Czechia steps up to the plate as the host of Eurobaseball this weekend

Czechia is gearing up to host the 37th European Baseball Championship, Eurobaseball 2023, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1. This marks the third time that the European Baseball Championship will be held in the Czech Republic, and the event promises to be a significant moment for baseball enthusiasts in the country.

Eurobaseball 2023 comes on the heels of increased interest in baseball in Czechia, largely ignited by the World Baseball Classic held in March. The championship holds particular significance as it is the premier European baseball event, taking place biennially.

The tournament will unfold in five Czech cities: Ostrava, Prague, Třebíč, Blansko, and Brno. Ostrava will host the Czech team during the group stage at Arrows Park, the home stadium of the Arrows Ostrava baseball team.

Brno, in particular, will play a central role in the tournament, hosting matches in two stadiums, including the YD Baseball Arena in Komín, where the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final will be held.

Prague will host Group D matches, featuring teams from Germany, Israel, Belgium, and Switzerland, at Eagles Park in Krč. Blansko's Strawberry Field will be the venue for two quarter-finals. Třebíč will welcome Group B and selected playoff matches at the Na Hvězda Sports Complex.

Czechia's national baseball team, ranked 14th globally and boosted by their performance at this year's World Baseball Classic, is one of the top seeds in the tournament. The favorable draw placed them in the same group as Spain, a team the Czechs have defeated before.

The Netherlands has been a dominant force in European baseball, winning multiple championships since 1967. However, the Czech Republic has consistently been a strong contender since 1997, with only the Netherlands and Italy standing in the way of victory.

The Netherlands is the top-ranked team out of all Europe (seventh globally), with Italy second. While the Czechs secured a commendable fourth place in the 2014 championship, this year, expectations are high for them to clinch a medal.

Eurobaseball 2023 promises to be an exciting spectacle for baseball fans and a testament to the growing popularity of the sport in Czechia. As the tournament unfolds across these picturesque Czech cities, baseball enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness top-quality European baseball talent in action. Czechia's national team will be vying for glory on home soil, aiming to make this edition of Eurobaseball a memorable one.