Christmas gift for the “Bonn Capitals” team

The director of “Bonn Capitals” team, Florean Nering has prepared real Christmas surprise for his team. He has signed the contract with an experienced baseball player from the United States, Angelo Paulino. He will play on the pitcher position and in addition will serve as an assistant coach in Bundesliga. Paulino is 30 years old sportsman, before he had been playing in the team of minor league “Lynchburg Hillcats. Currently he lives in Germany.

Angelo was born in the Dominican Republic. In 2006 he was invited to join “Atlanta Braves” team, which is a part of the Major Baseball League. He did not make great progress there, but his game was successful in the several championships of the Minor League. He got married with German woman and moved to Felbert, Germany. He hasn’t played baseball since 2012. ”But I would like to win one more championship during my career. I am confident of “Bonn Capitals” team”, – said Angelo.

For “Capitals” team members of which will remain unchanged in 2017 new player is a breath of fresh air and support for Bradley Roper- Hubbert, the head coach of the team. ”Angelo`s experience will help us during trainings and also will help to reduce a pressure on Bradley, when he is on the field”, – said director of the team. “We are constantly searching and negotiating about other new players. But we haven’t got an urgent need to fill up the team, because the present full team is very strong, as well as in 2016”.

Austrian Baseball Federation starts the off-season interviews

In order to while away the time until the new season start (it will be in in spring 2017) Austrian Baseball Federation will conduct the series of interview with outstanding persons of the Austrian baseball.
Michael Schmidt has become the first one in this series. Michael Schmidt, the executive director of the World confederation of baseball and softball, shares his thoughts towards international baseball.

Does WBSC rely on the new mass media to make baseball more popular?

Yes, of course we greatly rely on mass media because nowadays media plays a great role in world society. They propose a great amount of interesting information including useful information about baseball and softball as well. Of course we are very proud these spots have already become international ones. And we are still trying to use more and more various media; especially it concerns social networks. We do it for the baseball and softball promotion via social networks because today more and more people are active users of new technologies.

What are the long-terms goals of WBSC?

We have been already organizing the regular baseball championships U12 and U23. In general softball also has a lot of championships. Concerning the organization, advertising, broadcasting, sponsors and so on we work hard every day to place these championships on the highest level.

Baseball and softball will become part of the Olympic Games 2020. Was it difficult to convince the IOC to include them in the program?

Tokyo helps us a lot in this issue, because these sports are well developed and popular in Japan. In order to become the Olympic sport, it is necessary to have great support, which includes financial aspects as well. The IOC president, Thomas Bach, made wise decision allowing host cities of the Olympic Games to participate in the choosing of additional sports in the games program. Therefore, he has made enough in order we receive positive result. And it is unimportant where the next games will be. Whether Olympics will be in Paris or in Los Angeles, no matter, we want to participate in these competitions.
It must be noted we had more difficulties deciding to unite Federation of baseball and Federation of softball in one organization. Before we hadn’t had a specific model how two organizations with such a long history can be united and work well. Each of them has its own vision on certain issues; therefore it was difficult to reach a consensus.

You were responsible for the “Back to Olympics” campaign. Can you say today your dream has come true?

We still have enough work to do. Today there are even more issues after baseball and softball became the Olympic sports. There is a question whether they are necessary there? And I can say yes, they are very necessary. It was my own dream, and it is not because I am a die-hard fan of these sports, but because both baseball and softball have great potential which hasn’t been used before. I think taking into account achievements, world championships and number of fans who enthusiastically support favorite teams and visit matches it is obvious baseball and softball undoubtedly have to be part of the Olympic Games.

“I knew nothing about baseball at the age of 20”, Yuriy Boyko

Recently the legendary coach of the “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad” baseball team celebrated his anniversary. Yuriy Boyko can be for sure called a great Ukrainian athlete. He is the first coach of a multiple champion of Ukraine “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad”. Thanks to Mr. Boyko baseball has been popularizing in Ukrainian step by step, from year to year. Just Yuriy Boyko is a person who has helped his hometown to become the biggest baseball center of Ukraine. Besides the title of Honored Coach of Ukraine, Yuriy Boyko has numerous awards, titles and medals.

