BASEBALL JOURNAL 1998: An inside look at Ukraine in international competitions (PART I) (11/29/98)

BASEBALL JOURNAL 1998: An inside look at Ukraine in international competitions

The following is the third in a series of accounts of Ukraine's competition on the International Baseball Association's circuit, compiled by Basil P. Tarasko, the U.S.-based coach and coordinator of three Ukrainian teams. Mr. Tarasko is a member of the executive board of the Ukrainian Sports Club of New York and a member of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the United States and Canada.

As readers of last year's baseball journal will know, Ukraine's 16 and under National Baseball Team qualified to compete in this year's AA Youth World Baseball Championships, held in Fairview Heights, Ill., about 15 miles from St. Louis, Mo.

PART I

Tuesday July 7

Team Ukraine arrived in St. Louis to take part in the International Baseball Association's main event. This is the first ever trip of a Ukrainian National Baseball team to the United States - a historic trip for our young Ukrainians to the country where the sport was born.

To prepare, exhibition games were scheduled for July 8, 9 and 10. We traveled in two 15-passenger vans donated by the tournament's organizing committee. Although we got lost on the way to the ballpark on occasion; when we did get there, we did well. Ukraine managed to win two of three exhibition games.

Saturday, July 11

Korea hosted Ukraine at the Pam Am field in Fairview Heights. Evhen Bliznyk of Kyiv became the first native of Ukraine to come to the plate in a major championship in the U.S. He promptly singled to lead off the game. Serhiy Holovko of Kirovohrad scored the first run for Ukraine and hit our first extra base hit, a double. Konstantyn Shrets (Kirovohrad) had three hits and an RBI, knocking in Evhen Kudra (Kirovohrad).

Evhen Tkachenko (Kirovohrad) was Ukraine's starting pitcher, but he walked the first two batters and was taken out of the game. Holovko relieved and pitched eight effective innings, allowing four unearned runs while striking out nine.

Korea scored two runs in each of the first two innings aided by numerous Ukrainian errors. Ukraine bounced back with two runs in the third inning to pull within two runs. Korea added two runs in the sixth to seal the victory. Final score: Korea, 6-Ukraine, 2.

Sunday, July 12

Ukraine hosted Chinese Taipei, co-favorite to win the championship along with the host country. Ukraine is overmatched, managing but one hit in losing the game. Final score: Taipei, 11-Ukraine, 0.

Andriy Kubalsky (Kirovohrad) took the loss for Ukraine.

Monday, July 13

Ukraine hosted South Africa. Ukraine scored four runs in the third inning to take its first lead in the tournament. South Africa answered by scoring a total of seven runs in the next three innings to take an 8-4 lead. Ukraine scored one run in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough. Final score: South Africa, 8-Ukraine, 5. Holovko took the loss for Ukraine and pitched seven and a third innings and struck out 10 South African batters. Bliznyk, Gromov and Kubalsky had runs batted in.

That evening, major league baseball's St. Louis Cardinals hosted World Baseball Night with a parade of countries followed by a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Mark McGwire did not hit a home run. Our boys were truly amazed by Busch Stadium - you should have seen their eyes!

Tuesday, July 14

Ukraine faced Brazil. Ukraine showed the effects of losing to South Africa by getting only two hits in a 13-0 loss to Brazil. Ukraine used five different pitchers in a vain attempt to stop the Brazilians.

Wednesday, July 15

Team Ukraine completed the Group A competition by facing the National Team of Mexico, another power in international baseball. Ukraine continued to struggle at the plate against superior pitching. The first hit for the blue-and-yellow side came in the seventh inning. Mexico scored often and easily defeated Ukraine 16 to 1. Ukraine finished last in Group A, but our young men continued to hustle no matter what the score.

Thursday, July 16

Italy hosted Ukraine in the ninth to 12th place round. Ukraine came out swinging aggressively, but Italy made all the tough defensive plays. Italy took an early 3-0 lead, then Ukraine scored one run to make the game close, briefly. Soon after, Italy solved our pitching and scored often. Ukraine started to show signs of wear and tear playing for the ninth consecutive day. Yet we battled till the end. Final score: Italy,14-Ukraine, 1.

Friday, July 17

A day off for Ukraine. Time to jump into swimming pools. The temperature during the week was in the high 90s and low 100s. Team Ukraine once again attended a Cardinals baseball game. This time, McGwire hit two home runs. Our boys were truly impressed. We will never forget this game!

Saturday, July 18

Ukraine faced South Africa for 11th place. Holovko on the mound. Ukraine jumped out to an early two-run lead, but South Africa responded quickly with four runs, three of which were unearned. South Africa continued to score to take a commanding 6-2 lead. All looked lost for our young men from Ukraine, but our boys would not quit. We scored three runs to narrow the South African lead to 6-5. All this time Holovko pitched in and out of trouble to keep the score close. In the top of the seventh, Tkachenko hit a clutch two-out single to knock in two runs and put Ukraine ahead 7-6.

At this point, Holovko needed but nine more outs to earn Ukraine's first victory on America soil. He did his job by striking out six of the last nine batters to seal our first victory. Ukraine wins!

What a scene after the last out! All the players and coaches converged on the mound. You would have thought that we won the World Series. In a way we did. Eleventh place in the world is not too shabby.

That afternoon, in nearby Cahokia, Ill., Michael and Olga Kuschnieryk hosted the entire Ukrainian delegation in their home for a traditional Ukrainian meal of borsch, sour cream, dark bread, followed by dozens and dozens of varenyky. What a delicious meal! We are grateful for their hospitality. These two wonderful people and their friend Stefan came to four of our games and cheered us on.

