For me it was one of the worst periods of my life. We had agreed some appointments the same week in Barcelona and now we were on his funeral on the 8th June.

For more than 19 years I had the privilege to know and work with him. We had many worldwide occasions where we were together either in CEB or IBAF events. Especially in the preparation of a new CEB Executive during 2012 and after the elections in February 2013 Xavier and I worked close together in the whole planning. His position as General Secretary was combined with re-arranging all CEB activities to his office in Barcelona.

He was always optimistic and positive with a big smile. For his wife Marga and daughter Cristina it will be the most difficult months and years to come. I hope they will find the strength to overcome this tragedy.

The enormous number of reactions from all over the baseball world were a signal how much Xavier was beloved. Xavier will be deeply mourned and sadly missed by the baseball community. I expressed the condolences from all of his friends within CEB to his wife and daughter.

The Spanish Federation and the European Federation face an enormous loss and we have to find our way into the future without Xavier. The CEB Executive will mark his passing accordingly and we will find a way to tribute to his remembrance.

May he rest in peace.

Jan Esselman

President C.E.B.

www.baseballem2013.at/index.php

However at this stage this is only a very basic profile of your federation and something that we would like to expand, therefore we kindly request that you provide as with additional information that can be uploaded to the website. Our aim is to include a full team roster with details regarding names, birth date, numbers, positions, batting side, throwing side, height and weight. Information should also be provided on Coaches and Team Officials. If you have any further information or links, which you would like to be added to the profile such as acknowledgment of official team sponsors, articles or photos etc, please feel free to forward the details to the office.

Menu plans and further logistics are still being finalized however, we can confirm that there will be the possibility for pre-ordered set meals to be delivered to your team at the field in advance. The specific details of these menu plans and further information will follow shortly. For those individuals or Teams wishing to place reservations for tickets can do so directly via email at the office until the online ticketing service is fully operational.

The Organization of the competition continues and everything is shaping up for a successful event and we look forward to welcoming you to Vienna. As always, if you have any further inquires or questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Following the MLB European Academy Try-outs in May, the roster for the 2013 MLB Pitching & Hitting Minicamp has been finalized. 32 players from 10 European countries have been invited to participate in the Minicamp, which will be headed up by former MLB All Stars Bruce Hurst and Steve Finley and supported by the KNBSB.

The precursor to the MLB European Academy, the MLB Pitching & Hitting Minicamp is an elite-level instructional camp for the top up-and-coming young pitchers and hitters in Europe. With an emphasis on advanced strength and conditioning techniques, this camp will help prepare young players for the rigors of the European Academy program, which will be held this August in Regensburg, Germany. Major League Baseball will cover all costs of instruction for the players as part of MLB’s continuing commitment to developing the game globally.

LAST NAME - FIRST NAME - POS - COUNTRY

ALBA RODRIGUEZ - IVAN JOSUE - C - PAIN

AMON - PASCAL - OF - GERMANY

BALAN - VADIM - RHP - MOLDOVA

BOCCHI - MATTEO - RHP - ITALY

BOYELEBA BALEHEN - JEREMY - MI - BELGIUM

CALASSO - SIMONE - 1B - ITALY

CLEMENSIA - TAYLOR - 1B - NETHERLANDS

CLEMENTE - NICOLO - RHP - ITALY

COWON - SEAN - LHP - GERMANY

DRAIJER - MAX - MI - NETHERLANDS

FOSSA - ALBERTO - 1B - ITALY

GERDTOMMARKOTTEN - FREDERIC - 1B - GERMANY

GIORDANI - FEDERICO - OF - ITALY

GOLLAN - DANIEL - RHP - GERMANY

HELGET - VINCENT - C - GERMANY

IZQUIRDO HUETE - ERIC - RHP - SPAIN

KEUR - NICK - LHP - NETHERLANDS

KOCH - SASCHA - RHP - GERMANY

LJATIFI - NADIR - RHP - GERMANY

MARINIG - ELIA - C - ITALY

MASSARI - GIORGIO - OF - ITALY

MEYER - PHILIPP - RHP - GERMANY

MUZIK - MARTIN - C - CZECH REP.

