“We are grateful that Joe was a part of Team USA and we appreciate the time and preparation he dedicated to our endeavor of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s Executive Director and CEO

Japan has won six of the last seven editions, Korea claimed gold in 2015. The top two National Teams of the eight-team tournament will earn a spot in the final Olympic Qualifier, scheduled on April 2020

The former Italian World Cup alpine ski racer made the ceremonial first pitch before Italy – The Netherlands in the WBSC Baseball Europe Africa Qualifier. He revealed his relationship with baseball and talked about his celebrated career.

The Czechs won the last two games against Israel and Spain and finished third in the Baseball Europe/Africa Qualifier. A three-RBI double by Martin Schneider opened the score in the last game of the tournament

Kalian Sams, Ademar Rifaela and Sharlon Schoop led the Dutch offence, with a combined six hits game, in a huge victory against Italy. In this way, the Netherlands will play in the last Qualifier in early 2020.

Israel had performed the difficult task defeating Spain, The Netherlands and Italy in order. They needed one more win and they got it against South Africa. “What we did was huge and shouldn’t go unnoticed

WBSC puts the highest priority possible on the well-being of athletes, the global image and integrity of the sport, which WBSC has a duty and responsibility to safeguard at the world level. WBSC has zero tolerance for the type of behaviour displayed by certain delegation members during the altercation

Israel’s National Baseball Team today qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time in history, winning the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Europe/Africa Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020.