BEST PITCHER: Murphy, R. (Guzzlers), OBA .477 (pitcher ranking)

BEST HITTER: Perez, J. (Dream Team), AVG .889 (hitter ranking)

Want to know how you hit in Slovenia? Click on ESSL scores & stats Ljubljana

The Dream Team as part of the BSK Ljubljana club has the dragon in its logo. This team has a good chance to win the tournament in Ljubljana and the ESSL Central Division against the Guzzlers. In Italy both teams won one game against each other (17-18 & 25-17). For the Guzzlers it was the win in the championship game that put them ahead in the ESSL Central standings. In Ljubljana when the Dream Team wins the tournament both teams could be tied by points and head-to-head-wins. At the end the runs should tip the scales. Who will be the winner? We will see it soon…

Schedule Ljubljana

Championship game
Guzzlers  vs. Dream Team  25:17
(result & boxscore)

ESSL Italy in Conegliano: games & results

Final Ranking

1.  Guzzlers
2.  Dream Team
3.  Grizzlies
4.  PGS
5.  Bulldogs
6.  Repetons

PLAYER AWARDS
Best Hitter: Matic Jerman, Dream Team, AVG .813
Best Pitcher: Eric Evangelista, Eagles, OBA .364

BEST HITTER OF EACH TEAM
BeBe Kidz: Michal Pisar, (6th), AVG .680
Bulldogs: Marko Kuzmanovic (12th), AVG. 625
DNT: Mike Bos (7th), AVG. 667
D.R.: Aneudys Leomar Rubio, (8th), AVG. .657
Dream Team: Matic Jerman (1st), AVG. 813
Eagles: Shaun Brown, Eagles (2nd), AVG .737
Guzzlers: Kiefer Palm (4th), AVG .696

TOP 10 Hitters

Link: hitting stats Almere

Pitcher Ranking

Links:

• Game results
• ESSL stats
• ESSL All-Time Leaders

Championship Gamse ESSL Austria 2017
Game 1: D.R. vs. Guzzlers 13:14 (box score)
Game 2: Guzzlers vs. D.R.  9:17 (box score)

Final Rankings ESSL Austria
1.  D.R.
2.  Guzzlers
3.  BeBe Kidz
4.  Dutch National Slowpitch Team (DNT)
5.  Dream Team
6.  Eagles
7.  Bulldogs

PLAYER AWARDS
Best Hitter: David Donnelly, Eagles, AVG .818
Best Pitcher: Tomacz Sovinc, Dream Team, OBA .381

BEST HITTER OF EACH TEAM
BeBe Kidz: Pavel Kozeny, (3.), AVG .706
Bulldogs: Peter Milosic, Matija Moze & Reynoso Osvaldo (.53), AVG. 333
DNT: Arti Bosschaart (10.), AVG. 625
D.R.: Richard Adames Lopez, (6.), AVG. .667
Dream Team: Matic Jerman & Borut Stanjko (6.), AVG. 667
Eagles: David Donnelly, Eagles, AVG .818
Guzzlers: Kiefer Palm (4.), AVG .694

TOP 10 Hitters

Links:

• Game results
• ESSL stats
• ESSL All-Time Leaders

The 2017 season will definitely be the toughest season in the history of the ESSL because more top teams entered the league and other teams combined to be a stronger competitor. However, if you want to be the ESSL champion there will be no way around than winning against the double ESSL champion Guzzlers.

Let’s have a closer look at the teams of the ESSL 2017 season.

BeBe Kidz,  Germany
The team from Germany enters the ESSL for the first time. As the level of slowpitch in the ESSL is really high they will need some time to adopt their game to it. However, the BeBe Kidz have an interesting roster that includes some Czech national team players that already played for the Grizzlies in the Supercup.

Bulldogs,  Slovenia
The Bulldogs from Slovenia managed to improve their roster by adding some Austrian and US players. The team never gives up and has a lot of fun on the field. They are very strong in the middle but they miss some power at the corners.  But after the 2016 season the Bulldogs are back to climb up the league standings like they did in 2014.