REITEMEIER - JULIUS - RHP - GERMANY

REITTER - WOLFGANG - LHP - GERMANY

SAHLIN-SODORLUND - EMIL - OF - SWEDEN

SCHUTTE - MATZ - RHP - NETHERLANDS

SHTYKHER - DMITRY - RHP - RUSSIA

STRZALKA - ARTUR - LHP - POLAND

THIEBEN - OLIVER - 1B - GERMANY

van HOEK - ROWAN - C - NETHERLANDS

VERKERK - RUAR - 3B - NETHERLANDS

Instructional format will include:

§ Individual instruction from MLB coaches

§ Daily throwing program – long toss and bullpens

§ Daily hitting program – rotational stations & drills

§ Classroom instruction will emphasize proper mechanics, training techniques, competitive strategies

§ Video analysis of each individual hitter and pitcher

§ Local coaches are welcome to observe

MLB Instructional Staff:

Pitching Instructor: Bruce Hurst, 14-year MLB career for Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres

Hitting Instructor: Steve Finley, 19-year MLB career, 5-time Gold Glove winner, with over 2,500 career hits

Strength & Conditioning: Kyle Barbour, 3-years Arizona Diamondbacks org, currently with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors

But this issue did not get any major impact to the tournament. 12 teams, including several national teams will participate this year.

Impressive roster includes Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Croatia, Slovakia, Poland, Sweden U21, Czech Republic U18, AIST (USA), USSSA (USA), EU International Stars (foreigner players from European leagues) and selected team, representing Prague.

During last week organizers signed contract with Czech television, CT Sport (main sports channel within Czech Republic). TV will cover live game Czech Republic – Germany, which is scheduled on Tuesday, June 25 in premium TV time 19,00. Besides this coverage, TV will make daily highlights in main TV sports news at 19,45.

Besides TV coverage, there are several interesting events to watch on the fields. Czech National Ice Hockey team players will play slowpitch against popular TV and all other media people on Wednesday, June 26, at 17,30. Following day, Thursday, June 27, the most powerful players of each team of Prague Baseball Week will participate at Homerun Derby.

Prague Baseball Week 2013 will be exciting to watch, no doubt.

Jan Bagin

Executive Director, PBW

V Zákopech 508/24

142 00 Praha 4

Czech Republic

+420 602 224 178

janbagin@volny.cz

Xavier was devoted to the development of baseball both in Spain and Europe and he spent a lifetime working for these causes. He was a wonderful person, always with a smile on his face, and always there with an encouraging word and actions. Xavier will be deeply mourned and sadly missed by all the baseball community.

The European Cup Tournaments currently being played in Barcelona and Regensburg will continue. A minute of silence for Xavier will be held before the games, and the flags will be set at half mast in his honor.

These tournaments will be dedicated to Xavier Mateu's lasting memory and the CEB Executive will mark his passing accordingly.

President Jan Esselman expresses his condolences to Xavier's wife and daughter in the name of European Baseball.

Additions:

The funeral will be held Saturday 8th June at 10 am in Barcelona, in TANATORIO LES CORTS, address: Avinguda de Joan XXIII 17-25

Condolences can be addressed to the Spanish federation under rfebs@rfebs.es

All games will be commentated in English and the stream will also feature players of the Regensburg team for some of the games. On the website you will also be able to find a chat room which allows you to interact with the commentators. Thereby you can ask questions or also give feedback for them.

All games will also be recorded and made available after the games. Thereby you have the possibility to watch the games you are interested in at a later point in time.

The TV team would be happy to welcome you on their broadcast during the week.

The support of BTF and the completion of this project are vital to the further development of baseball in Serbia. The project will substantially increase the safety of players and fans during practices and games. The field improvements will accommodate more players, statisticians, media and fans to watch games and learn about baseball.

“We are very glad to have received this grant and hope that it will be the beginning of much development to come,’’ said General Secretary of the Serbian Baseball Association Nikola Vucevi. “The improvement of our facilities is a huge factor in attracting new, youth players and gaining the support from their families who also play an important role in developing this game in Serbia.’’

“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund, along with MLB and the MLBPA, are proud to be a part of this project and continue to support the growth of the game of baseball throughout the world,” said Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. “We are honored to collaborate with the Serbian Baseball Association to ensure that the youth in the community have a safe and enjoyable place to learn, play and love the game.”

Other major supporters of the project include Ministry of Youth and Sport of Republic of Serbia, VMS Beograd Consultant Engineers, Belgrade, Full Moon Belgrade, Municipality of Cukarica, City of Belgrade, and Public company “Ada Ciganlija” Belgrade. The Serbian Baseball Association is still accepting in-kind and monetary contributions for project such as rakes, lawnmower, edger, utility cart, hula-hoes, shovels, and other various gardening/maintenance tools. Those interested in donating to the project may contact Milan Zonic at +381 64 1966785.

