bundensliga. On the mountain keep an eye on Quinn Di Pasquale (3-1, 1.96) and Mark Harrison (3.38).

The ducals arrive at the most important club competition in excellent condition, thanks to a qualifying phase with top marks without defeats and a more than promising start to the Scudetto poule with a brace at the expense of Bologna and with three shutouts at the expense of Senago . And the good news of Luis Lugo’s return has arrived precisely against Alessandro Bortolomai’s Lombards, for whom Parma will defend the scepter with the full squad. Saccardi will have to check the condition of his and choose the right starter for these first outings. In the ballot Fabiani, Bocchi, but also Guillen. In the entourage there is optimism and the right drive to become protagonists as in the past.

Parma will also find Amsterdam (Wednesday at 7.30pm) and Draci Brno (Thursday at 3pm) in the qualifying round. The home team is currently in third place in the standings with 33 points, behind Neptunus Rotterdam and Hcaw who lead with 41 points and present themselves with several defections compared to the 2022 edition, in which they reached the final. The Pirates bet on starters Michael Bennet, Finn Kragt, Benjamin Mejer and Sven Van de Sanden. The best in the box are Denzel Richardson (348), Roelie Henrique and Alex Madera. Good team Draci, who won the Extraliga (13-8) and now leads the Top 6.

In Bussum, the Dutch champion Hcaw aims to enter for the third final flight (lost the first two). Delano Selassa from Amsterdam is the best hitter (383, 19pbc, 2hr), followed by Jeandro Tromp (380, 19pbc). Dennis Burgersdijk (6-0, 1.13), Lars Huijer (6-0, 0.33) and Kaj Timmermans (3-0, 0.83) are more than reliable starters. The group also includes the French Rouen, led by Boris Marche, who is looking for redemption after losing the Challenge of France against Montigny. Absent Esteban Prioul Javier Hernandez. Czech Ostrava comes from the disappointment of being left out of the top six of the Extraliga. Attention to the Bonn Capitals, leaders of the Bundensliga Nord with 13-7 and reigning German champions, who aim to go all the way despite some ailments, starting with the injury of Zach Dodson,

The program of the first day.

Gir. A (Amsterdam): ore 15 Parma Clima-Untouchables Paderborn, ore 19.30 Draci Brno-L&D Amsterdam.

Gir. B (Bussum): ore 15 Bonn Capitals