by Michal Hanus

How will the season 2014 in Czech Baseball Extraleague look like ?

Draci Brno, champions from 2013 are again the biggest favorite for another title in 2014, they reinforced their roster with australian LHP Wilson Lee, Premek Chroust who is back from mission in Hrosi Brno are they are waiting for another two players Karl Malecek and Jeremy Filipek (both pitchers). The great news for Czech Baseball is that Pavel Budsky is back in baseball.

Kotlarka Praha, vicechampion 2013 has very young and talented team, there are not information about any new imports to team, only return of Chuck Magedanz is known. Team will be reinforced from internal resources, best U21 players will get chance present themselve in “big league”. Expectation from team is to be in higher four, which means semifinal.

Third team from Extraleague 2013 Arrows Ostrava had great off season, because Boris Bokaj, pitcher from Ostrava is back after many years in Germany and Italy. With Greg McCarthy and Jan Rehacek will have really strong pitchers staff. The expectation is to be in higher 4 and no surprise if they will promote to final.

Steven Chambers is back in Technika, together with additional two imports Corey Lyon and Scott Hillier will have also very strong team. Everybody will see whether Jiri Marek will be again homerun king like in past years. The goal for Technika is to be in semifinal at least, but we will see whether they will be successfull.

For 2012 vice champions Eagles Praha was season 2013 unsuccessfull, and the goal for them is to be in higher 4 and at least in semifinal. Some Eagles prospects are back from from USA or Australia and also Jan Drabek is following Pavel Budsky and is back in Eagles roster. New head coach Michal Muller is waiting for a dutch pitcher Ricj Dijck to complete roster for 2014. All above mentioned five teams will fight for four spots in semifinal, we will see who will be there.

Skokani Olomouc are bringing two new imports Bryant Shannon and Paul Hagberg, with australian prospect Cameron Mouse and catcher Jakub Vojak will be the biggest start of team from Olomouc. The goal of Skokani is to be sixt at least to avoid relegation series.

There are no information from Hrosi Brno back office about any reinforcements, but as in previous seasons head coach Tomas Ovesny will play with their original players. Club is building their own baseball facility now, so the main goal for Hrosi is to find permanent home for whole club as soon as it will be possible and also to be sixth at least to avoid relegation series.

The worst team in Extraleague 2013 Tempo Titans Prague avoid relegation to 2nd league in the last game of series against Hluboka. For season 2014 another team from Prague brings two US imports Jake Rabinowitz and Jeremie Flores, slovak national team member Martin Brunegraf and two young prospects from Eagles David Vohanka and Dominik Benatcan. The last reinforcement in Titans squand is extending coach staff within Richard Kania. With this reinforced roster Titans increase their hopes to finish sixth and avoid relegation series.

Czech Baseball Extraleague 2014 will have one major favorite, additional four teams who will fight for three sports in play-offs and additional three teams who will for the sixth place. But everything can be different, one is true there will be another really interesting baseball season in Czech Republic.