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Rain delays baseball

Extraliga season a scheduling nightmare

By Dave Faries
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
June 18th, 2008 issue

Krč Altron has already wrapped up this season’s series with crosstown rival Tempo Praha. Draci Brno, the Extraliga’s champions for the past 13 years, last took the field June 7, splitting a twin bill against Ostrava. Apart from makeup dates, the teams will not return to action until Aug. 16. MZLU Brno has completed barely half a season — 15 games — while Ostrava is readying for its 23rd match of the year.
The uncertainties of spring weather have certainly played havoc with the Extraliga baseball schedule, causing postponements and making it difficult for teams to find their groove.
Draci Brno heads up the standings. But already the team has lost more games than last season. MZLU’s lack of playing time perhaps accounts for the surprising seventh-place berth. Ostrava and Olomouc seem to have found some consistency as the season enters its long final stretch, which will be disrupted three times by tournaments involving the national team.
The fortunes of Prague’s two Extraliga teams have flip-flopped.
Tempo Praha, which barely escaped relegation last year, looks set for at least a midpack finish. The arrival of Vladimír Kůs (.310 at the plate; 2-2, 1.50 on the mound) and resurgence of veteran Eduard Mráz (.351, 17 RBI) has the team eyeing the Extraliga’s final playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Krč wrapped up the 2007 campaign in third place, but its players now find themselves struggling, particularly at the plate. Five regulars enter the weekend hitting near the fabled Mendoza line (.200), with star Jan Homolka slumping badly. Only catcher-third baseman Basilio Hernandez, ranking among the league leaders with a .426 average, provides any offensive clout for pitchers Matěj Hušek, Jakub Jonák and newcomer Jonáš Výbora.
The first scheduled season break occurs June 24–28 as the national and junior national team participate in the 27th Prague Baseball Week.
France, Sweden, Croatia and Slovakia join two Czech sides (the national team and the national under-21 team), along with two squads of American college players: USAAthletes and American International Sports Tours (AIST).
The national team fared poorly at last year’s European Championships, knocking off two weaker foes — Austria and Croatia — before forfeiting and dropping to 12th place for using players signed to American contracts. The team did, however, manage to beat France during an Olympic test event in Beijing.
The U.S. teams should battle for top honors, although France (fifth place in the 2007 European Championship) and Sweden (sixth place) — along with the Czech squad — may challenge for runner-up spots.
The competition is a round robin, with four games per day. Friday and Saturday are reserved for the championship portion of the tournament. Play begins at 11 a.m. June 24 with AIST taking on the Czech U-21s.
Krč Altron hosts all games.

Dave Faries can be reached at dfaries@praguepost.com


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