The second edition of the Joudrs International Cup took place in Prague, in the Czech Republic, on 6-7 May.  Possibly the only European international tournaments for U-13 and U-16 boys, two competitions were played simultaneously with a total of 16 teams participating.

THE IDEA

In 2015, Danish and Croatian youth players came to Prague for the first time to work on improving their softball skills.  A softball camp attended by nearly 50 boys and a few girls was led by Great Britain Men’s Team player and Danish Women’s National Team Head Coach Kevin Stockford. The camp concluded with a two-day tournament in which a number of Czech teams stepped in to take part.

This year, Onrej Stroner, the organizer of the event, decided to give the tournament priority and step up the challenge.

Players from Denmark and Croatia came for thecamp on Wednesday 4 May and were accompanied by a few Czech players and a group of boys from Israel.  Kevin Stockford also welcomed long-time Czech national team player Patrik Kolkusto help the players with their hitting.

JOUDRS INTERNATIONAL CUP

The tournament was played on Friday and Saturday.

The U-13 tournament consisted of five Czech teams, a team of Danish players, the Croatian team Span and Karlskoga Bats from Sweden.  The Swedish team was made up of baseball players who had come to Prague for a baseball clinic plus softball pitchers from another Czech team.

The final standings were:

  1.          Joudrs Praha Orange (CZE)

  2.          Snails Kunovice (CZE)

  3.          Pigs Trhové Sviny (CZE)

  4.          Spectrum Praha (CZE)

  5.          Junoirs on the run (DEN)

  6.          Softball club Span (CRO)

  7.          Karlskoga Bats (SWE)

  8.          Joudrs Praha Navy (CZE)

The U-16 tournament contained five Czech teams, a groupof Danish players, the Israeli U-16 Team and a team from Sweden, also based on baseball players.

The final standings were:

  1.          Hladoví Hroši Sezimovo Ústí (CZE)

  2.          Snails Kunovice (CZE)

  3.          Spectrum Praha (CZE)

  4.          Joudrs Praha Orange (CZE)

  5.          Israel (ISR)

  6.          Joudrs Praha Grey (CZE)

  7.          Karlskoga Bats (SWE)

  8.          Junoirs on the run  (DEN)

This tournament may be the only international fastpitch softball tournament for boys currently run in Europe, and Ondrej Stroner has high hopes for the future of the event.  “We have also talked to teams from France, Bulgaria, Poland and Great Britain, Stroner said, “and we’re very positive about their attendance at next year’s edition.”  Rumor has it that an U-19 category may be added for next year.

The Joudrs International Cup was supported by Prague City Hall as well as by the ESF.  Ami Baran, ESF Co-chair for Development, said: “We are proud to support such event.  This tournament may turn into our future European Championship for younger boys.”

SPREAD THE NEWS!

The existence of an event like the Joudrs International Cup event reflects a recent upsurge in the development of men’s fastpitch in Europe, and the organizers are eager to get more teams involved.“When you play at a tournament like this, you suddenly realize what you’ve been practicing every day for,” said Czech player Jannis El Amin.

To take part in next year’s edition of the Joudrs International Cup, contact Ondrej Stroner on: ondrej.stroner@centrum.cz.

Make sure to spread the news and share this article with clubs that may be interested in participating in one or more boys’ categories:  U13, U16 and U19.

/photos by Zuzana Stronerová/

-Helena Novotná-