Outstanding coach is extremely proud of the fact baseball is constantly gaining popularity in Ukraine. He says that despite the fact Kirovograd city is the capital of Ukrainian baseball in other regions it also occupies an important place. In all big Ukrainian cities there are boys who play baseball. Though they play not professionally, it is just a hobby. But young sportsmen first of all do it not to get the victory or win medals, but because they like this kind of sport. Young teams and baseball players who show great results are the main hope that Ukrainian baseball has a bright future.

There is an interesting fact from Mr. Boyko’s life. It is hard to believe but he devoted significant part of life to football. In eighties he was a successful coach of one of the Ukrainian teams. At that time, if someone would have told him he would change football to baseball, he would think it was a joke. What is interesting, being 20 years old Yuriy Boyko even haven`t heard about baseball. For the first time he got to know about it in 1989. Inspired by this game, he gave up football, although he was known as a successful coach at that time.

“I must say quite unexpectedly I was offered to become a part of baseball life. But my physical state was perfect for this kind of sport. So I decided why not. And decide to try. It was interesting and new for me” – says Yuriy Boyko.

Mr. Yuriy had a lot of offers to work abroad. But for him, his family is always on the first place. That’s why he turned down a lot of coaching offers during his career.

The coach always says there is a room for improvement anyway and in any deal. Even heading multiple champions and being one of the best coaches in Europe, Yuriy Boyko believes there is always a place for progress, development and improvement. Moreover, success in baseball life is not a personal achievement. It`s a hard work of the whole team.

“Motivation is the main thing in our sphere. Despite all the success, we don`t reduce the rate. For several years “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad” plays in European Cup, Group A. To match strong teams, we must always play on the highest level and improve our results”, – notes Yuriy Boyko.

Although, whatever successes the team has, Mr. Boyko says he hasn`t reached his baseball goals yet. Most of all he seeks to better development of baseball infrastructure in Ukraine. Children, who are engaged in this kind of sport, must realize and be sure they will be able to make baseball not only a great hobby but professional work as well.

Group of Major Leaguers coming to Israel

A group of 11 Major League Baseball players and former Major League stars will be visiting Israel from January 3-10. The players are members of the Team Israel baseball team that will play in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament in March 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. The team won its place in the tournament by qualifying at a tournament in Brooklyn, New York in September.

According to the rules of the WBC, players who are eligible for citizenship of a country are allowed to play on that country’s team. As a result, Jewish baseball players are eligible to play on Team Israel. This will be the first time that American Jewish baseball players represent Team Israel in a world championship. The team will visit tour Israel, including visiting the holy sites in Jerusalem, an air force base, Masada and the Dead Sea. They will also spend time meeting the local Israeli baseball players of the Israel Association of Baseball, and will have practices for the tournament. An event will be held on January 5 at the Baptist Village at 16:00 where members of the IAB can come to meet the players and watch them practice. The group will be accompanied by a film crew that will make a documentary of the trip.

This is an extremely exciting event for Israel baseball in particular and for sport in Israel in general,” says Peter Kurz, President of the Israel Association of Baseball. “The team is clearly the most impressive Jewish sports team ever assembled, and we are very proud that they will be representing Israel at the WBC. This trip will be an excellent opportunity for them to learn about Israel and meet the teams and players in Israel that will be supporting them at the WBC.” The trip is sponsored by JNF Project Baseball, Jeff Aeder, founder of the Jewish Baseball Museum and other donors.

