French and Czech National Academies Enjoy Success at 2023 Catalunya Baseball Week; Hosts Take U12 Title

The French national academy went undefeated to win the U18 pool at the 2023 Catalunya Baseball and Softball Week, with its Czech counterpart taking the top spot in U15 play, and the Catalan select team winning the top prize in the U12 competition.

In addition to the U15 gold medal, the Czechs also finished second to France in U18 play and third in the U12 pool of the tournament, which ran from Mar. 9-12 at three sites — Can Torello, Sant Boi, and Viladecans — in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

In U18 play, France outscored its first four opponents by a combined 43-4, with the Swedish national academy putting up the strongest challenge in a 3-1 French victory. To wrap up group play, the French then defeated the Dutch Diamonds Academy, 9-6, and their Czech counterparts, 10-3, to set up another meeting with the Czechs in the championship game. The second meeting between the two sides ended with the same result, however, with a 10-3 French W securing the young men from just across the border the accolades.

In the U15 competition, the Czechs went undefeated in group play before defeating the Catalunya select team in the semi-final, 11-5, and the Torre Pedrera Falcons, of Italy, in the final, 12-10, to claim the title.

In the youngest age group, the hosts snuck past the German Baseball Academy in the championship game, 7-6, adding to a third-place finish for the Catalans in U18 play and a fourth-place finish in the U15 pool.

For complete schedules, standings, and results, visit the 2023 Catalunya Baseball and Softball Week homepage.