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by Peter Evans

Mlade Buky, Czech Republic: August 6 -- It was the runaway round-robin winners Pioneers who were favourites to take the 2011 European Slowpitch Cup, played over the last four days in this small Czech mountain town.

But the defending champion Chromies, who managed only a 6-6 record and third place in the round-robin phase of the competition, swept through the Page Playoffs today and defeated Limerick from Ireland in the final to lift the trophy for the second straight time.

Here's how the final day went.

Page Playoff: 3 v 4

A cool, fresh morning greeted the early birds as the fourth seed and tournament hosts Sparks Mlade Buky took on the third seed Chromies in a re-match of the previous evening's cracking contest. Predictably, it was a low-key start, with Sparks holding a 3-1 lead at the halfway point.

The Chromies finally got things going in the bottom of the fourth. Danny Gunn and Moe Flett both singled and Michaela Sulcova drove home Gunn. Pat Hoey reached base on a fielder's choice but when the Sparks shortstop overthrew second, two unearned runs were able to score. Michael Cameron's fly ball was then dropped in foul territory and he took full advantage to drive home Pat Hoey and give the Chromies 5-3 lead.

Sparks were shut out in the fifth, but the Chromies were now hot. Michael Cameron and Marketa Sulcova singled and both scored on singles by Danny Gunn and Moe Flett. A Jake Palmer sac fly scored Gunn to extend the lead to 8-3.

Sparks again failed to close the gap, and the Chromies were now in complete control on both offense and defense, adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on the back of a Michael Cameron triple to post the eventual match-winning 10-3 lead. Sparks quickly folded in the top of the seventh and the Chromies were alive and kicking and would face the losers of the Pioneers-Limerick contest for a place in the final.

Page Playoff: 1 v 2

In the 1 v 2 game, Limerick needed to overturn the form book, which had seen them lose all three of their round-robin fixtures to the Pioneers.

They got off to a fast start on the back of a triple from Michael O'Sullivan and although three runs were scored on five hits and a sac fly in the first inning, the Pioneers dodged a bullet as the Irish left three runners on board.

Pioneers failed to score in reply but the Limerick bats had gone cold after their fast start and they failed to threaten over the next three innings, only getting a total of two runners on base during that stretch.

Pioneers batterMeanwhile, the Pioneers batting was warming up -- slowly. They left two on base in the bottom of the second but the big inning soon arrived in the bottom of the third. Kelly Page and Michael Lee singled, although Lee pulled up with what looked like a thigh strain. After Kim Akehurst flied out, Dan Spinks singled and Page was fortunate to score on an error at home plate by pitcher John Leonard. Laura Brockman batted in Steve Rice, running for Michael Lee, and a sacrifice fly by Robbie Robison allowed Spinks to score. The third inning ended with the game tied at 3-3.

The fourth inning was scoreless, but the Irish finally got things going again when Eric Kelly drove in Brian Hehir to nudge Limerick ahead 4-3.

Pioneers couldn't respond and the Irish engineered another run in the top of the sixth. Ruth Illis singled and advanced on an error and John Leonard's sacrifice fly padded the Irish lead to 5-3.

The Pioneers left two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth and the Irish held their slender lead into the top of the seventh .

Limerick's top of the order then seized the game. Brian Hehir sliced a single into left field. Pru Kjontvedt slapped a single into centre field and Eric Kelly singled to left field to load the bases. Ruth Concannon brought in a run with a sac fly and then Ruth Illis doubled to score Kjontvedt and Kelly. Barry Casey singled to centre field and
the game was now getting away from the Pioneers. Their fielders felt the pressure and an error allowed Sarah Nolan to extend the inning. John Leonard added an RBI single to score Casey and the Irish were out of sight at 10-3.

The Pioneers failed to dent the deficit and Limerick celebrated a crushing victory. The Pioneers would have to lick their wounds and come back fighting in the all-British playoff with the Chromies to decide who would face Limerick in the final.

Page Playoff: The Semi-Final

The semi-final got underway at 2.00 pm and it proved to be a defensive battle throughout, with five out of the seven innings scoreless.

The 0-0 tie was broken by the Chromies in the top of the third. A lead-off walk to Jake Palmer got things going, Pat Hoey got on board with an infield single and soon Chromies had a 4-0 lead.

The Pioneers responded in the bottom of the fourth. Laura Brockman drove in Sandra Lewis with a sacrifice fly and then Gary Hoxby's single halved the deficit as Dan Spinks scored. The next three batters all singled to load the bases but pinch hitter Michael Lee, clearly struggling with his thigh strain, hit into a 6-4 force play and the inning was over with three runners stranded.

The Chromies never threatened another score and the Pioneers desperately tried to find some inspiration to close the 4-2 gap. They looked to have found it when Gary Hoxby doubled in the seventh inning, but his gamble to reach third was thwarted by Moe Flett and the Pioneers' light was extinguished.

Britain's representative in the final would be the Chromies, sending home the team that had dominated the first three days. The Pioneers were left to reflect on a day in which their bats failed them. After leading the tournament in batting average and runs scored and averaging 10 runs a game, they managed just five runs in two games when it mattered most.

The Final

The final was nicely poised. Both teams -- Chromies and Limerick -- were playing excellent defense, but having disposed of the Pioneers the Irish were perhaps slight
favourites against a Chromies team that had proved to be resilient rather than dominant.

Limerick started well when Brian Hehir led off with a single and was driven home by Eric Kelly's triple. Kelly added the second run on Michael O'Sullivan's single to spot the Irish a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Unfortunately for Limerick, that would be the peak of their batting success as they repeatedly left runners on base.

Chromies were having similar problems of their own, with an inability to convert countless chances in the early innings. They failed to reduce the lead in the second inning when they left three runners on base. But it was the third inning that ultimately won the game for the London-based club.

A Brett Baresh single drove in Michael Cameron and Danny Gunn's single added two more runs, scoring Milada Zolobova and Baresh. Jayne Palmer singled to bring in Gunn and set up a 4-2 lead, but for the second straight inning, the Chromies left three runners aboard.

In the fourth inning, the Chromies extended their lead to 6-2, though another three were left stranded, which could have proved costly had the Irish found some batting form. Although Limerick were creating good positions, they simply failed to convert in the clutch. A solitary run was added in the bottom of the sixth after Michael O'Sullivan had tripled and was driven in by Kim Jones.

There was to be no grandstand finish as the Chromies comfortably held on to their 6-3 lead to take the European Cup home to London for the second straight year.

It was an excellent tournament played in beautiful surroundings and all the teams contributed to an enjoyable time. Eric Kelly of Limerick picked up the batting title while the Male MVP award went to the Chromies' Brett Baresh and the Female MVP award to the Pioneers' Laura Brockman.

Final Standings

1 - Chromies (GB)
2 - Limerick (Ireland)
3 - Pioneers (GB)
4 - Sparks Mlade Buky (Czech Republic)
5 - Wayne's World (Czech Republic)

Chromies players

Previous reports from the European Slowpitch Cup can be found both on the Home Page and in the News column on this website.