Russia wins Prague Baseball Week for the first time

Saturday at Eagles Park belonged to the final game of Prague Baseball Week, when Czech Republic played Russia. Last year, both teams finished in semifinal, so the final game gave both the extra motivation (last year, Czech Republic was represented by U23 team).

Russian national team started former Minnesota Twins prosepct Andrey Lobanov. Czech national team went the similar way, with former Baltimore Orioles minors player Jan Novák, who currently playes for Kotlářka Praha. It was Russian team who started the game on a strong note, with several good bat contacts. Czech managed to play a good defense, however, keeping their opponets from reaching the home plate. Especially impressive defensive play by Marek Minařík in the right field, followed by the out at the first base made fans in the stands jump on their feet.

Czechs had to wait till bottom of the 2nd inning for Jakub Malík to collect their first hit. Only few moments later, it was him, who scored the first Czech run. Home team continued to increase their tally, winning 3-0 in bottom of the 5th inning, when Konstantin Porchun substituted Lobanov.

In the 8th inning, Czech team sent Boris Bokaj on the mound. With one out, Russians managed to load the bases, and with three following hits, away team grabbed 4-5 lead. Czechs changed the pitcher, when young Filip Čapka substituted Bokaj. Čapka helped his team with a pickoff on the second base, stopping the Russian offense.

In the bottom of 9th inning, Russians substituted the pitcher once more, sending the Philadelphia Phillies prospect Anton Kuznecov. The new pitcher walked Petr Zýma, followed by an error after Filipa Smola’s bunt. Czechs had two runners in the scoring positions without any out. Jakub Hajtmar registered a RBI after a sacrifical hit, which evened the score. Martin Mužík then blasted the baseball to the warning track, however, Russians managed get Filip Smola at the home plate. Mužík got himself to the third base with two outs and the score even. Marek Chlup didn’t manage to put the baseball in play, however, and 9th inning ended with a strikeout.

Russians managed to grab the lead in the 10th inning after triple from Luis Valiente. Czech team had a huge task ahead of them, losing 5-9. Home team, however, didn’t manage to get a hit against Kuznecov and Russian national team could celebrate their first win at Prague Baseball Week.

U18 Czech national team took the third place, when they won games against both Prague Selection and International Stars.

Po dnešních dvou výrhách nad Prague Selection a International Stars obsadila česká reprezentace U18 na tomto turnaji 3. místo.#MBkratce#baseballczech
© Jan Bauer pic.twitter.com/22cQ1CuAJR

— Milujeme Baseball (@MilujemeBasebal) October 3, 2020

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