TOP 5 from baseball Extraliga 2020
With the year 2020 ending, we will look at the top moments of Czech baseball 2020 Extraliga. With an eventful season, it was difficult to pick only 5 moments.
In the end, Kotlářka Praha no-hitter (CZ), Matěj Menšík’s performance, or demotion of Technika didn’t make it. We are nevertheless encouraging you to comment below with your TOP 5 moments of Extraliga 2020.
Draci back at the top
For many years, it was inconcievable for the most successful Czech baseball club to be left out of the Extraliga finale. However, season 2019 saw Draci from Brno fall before the gates of Top 2. There were even rumors that the situation could repeat itself next seasons. But Draci seemed to be empowered by the defeat and won their 22nd title in 2020.
Extraliga without foreigners
In the year of corona virus the travelling between different countries became complicated. Czech Extraliga reacted to the situation by playing the season without foreigners, with expception of those, who live in the country long-term. Without foreigners the quality of the league suffered, however, it didn’t hurt its attractiveness. Young Czech players showed their potential and many of them even outplayed their more experienced colleagues.
Kubica’s performance
Despite not taking any personal award this year, Jakub Kubica showed his great talent. He managed to regularly reach the base and only striked out couple of times. In the end, he created a new record for OBP in the regular season, overperforming Jiří Víšek (article (CZ)) by a sizeable margin.
Covid-19 had no chance
Czech Extraliga became first baseball league to start in Europe, and after CPBL and KBO, third baseball league in the world. And despite rough ending, Extraliga was finished on schedule without any sizeable delays.
Decreasing number of teams
Probably the most important event this year was the decision of the ČBA to decrease the size of Extraliga for the following seasons. The 2022 season will be played with only 8 teams (article). Decreasing the number of teams promises close games in the next season.