Sunday, July 19

Team Ukraine went to watch the championship game as the tournament's two undefeated squads, the U.S. and Chinese Taipei squared off. In a thrilling 30-hit show, the U.S. barely got by Chinese Taipei 11-10, as both sides scored seven runs in their halves of the seventh inning. Venezuela defeated Australia for the bronze medal.

Special thanks to "Kontakt" TV and Oleh Kulas, who spent an entire day covering the opening ceremonies and our opening game against Korea.

Special thanks to Gale Mitchell, mayor of Fairview Heights, and all the volunteers who were so kind and helpful to us.

Finally great thanks to Leslie Durham, our team mother and tour guide, who also washed our uniforms and provided any kind of help whenever it was needed.

Monday, July 27

For the under-16s, it was back to Ukraine; for me, it was off to the Czech Republic where the Junior European Baseball Championship for 16- to 18-year-olds was being held, in Ostrava. Last year our team had been promoted to Pool A by winning the European Pool B Championships in England.

Our first opponent, Italy, scored early by taking advantage of shoddy fielding to take an early 4-0 lead. Ukraine fought back to pull within 5-4, aided by poor fielding by the Italians. Our own miscues continued, however, with a total of six errors leading to seven unearned runs. Ukraine fell to Italy 14-4. Not a pretty debut.

Alexander Trofimenko of Symferopil had two hits, while Kosta Tarasenko of Kirovohrad scored two runs.

Tuesday, July 28

We were scheduled to play archrival Russia, but rain fell all day. All games were cancelled, increasing the tension.

Wednesday, July 29

Because of yesterday's rainouts, Team Ukraine had to play two nine-inning games in one day, first facing our neighbor to the north, Russia, and then Croatia. A difficult task lay ahead for our young Ukrainians.

Russia stunned Ukraine in the first inning, scoring three runs, but we answered with single runs in the first two innings to pull within 3-2.

Trofimenko did not allow another run into the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Ukraine scored three runs to take a 5-3 lead: Alexander Myroshnychenko (Kirovohrad) doubled to tie the score then Trofimenko's single gave Ukraine the lead for good.

Trofimenko continued to pitch well and held Russia without a run until the ninth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Alexei Serganov (Symferopil) hit a clutch two-out double to knock in two runs to seal Ukraine's first victory in European Junior Pool A Championship competition. Ukraine wins! Final score: Ukraine, 8-Russia, 4.

Ihor Krasnukha led our attack with three hits and two stolen bases. But the story of the game was the pitching of 17-year-old Trofimenko. He pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and three walks, while striking out 11 Russians. Each and every time that he had to make that perfect pitch to get out of a difficult situation, he did. He had that will to win for Ukraine. He wanted to beat Russia.

Major League Baseball scouts, including Bob Isabella of the Atlanta Braves, remarked that this was the best pitching performance of the tournament. Trofimenko, a left-hander, throws in the 85-mph range with a nasty slider. He is a major league prospect, according to the scouts. As the coordinator of scouting in Eastern Europe for the Atlanta Braves, I interviewed Trofimenko and received all his pertinent data for the Braves.

Just three hours later Ukraine had to play again, this time against Croatia. How would Ukraine react after the emotional victory over Russia? Ukraine answered by scoring three runs in the first two innings, but twice left the bases loaded.

We looked tired in the hot sun, but Valentyn Hryshchenko of Kyiv came to the rescue by striking out the first four Croatians. Valentyn pitched a masterful complete game, allowing seven hits and two walks, and struck out 10. Ukraine scored seven runs in the final five innings to defeat Croatia 10-1. Ukraine won the first double header in its five-year international competition history. Ihor Choronomaz of Kyiv led the hitting attack with four hits and three RBIs. Tarasenko and Serganov added two hits each.

Thursday, July 30

Ukraine had a day off, but watched intently the game between Italy and Russia. A victory by the Italians would allow Ukraine to finish in second place in Group competition. Italy defeated Russia 9-3. Team Ukraine qualifies to compete in the medal round competition.

Friday, July 31

Rain again hits Ostrava. All games are postponed.

Saturday, August 1

Last day of the tournament. Once again Ukraine must play two games in one day. Will history repeat itself?

Game 1: Netherlands, tournament favorite, hosts Ukraine.

We managed only one hit and lost to the Netherlands, the eventual champion of the tournament, 14-0.

At the same time the Czech Republic lost to Italy 12-2 to set up the bronze medal game between the Czechs and Ukraine.

The home team was Ukraine with Trofimenko on the mound. The Czechs scored a run in the top of the first inning, but Ukraine answered with two in the first and three in the second, highlighted by a double by Trofimenko that drove in two runs. Score: Ukraine, 5-Czech Republic, 1. All looked well for Ukraine.

Trofimenko was on his game. Yet the Czechs scrambled back, aided by opposite field hits that should have been caught by our outfielders. They took the lead 6-5. Ukraine tied the score in the eighth on a rare passed ball in an intentional walk situation given to Ihor Chornomaz.

The game went into the 11th inning. A two-out error by Prykhodsky, followed by a throwing error by Trofimenko, allowed two unearned runs to score. Ukraine battled back to get the winning run at the plate with two outs, but Myroshnychenko struck out to end the game.

Final score: Czech Republic, 8-Ukraine, 6. Trofimenko went the distance, striking out 15 Czechs, while walking none in another great pitching performance.

Final results in the tournament: Netherlands won the gold, Italy won the silver, the Czechs took the bronze, and Ukraine finished in fourth place.

It was a disappointing finish for our team, but if someone had asked us before the tournament whether finishing in fourth place was acceptable, we would have said "Yes, yes."

CONCLUSION

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