DNT,  Netherlands
This is the team to watch. They already showed their talent at the Supercup when they only lost the game against the vice champion Brovaria by one run.  Their chances to be the first European ESSL champion are very high, especially, by having the last ESSL tournament in Almere, Netherlands. Will the European power house surprise everybody in their first year?

D.R.,  Dominican Republic
A new strong contender in the ESSL. The team is a combination of former Los Coyotes, Titanes and Buffalo players. This season they will focus on finding the right mixture in their team. As we know the Dominican spirit, we know that they are on the field to win. If they find their mojo they will be difficult to beat.

Dream Team,  Slovenia
The best European ESSL team 2016 wants to know it this year. The Dream Team is a well-respected team and is well-known for its consistent development of their playing level. For them the future is bright because they also have a good chance to be the ESSL champion one day.

Eagles,  USA
Last year they were so close to win the ESSL. At the end they won the silver medal in the league and the bronze medal at the Supercup. If they manage to stay focused the whole season they will definitely be a championship contender for the ESSL this year. It’s a well-coached team and you never know when they explode on the field by hitting some bombs.

Guzzlers,  USA
The reigning ESSL champion will try to win it a third time after 2014 and 2016. This team is definitely hard to beat because they never give up. Even if you think they are on a losing track they will still find a way to free themselves and to win it at the end. So, if you want to win the ESSL you have to pass the Guzzlers.

Q: How would you describe your team and playing philosophy?
A: Dream Team is part of the Baseball Softball Club Ljubljana where most of our players started their baseball or softball journey. They learned their first throws and swings in our club and finally became great players. Last year we started with two younger teams 12u and 15u. This year we are also playing baseball in Italy. The slowpitch team “Dream Team” is getting stronger every year. We gain knowledge and skills from the best players in Europe and the team has still a lot of potential. I am convinced that our time will come. Our stength is an excellent defense and the speed of our players. Our hitting is strongly improving and the players who were beginners last year will be able to play with less stress this year. Our more experienced players practiced hard during the winter and are ready to challenge the other teams.

Q: What is the meaning of Dream Team? Why did you choose that name?
A: When you enjoy playing with our passion, when you get out the results and when you know that you have another family with the team then there is no question why Dream Team.

Besides sticking together on the field we also support each other off the field. It’s a true friendship between the players. They help each other with anything from school duties, job searches or even in difficult moments. We practice together all year long. To be around with the people you care about and doing things that you love it’s a kind of dream that comes true for all of us. That’s why we call it Dream Team.

Q: What do you expect from this season in the ESSL? Do you have any additional players?
A: This season we expect better games and we enjoy playing in this strong league. You can play slowpitch in many tournaments around Europe but you can’t get this level of play consistantly all season long anywhere else. The team is made up mostly of the same players as last year.

Additionally, we expect higher level of slowpitch than last year and the games are going to be much closer.

Q: Which team/s do you expect as the favorite/s for the 2016 season?
A: One of American teams, probably Guzzlers Europe.

Q: Predict the final rankings for the 2016 season: 
1. Guzzlers Europe
2. Wiesbaden Eagles
3. Dream Team
4. Los Coyotes
5. Guzzlers Black
6. Bulldogs
7. Grizzlies
8. Toros

All tournaments took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Tournament winners
November 2015: Bulldogs Novo Mesto, link: game results
December 2015: Dream Team Ljubljana, link: game results
January 2016: Dream Team Ljubljana, link: game results
February 2016: Dream Team Ljubljana, link: game results

Particpating countries: Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, USA

Final Rankings 2015/16

Final ranking of January tournament

1. Dream Team (Slovenia)
2. Bulldogs (Slovenia)
3. Dragons Aviano (USA)
4. Ammo Hellhounds (USA)
5. Bloody Bats (Slovenia)
5. Los Coyotes (Austria)

Links:

• Winter tournament standings
• Game results

Next tournaments in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Saturday, 13th of February 2016