Hoboken Pioneers win Belgian Division 1 Baseball Title
The Hoboken Pioneers defeated Deume Spartans, 3-1, in the best-of-five final series to clain the 2024 Belgian Division 1 title.
Results
Pioneers-Spartans 2-0
Spartans-Pioneers 5-3
Pioneers-Spartans 8-2
Pioneers-Spartans 5-4
The Pioneers needed 10 innings to win game 4 and clinch the title. They took a quick 4-0 lead. Benjamin Goffaux and Luis Unda hit back-to-back home runs off Mauro Van Mook in the top of the fourth.
The Spartans started their comeback against Ben Van Nuffel and tied the game in the seventh against Brendan Verspreet.
The Pioneers won on a bases-loaded walk allowed by Van Mook on his 150th pitch of the day. Lino Ballardini pitched 2.1 innings and earned the win. Kevin Desmedt picked the save.
The Pioneers, led by manager J.T. Antonacci, have dominated Belgian Division 1 in the last five seasons. They won the European Federation Cup 2024 and will participate in the European Cup 2025.