Children’s baseball Tournament U11 in Malta

The Ghajnsielem Redcoats held its first-ever Quadrangular Baseball Tournament for children ages eleven and under.  This tournament was endorsed by the Malta Baseball & Softball Association, with the support of the Ministry for Sport Malta and the Gozo Sport Board.  The aim of this tournament was to help introduce children to baseball fundamentals and improve their skills through competition against other clubs. The Redcoats hosted the Luxol Mustangs, the Mellieha Cubs and the Verdala Falcons for this full-day event.  

Six games were played in total, three of which was coach-pitch (which is the next level after tee-ball) and machine-pitch. The machine-pitch games allowed the children to focus on their hitting skills due to the location-consistency of such pitches. A total of fifty children participated in this tournament along with a dozen coaches and officials. Redcoats’ President Joseph Scicluna called this tournament a success and hopes to organize this tournament annually. All four teams would like to thank the great amount of parents from both Malta and Gozo who showed up to support their children.

Bet Shemesh Municipality Agrees to Build New Baseball Field

The Bet Shemesh municipality has signed an agreement with the Bet Shemesh Baseball non-profit organization, which will allow it to build a new baseball field in the center of Bet Shemesh. This is the first time that a municipality has signed such an agreement with any Israeli baseball entity. The Bet Shemesh amuta works under the auspices of the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB).
This agreement gives Bet Shemesh Baseball the right to build and maintain the field and have full control of its use. The plans for the field include a regulation-sized baseball field for adult play, and two smaller fields for youth baseball, as well as batting cages, dugouts, lights and stands. Building will begin in January, and will be completed by the end of 2017. A ground breaking ceremony will be held on the site on Friday, January 6, and will be attended by visiting MLB players.
“We will finally have a proper venue for the children of Bet Shemesh to play the sport they love, baseball,” says Jordy Alter, chairman of the Bet Shemesh Baseball Amuta. “We currently have about 135 players in Bet Shemesh, but for many years we haven’t been able to grow this popular sport because we’ve lacked field space. This field will be the start of major growth for baseball in Bet Shemesh.”
The project received the full support of Bet Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbol, as well as from Bet Shemesh Head of Sport Itzik Kanizo. The JNF’s Project Baseball and Softball was instrumental in enabling the Amuta in partnership with the IAB to turn this vision into a reality.
“This project is just the beginning,” says IAB President Peter Kurz. “This will be one of several fields that we will be building throughout Israel with the support of the JNF’s Project Baseball and Softball. As we build more fields, we will expand baseball and turn it into one of the leading team sports in Israel.”

Team Europe concludes Asia Baseball Winter League with 4 Wins in 2016

Team Europe showed a much improved performance at the Asia Baseball Winter League in Taiwan compared to their first appearance last year. Competing against selections from the professional leagues in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, the team managed by Andrea D’Auria and former Major Leaguer Desi Relaford captured four wins in 17 games overall.

Federico Celli (Italy) had Europe’s best batting average.  Jesus Ustariz (Spain) was Europe’s best batter. Dudley Leonora (Netherlands) led the team with two home runs, Celli with 15 runs scored and Leomartis Rodriguez (Spain) with 16 RBI.

On the mound Eduard Pirvu (Romania) and New York Yankees minor leaguer Artur Strzalka (Poland) had the best ERA on the team. Marc-Andre Habeck (France) and Strzalka led the team with 13 respective 12 strikeouts. Pirvu, Habeck, Nicolo Clemente (Italy) and Alessandro Ciarla (Italy) picked up one win each. Owen Ozanich (France) pitched the most innings.

