The third game day at the European Cup in Rotterdam on Thursday saw quite some offense with ASD Rimini, Draci Brno and Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam claiming wins. Two more days of first-round games are on the schedule. The best two teams will advance to the final on Sunday.

Templiers Senart – ASD Rimini 2-11

Box score

ASD Rimini scored early and often in an 11-2 victory over the Templiers Senart on Thursday morning at Family Stadium. The Pirates put eight of its eleven runs on the board in the first two frames. Stefano Desimoni, Ray Olmedo and Giuseppe Mazzanti scored two runs apiece. Mazzanti also collected three RBI. On the mound Tommaso Cherubini allowed just two hits in five scoreless innings for the win. Alessandro Biondi had more trouble, but still closed it out for a rare four-inning save. Christopher Morel got charged with all 11 runs on nine hits and a whopping 11 walks. Rolando Merino had three hits for Senart. Rimini improved to 3-0 in the tournament, while the Templiers dropped to 1-2.

KNTU Elizavetgrad – Draci Brno 6-11

Box score

Martin Schneider and Adam Hajtmar homered and drove in a combined seven runs as Draci Brno won its first game at the European Cup in Rotterdam. The reigning Czech champion scored four runs in the first on route to defeat KNTU Elizavetgrad 11-6 in the afternoon game on Thursday. Michael Kremlacek scored three runs for Brno. Radim Chroust went the distance for the win. Kostiantyn Boiko went 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored for KNTU. Dmytro Limarenko took the loss, surrendering ten hits, seven runs (5 ER) and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Heidenheim Heidekoepfe – Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam 1-15 (7)

Box score

Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam took advantage of four errors in an eight-run second inning to decide the outcome in a 15-1 lopsided victory over the Heidenheim Heidekoepfe on Thursday evening. Four runs in the fifth and seventh in the seventh led to an early ending due to ten-run rule. Rien Vernooij crossed the plate for three runs. Christian Diaz had three hits, two runs and a RBI in the box score. Shaldimar Daantji and Adrian Anthony combined for four RBI. Kenny van den Branden and three relievers kept the German vice champion to six hits and a walk. Heidenheim loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, looking for the comeback. But they managed only one run on a single by Johannes Krumm. Tyler Lockwood took the loss, being charged with eight runs in 2 1/3 innings, but only one was earned.

Outlook

The Heidenheim Heidekoepfe will have a quick turnaround, as they will face the winless KNTU Elizavetgrad on Friday morning at 10.30am. At 3pm ASD Rimini looks for its fourth win in the tournament against Draci Brno. In the evening at 7.30pm the Templiers Senart hope to hand host Curacao Neptunus its first loss.

Standings

Pos Team GP WO LO AVG GB 1 A.S.D. Rimini (ITA) A.S.D. Rimini (ITA) 3 3 0 1000 0 1 Curaçao Neptunus (NED) Curaçao Neptunus (NED) 3 3 0 1000 0 3 Heidenheim Heideköpfe (GER) Heidenheim Heideköpfe (GER) 3 1 2 333 2 3 Draci Brno (CZE) Draci Brno (CZE) 3 1 2 333 2 3 Templiers Senart (FRA) Templiers Senart (FRA) 3 1 2 333 2 6 KNTU Elizavetgrad (UKR) KNTU Elizavetgrad (UKR) 3 0 3 0 3

Complete Schedules and Live Play by Play at www.baseballstats.eu

Livestreams of the European Cups:

Rotterdam (Games of ASD Rimini) http://m.ustream.tv/channel/rimini-baseball-live

Paris http://original.livestream.com/pucbaseball

Chartres http://livestream.com/accounts/13242543/events/4095514

Photo by Michel Sterrenberg