C.E.B. is very close to open the new Website. For the Play-by-Play and statistics of the Cups following link on the new server will be used:

score.cebeurope.com/2013/ceb2013.php

===========================================

Competition Rules 2013 - Extra Inning Rule www.baseballeurope.com/693/

==========================================

The Confederation of European Baseball decided to change the Extra Inning rule.

The free choice of the batter at the start of the 10th inning is cancelled.

For any inning beginning with the 10th inning, the Team at bat shall begin the inning with runners on first and second base. The batter who leads off an inning shall continue to be the batter who would lead off the inning in the absence of this extra-innings rule. The runner on first base shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding the batter who leads off the inning. The runner on second base shall be the player (or a substitute for such player) in the batting order immediately preceding the runner on first base.

IOC Director of Communications Mark Adams made it to the press briefing room at 7.28 pm local time. After a brief introduction, he announced the three bids that had been accepted in this order: wrestling, baseball/softball and squash.

The work of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), in which the IBAF and the International Softball Federation (ISF) had merged earlier this year, has been thus rewarded. Co-Presidents Riccardo Fraccari and Don Porter had a first, unanimous thought for "The millions of baseball and softball players in the world".

Fraccari added: "I wish to thank all of the professional organizations. They really supported us".

Porter used the game's language to express his feelings: "We are in the 7th inning now".

IOC Director of Sports Christophe Dubi made it clear that the merging of the two bodies into a Confederation was one of the keys for the inclusion of baseball and softball in the shortlist.

Programme Commission Chairman Franco Carraro, who was explicit in saying that he was going to answer only to technical questions and wouldn't accept to comment "political" issues, explained that the decision required 9 rounds of votings.

Asked why the shortlist is made of 3 sports, Carraro answered: "After an global evaluation, that was the decision of the Executive".

Carraro also suggested that: "We are not talking about a game with two halves. The Buenos Aires voting is going to be a totally new match."

Riccardo Fraccari made a similar reflection: "We all start over at zero. It's going to be challenging. Our competitors are great sports".

The IOC distributed a press release with a declaration by President Jacques Rogge: "The Executive Board received excellent presentations today from 8 International Federations. It was never going to be an easy decision, but I feel my collegues on the Board made a good decision un selecting baseball/softball, squash and wrestling to be put forward in Buenos Aires. I wish the 3 shortlisted sports the best of luck in the run up to the vote in September.

During the press conference Franco Carraro had previously explained that: "First the Congress will approve the core list of 25 sports. As you may recall, rugby 7 and golf will be in the 2020 Olympics anyway. So, the voting will be to pick the 28th sport".

by Riccardo Schiroli

The Mole Cup will host the German Bavarian Bats and an Italian selection of two team from the national championships as well as the Nogent-sur-Marne Bandits from France.

This European championship is a unique event in France. Games will be held on Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of July 2013 at the Parc Interdépartemental du Tremblay in Champigny-sur-Marne.

We met with Tom Nagel, President of the ABBR and Najib Lamjaj, captain and co-founder of the Beep Baseball section of the Nogent Bandits Baseball Softball Club.

Tom Nagel, President and founder of the ABBF (Association for Beep Baseball France)

1) What does the organization of this event mean for you? Is this a first for France?

Our friends and colleagues in baseball, softball and cricket have all organized major European events and we now too hope to become "major league" as the expression goes.

The difference in our case for the organization of the third Mole Cup, is the specifics of an international tournament for the blind and sight-impaired, their special needs and the staffing required for the game itself.

We participated in the 2011 games in Germany and the 2012 games in Italy, and thanks to these two events we have had to invest personally enormously in order to host our European colleagues in the manner they expect and the manner we hope to attain.

It's now up to the volonteer sighted supporters to take up the gauntlet and organize this event with precision and efficiency, handle the public, ask for silence before every play, take care of the guide-dogs, find lodging and adapted restaurants, organize transport, accompany our guests, install and test special audio equipment for the game, and so on. Here is a new challenge for our federation.

2) What role does the ABBF play? What role does the Paralympic Committee play?

The ABBF was founded in 2009 for baseball for the sight-impaired. The association signed a protocol in 2011 with the FFBS (French Federation of Baseball Softball) which makes it possible for clubs to form sections for beep baseball. The protocol allows players to obtain a baseball or softball license and to benefit from the insurance policy of the federation, like any sighted baseball or softball player.