No Baseball Week Haarlem in 2018

There will be no 29th Baseball Week Haarlem in 2018! The Organizing Committee of the bi-annual, international event announced that it will not start preparations for the 29th edition in 2018, due to financial problems. This past Summer, in July, the Netherlands Baseball Team won the 28th edition of the event, which was a successful tournament sportively seen. In the budget for the event, the estimated amount of income from sponsors had to be made. Unfortunately, despite a lot of work, the Organizing Committee didn’t succeed in doing so. With that, a financial problem arose. Due to this financial situation, the Organizing Committee found it unjustified to start preparations for the tournament in 2018. ”It was simply unjustified”, stated Tournament President Frits Mulder ,,With pain in our heart, we had to decide to dissolve the Foundation Baseball Week. The Organizing Committee will be dissolved.”. Most of them worked for the event for many, many years. This decision doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the historic international invitation tournament that brought thousands of baseball-fans to the stadium every two years and is a showpiece of Dutch baseball since 1961. The current Foundation Baseball Week has been dissolved and the current Organizing Committee will step down.

However, in coming months, it could be possible that a new Foundation could be created and a new Organizing Committee could be ensembled. When that happens, they could be able to organize a tournament after all in 2018. Maybe in a smaller setting, with a team less, fewer playing days, etc. Maybe a tournament with the participation of European teams only. However, the keywords are of course MONEY and SPONSORING! The first Haarlem Baseball Week was organized in 1961. Since 1963, the event was held at the Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem. Since 1972, the Haarlem Baseball Week was organized every two years. The lone exception in this period was 1986 when the World Championship was organized for the first time in the Netherlands.

CEB will hold new program of coaches’ certifications in Ukraine

As you were informed before, ISG and CEB will start a new program of certifications of the coaches around the Europe. Main idea is that we would have all of the coaches property educated in the future, and also to divide them in to the different categories based on their knowledge. We will start this program in December this year. The first two clinics will be held in Croatia and Ukraine. Both of the clinics will be Level 1 coaches, because we have to start from somewhere. To get Level 1 degree, coaches will be obligated to pass the test on the last day of the clinics. Our plan is that those who pass the first level, qualifies to go on the Level 2 clinics next year with higher education level. And then move up to the higher levels.

We have 2 hosts’ countries this year and all of the Federations are welcomed to apply for the clinics. The first one will be held in Karlovac, Croatia, starting on Friday, December 2nd in the afternoon and will be finished on Sunday December 4th in the afternoon. The second one will be held in Kiev, starting on Friday, December 9th and will be finished on Sunday December 11th. Contact email for the application for Croatia is hrvatski.baseball.savez@gmail.com. Participation fee for Croatia is 15 Euro per coach, and the last day of the application is Sunday, November 27th. Contact email for the application for Ukraine is victor.titarchuk@fbis.kiev.ua Participation fee for Ukraine is 10 Euro per coach, and the last day of the application is Sunday, December 4th. After the applications, all the coaches will receive materials for the clinic and for the final test. If you have any question please contact our CEB office.

http://www.baseballeurope.com/  

“KNTU-Yelisavetgrad ” changed its name and found a benefactor

“Horn”, “KDTU”, “KNTU-OSHVSM”, “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad” – baseball team,which represents the Ukrainian city Kropivnitskiy (former Kirovograd) had many names. This year Kirovograd city has changed its name and it coincidental that team changed the name as well. Thus Kropivnitskiy baseball club has started a new life as a «BioTexCom» team. Name changes don’t effect on success of Ukrainian athletes. «BioTexCom» team (former “KNTU-Yelisavetgrad”) once again became the undefeated champion of Ukraine. All these years the team has been showing great results under watchful eyes of honored coaches of Ukraine Yuri and Oleg Boiko. Baseball players Pavlo Sivirinchuk, Dmytro Nelipa and Ruslan Deykun are full of strength, energy and inexhaustible humor, and are among the undisputed leaders of the team.

«BioTexCom» team became the winner of the Ukraine Baseball Championship 2016.  

But it is not the only cause for rejoicing. Not so long ago, sponsor has taken the team under his financial wing. Center for Human Reproduction, which is very popular among European patients, supports Ukrainian baseball players and roots their game.

This year the «BioTexCom» team had a great opportunity to fly to the championship in France by plane and obtain comfortable accommodations. All these are thanks to a new team’s sponsor. It is to be recalled that during previous years athletes had to travel long distances by bus, because of lack of funds.

