Game #1: East Europe All-Stars 9 vs. Brabant United 3

180427 Bra EEA 0096A bit of rust showed on both the East Europe All-Stars and Brabant United in the opening game of the Palomino European Zone Championships, considering there were 13 walks and 11 errors combined in the game, but their match-up didn’t lack in excitement in East Europe’s 9-3 win.

East Europe struck first in the bottom of the first inning, when Aliaksandr Lukashevich reached on an error, scoring Ugnius Cepelonis from third. But Brabant United countered in the top of the second, when Phoenix Vermeulen was walked and then scored from first on Brandell Batista Hernandez's double to left field to even the game at 1-1.

East Europe scored a run in both the bottom of the second and bottom of the third, respectively, as Aras Michalauskas and Vilius Paikovas picked up RBIs (3-1), but Brabant United tied the game back up at three in the top of the fourth.

The All-Stars’ starting pitcher Deividas Tamasevskis recorded eight strikeouts through three innings, but ran his pitch count up due to five walks during that span. Tamasevskis struck out the first batter he faced in the inning, but then Vermeulen drew a walk and stole second, setting the table for Ties Olijslagers to bring him home on a two-run home run to left field (3-3).

East Europe broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, when the team tacked on six runs to give it a sizable lead it would not surrender. In the inning, East Europe recorded four singles and took advantage of two Brabant United errors, three walks and a hit batsman.

Over the final two frames, relievers Siarhei Verbal and Ugnius Navickas pitched two innings of scoreless relief, allowing a hit and a walk, while striking out two, as East Europe won the opener 9-3.

Olijslagers led Brabant United with two RBI and Vermeulen paced the offense with two runs scored. Mindaugas Strimaitis and Michalauskas were East Europe’s leaders with two RBI apiece, while Cepelonis scored a team-high three runs.

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