Hosting Baseball Club Stuttgart REDS informed that all teams are set for the 2020 European Qualifier of PALOMINO 18U age group to be played in REDS Ballpark from April 29th until May 3rd, 2020.
During a visit from Stuttgart REDS’ headcoach Curtis diSalle to Jan Bagin in Prague, Czech Republic, besides presenting the best wishes and a small present to Jan, Curtis could officially inform the PONY organization about the participating teams for PALOMINO 2020 and present the future layout of Stuttgart’s baseball stadium. Work on expanding the stadium shall begin after this year’s tournament and hopefully be finished by the 2021 edition.
„Our PONY League organization is pleased, that PONY League Palomino (U18) European Qualifier proved in such short time high quality of the tournament and organizational skills of organizers. As a member of PONY League International Board, I am proud to see, that European baseball level is encreasing every year, step by step, and I look forward to meeting all teams and watch their games early this summer 2020 in Stuttgart“, Jan Bagin said.
After a tremendous success in their first qualifier of 2019’s tournament, PONY organization pronounced the continuation of this European Qualifier tournament and posted their success in expanding the PALOMINO World Series from an 8 team event to a 10 team event, thus making room for a spot for the winner of the European tournament.
“Stuttgart is a wonderful host for the Palomino European Zone,“ stated PONY President Abraham Key. “They have worked tirelessly to insure the event is first class and the feedback we have received has been great. This is one of the best 18U baseball events in Europe and it will continue to grow and attract top teams from throughout the continent."
Untouchables Paderborn won the 2019 European Qualifier and played some close games during the World Series tournament and could almost win against the hosting team from Laredo, Texas. Coach Alper Bozkurt from Paderborn sent some special thanks to the organizers of the WS tournament end expressed his teams’ positive experience and pride being the first ever Team from Europe qualified in PALOMINO World Series.
Therefore, besides host Stuttgart REDS, there will be one more team from Germany: 2019 winner and World Series Participant “Untouchables Paderborn”. Furtherrmore National Teams from Switzerland and Belgium, as well as All Star Teams from the Netherlands and France have applied for a spot eager to win the Gold medal on May 3rd. Teams confirmed for 2020 are the following:
| Untouchables Paderborn (GER) |
| Netherlands United (NED) |
| Belgium National Team (BEL) |
| Ile de France sélection (FRA) |
| North State Warriors (NED) |
| Swiss National Team (CHE) |
| TVC Stuttgart Reds (GER) |
| Future Stars Academy (NED) |
In 2020, once again, the tournament will be played an 8 team / 5 days tournament with 20 games starting in a 2 group of 4 teams round robin with semi-finals and finals to determine the winner on Sunday, May 3rd. Each team will play five 7 inning games throughout the tournament unless the weather will shake the schedule as it did in 2019.
The winner of the European Qualifier will be eligible to play the 2020 PALOMINO World Series to be held in Laredo, Texas in August, once more.
Stuttgart’s REDS-TV will once again provide live streams of all games played and Iris’ growing Photo Gallery will be a pleasure to watch and analyze after the games, just as the live streams.