Currently financial backer of the «BioTexCom» team has initiated and funded reconstruction of the main stadium in Kropivnitskiy city. The great news also came from for the International Olympic Committee.

The Committee included baseball game in competition’s program of the Olympics 2020 that will take place in Tokyo. Players of the «BioTexCom» team have great sport talents and physical form. With the help of its sponsor it is quite possible that the world will see the team at the Olympic competitions.

It must be noted «BioTexCom» is one of the strongest baseball clubs among the Ukrainian teams. During the last 22 years team has won the Ukrainian Championship for twenty-one times! Athletes didn’t always have an opportunity to attend international competitions. It was due to the lack of funding, sports equipment and bad stadiums for training at home. Now, having support of sponsor, the team’s aims and results will be higher! Watching the «BioTexCom» team games it can be confidently said – to be continued!

Kenley Jansen moves to the US

The National team of Netherlands lost one of the players. Kenley Jansen signed a contract with Los Angeled Dodgers. Next 5 years right-hander will spend at Chavez Ravine. This deal was rather successful for the 29-year-old player. By the way, there two more teams which invited Kenley to play with them: the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins. However, Jansen himself, preferred Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Enrico Crepaldi leaves T&A San Marino

Enrico Crepaldi, a well-known left-handed pitcher, returned to Tommasin Padua. Last season he pitched for T&A San Marino. Next year he will continue his cooperation with the Italian Baseball League. It is worth noting that it will be his fourth season with Padua. He played one in the Serie A and two in the IBL. This summer was rather productive for him. He had 8.31 ERA in 8 2/3 innings for T&A. Hope his game will get better and better. 

Shawn Zarraga is a new member of the Cincinnati Reds

Dutch catcher Zarraga have signed a contract with a minor league. Next 2017 season, he will play together with the Cincinnati Reds. He rather glad to play in Major League Baseball. This year he spent with Los Angeles Dodgers. For the next season, the management of the team decided to invite Carlos Ruiz to occupy this position. He is a former player of Philadelphia Phillies. Ruiz appreciates such invitation greatly. Big league is a dream of any baseball player. And he is not the exception.

Rubric: Bulls-eye Statements by Famous Baseball Figures

Ernie Harwell was a famous sportscaster. He called the action on the radio or TV for 55 seasons! In 2009 Harwell was called one of the best sportscasters in the world of All Time.

His quotes are famous even now. They still encourage and inspire. Hope you will like them too. 

American Baseball Clinic 2016

This year ABC took place in Sant Boi, Spain. Trot Nixon, Scott Emerson, Carlos Chavez and Jay Stott took an active part throughout the event. For two days, 29^th - 30^th November, young baseball players had the opportunity to get unforgettable emotions and valuable experience from talented sportsmen. They organized two sessions of three hours. In general, 45 children were lucky to visit the event.

Famous pitcher Scott Emerson together with his college Carlos Chavez, taught children how to throw a ball. They also shared the secrets of their successful baseball career.

Trot Nixon was responsible for trainings in outfielding.

Finally, all participants of the event had the opportunity to make photos with famous baseball stars and to get their autographs.

You can`t be as good as, you have to be better than

Baseball is not a game, it’s a passion

Fabrizio De Robbio and Vincenzo Mignola are new Vice Presidents of FIBS

Andrea Marcon was chosen a new president of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation. After the elections which took place on Wednesday, new council of FIBS organized the first meeting. The positions of first and second vice presidents were given to Fabrizio De Robbio and Vincenzo Mignola.

At the beginning og the 2017, there will be elections of vice presidents at ESF and CEB. Italy already has two candidates for these positions. Daniela Castellani and Marco Mannucci are rather interested in such good positions. It`s a well-known fact, that the position of vice president in such organizations is a good career prospect.

Play Hard. Work Hard. And success will attend you