Jul 18, 2005, 0:26 GMT
Prague - A grand slam and two solo homers capped an explosive sixth inning as the Netherlands defeated Italy 15-0 Sunday to win the European Baseball Championship.
The hapless Italians put six pitchers on the mound but none could prevent Dutch runners from spinning around the bases like a windmill.
Dutch catcher Sydney de Jong led off a five-run fifth inning with a double and later smacked a grand slam over the left-field wall at Prague's Krc Altron field.
A single by designated hitter Percy Isenia started the Dutch hit parade in the fourth inning. He also singled in a run in the fifth inning and swatted a home run in the sixth.
Third baseman Ivanon Coffie capped Italy's misery with the final homer over the centrefield wall.
Italian pitcher Anthony Billisi actually held the white-and-orange scoreless until the fourth, when an error allowed home the first Dutch run.
Italy's coach yanked Billisi off the mound after rightfielder Mario Chiarini and second baseman Davide Dallospedale got their signals crossed, letting a popup fall at their feet in shallow right. The gaff let a Dutch runner jog home from second.
Among Billisi's successors, relief pitcher Sandy Patrone suffered the worst outing, giving up five runs, though reliever Carlos Richetti came a close second for walking home a run with the bases loaded and hitting a batter with a pitch.
Italy's only real threat was in the fourth inning, when singles by first baseman Jairo Ramos Gizzi and designated hitter Maximilliano De Biase, along with a walk, loaded the bases. Pitcher Patrick Beljaards quelled the threat with a strikeout.
Beljaards held Italy scoreless through five innings, and reliever Robin van Doornspeek finished the job.
Also Sunday, Spain scattered seven runs in four innings to defeat Germany 7-3 and claim third place in the tournament. Germany settled for fourth, and the host Czech Republic was fifth in the 12-nation championship.
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