The FFBS and the ABBF hope to join the two largest organizations for the handicapped in France: the French Federation for Handisports (FFH) and the French Federation of Adapted Sports (FFSA), in order to promote our sport to the public. This is still a major effort and a challenge because baseball is still not very well known in France.

Nevertheless, in March 2013, the FFBS was invited to join the French Paralympic Committee (CPSF) as an associate member. The founding members of the CPSF are the FFH and the FFSA, and these two organizations not only approve our initiative but also invite us to prepare our possible participation in the international Paralympic games in Rio in 2016! We will do our utmost to meet this challenge. Personally, I have the honor of representing the FFBS on the Paralympic Committe. The first major meeting is scheduled for May 3 for their annual General Assembly.

3) How does the FFBS help you with this project? Sponsors? Volonteers?

For 2013 it has been clear since the beginning that there is no budget for this initative.

However, in 2014 is more promising and we are working on a joint budget.

The League of Ile de France has already contributed financially to our participation in the first two Mole Cups in 2011 in Germany and 2012 in Italy.

They also helped us buy adapted equipment.

The Department Committee of the Val-de-Marne also contributed in 2012 and we are hoping to receive aid for this Mole Cup.

The budget for this tournament is around 15,000 euros on the low end. Today we needed only two months to obtain commitments for more than 10,000 euros, but we have a real problem of cashflow in order to make the tournament happen. We remain very optimistic and thank in advance our sponsors for this adventure.

Our global budget for 2013-2014 is around 60,000 euros. Thanks to these contributions we count not only on financing the tournament but also creating several paid positions to promote baseball for the sight-impaired in Paris and elsewhere. We hope to open up our horizons to cover all of France as well as integrate into the association sports for the motor handicapped and those with mental and psychic illnesses. IBAF (the International Baseball Federation), a few University Hospitals and local and regional organizations see us as a priority in the 2013-2014 window. This is an extraordinary opportunity for us.

We are really counting on our volonteers to join the organizing committee and to discover themselves the value of this activity. The awareness of handicapped issues is a value that we really want to promote so that this section of our sport can become a model for everyone. I take advantage of this interview to invite interested persons to contact me in order to offer a little of their time for this event and all year long. Thanks in advance.

Najib Lamjaj, Captain and co-founder of the Beep Baseball team at the Nogent Bandits

How did you discover Beep Baseball (baseball for the blind and sight-impaired)?

Thanks to Tom Nagel (international baseball umpire) who brought this sport here from the United States. We rapidly planned the project together in France because I am personally committed to all types of projects that have the objective of improving the lives of the sight-impaired.

My first idea was to help Tom set up the team and the association, but, even if I am myself a sight-impaired practitioner of several sports, I did not want to participate on the team. After several training sessions alone, I learned to really appreciate baseball, its specifics and the unique possibilities the adapting this sport for the sight-impaired. Working with the (sighted) coaches and recruiting an entire team convinced me to become a part of this adventure with an active role on the team. Since then it has become a passion.

Today you are captain of the team. What are your expectations for this season and especially for the Mole Cup in France? Is there any particular team you worry about among the teams you will up against in the tournament?

My first hope is that everyone will have a good time! I hope we all enjoy playing together and sharing memorable moments like we did in the first two tournaments in Germany and Italy.

That said, we are training hard and keeping up our "Bandits" spirit, which means we enjoy competition.

But especially I hope that we can host our German and Italian friends at least as well as they did for us in the two previous competitions.

If I had to worry about a team in particular, it would be the Milan Thunders Five. They have an very high level of play. Today, thanks to having been up against such strong teams, we have made enormous progress. And I think sincerely that we are ready to beat anyone, even win the tournament.

Can you explain how players are selected in your sport? What do you expect of men and women?

Like on any baseball team the coaches make the selections. For me, I hope everyone gets to play equally because our project is, even before performance, on a human level. We can see in our team that certain players are more at ease on defense or at the bat, or the other way around. We try with the coaches to improve the performance of all, even if the strong personalities we have on our team take precedence over performance. But that is the Bandits and we like it like that!

As for men and women playing together, it also applies on two levels which makes our sport really interesting. In Beep Baseball the sighted share the game with the sight-impaired, men and women together. The distances for women are adapted to reduce any advantages. And also our head coach is a woman (sighted) who plays in regular baseball on a male team, and I know from a reliable source that she is far from the bottom of the lineup on the team, but that's another story.

In conclusion, several coaches on the Bandits have told us how happy they are and how grateful for the opportunity to live this adventure with us, and that makes me really happy.