Pitcher represents Belgium
Kyran Weemaels gained more experience with the Belgium national baseball team in the European Championship in Hoofddorp, Netherlands.
Belgium posted a 3-5 record in the round-robin tournament, finishing sixth of 12 teams.They lost to Spain 11-1 on Sept. 9; beat Croatia 5-1 on Sept. 10; lost 15-0 to Italy on Sept. 11; beat France 14-3 on Sept. 12 and Greece 18-1 on Sept. 13; and lost 4-3 to the Czech Republic, 14-2 to Germany and 12-3 to Netherlands on Sept. 15, 16 and 17, respectively.
“It was a lot of baseball, and it was a lot of fun,” said Weemaels. “Once I left on the bus with the team it was kind of a whole new feeling of baseball.”
The 19-year-old pitcher played two innings against Spain, one inning against Greece and an inning against Netherlands as part of the team’s bullpen of about a dozen pitchers.
“I think I did pretty good against Spain,” said Weemaels, noting no runs were allowed when he was on the mound. “I showed I could compete“.
In his inning against Greece it was a three up, three down scenario with two strike outs and a pop fly.His two innings against Netherlands were a highlight playing in front of a home crowd under the lights.
“The stadium was stunning,” said Weemaels.
Belgium led the home team 3-1 before Netherlands picked up four runs in the fifth inning and continued to distance themselves.Weemaels allowed several runs while on the mound in the seventh and eighth innings.
He said his team performed to expectations against the top teams, noting other rosters had more pro and former pro players from leagues around the world.
Netherlands beat Spain 3-2 in the championship.Weemaels said he hoped for even more field time, but understood his place as a rookie and looks forward to getting more time in the 2018 edition of the tournament in Germany and the U23 European Championship in the Czech Republic in 2017.
The 2015 George McDougall graduate spent the summer playing with the premier league “Brasschaat Braves” in Belgium.
He will return to Airdrie in October for a couple months off before heading south in the New Year to pitch for his second season with the Brescia University “Bearcats” in Owensboro, Kentucky within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
This guy has an incredible future. 19 years and he managed to make such step. Maybe, he made some failures. But everything is achieving through trial and error. As I understand he obsessed with baseball. So, he has all backgrounds to become a good player. If the person likes smth, that mean he will succeed in this. Kyran has all chances and skills to become a really outstanding person in baseball. I hope, his desire will never die.