Arrows Ostrava Explained

Arrows Ostrava
Location:Ostrava, Czech Republic
Cap Logo:Arrows Ostrava insignia.png
Ballpark:Arrows Park
League Champs:3 (2018, 2019, 2021)
Colors:Navy blue, red and white
Manager:Boris Bokaj
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H Pattern B:_baseball
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H Rightarm:002540
H Pattern Pants:_navybluebelt
H Pants:FFFFFF
H Socks:002540
A Pattern Cap:_arrows_ostrava
A Pattern B:_baseball
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SKSB Arrows Ostrava, z.s., or simply Arrows Ostrava, is a baseball team from Ostrava, Czech Republic. The team plays in the Czech Extraliga and have won the league title three times in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

History

The roots of Arrows Ostrava go back to 1971, when a group of young people led by Zdeněk Ploskonka started playing softball. Later, in 1973, the club was established as Permon Ostrava, with a baseball and softball section. In 1976 the team changed its name to Permon Sokol Pustkovec and in 1985 to TJ VOKD Poruba. In 1996, the baseball section split from VOKD Poruba and changed its name to SK Arrows Ostrava.[1] [2]

Arrows Ostrava has played in the Extraliga since 1995 and have never been relegated. The club finished as runner-ups in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2017 and 2020. In 2018, Arrows won its first Czech championship, an achievement they would repeat in 2019 and 2021, all under player-manager Boris Bokaj.[3] [4]

Arrows Ostrava has participated four times in the European Champions Cup, Europe's top baseball club competition. The team made its debut in the 2019 edition, where they finished 7th with a 2–3 record.[5] Arrows hosted the 2021 tournament, finishing 6th with a 2–2 record.[6] The club has had its best performance so far in the 2022 tournament, held in Bonn, where they finished 5th.[7] In their last appearance, in the 2023 cup, Arrows finished 7th with a 3–2 record.

Four Arrows Ostrava players represented Czech Republic at the 2023 World Baseball Classic: pitchers Michal Kovala and Ondřej Satoria, infielder Jakub Kubica and outfielder Jakub Grepl.[8] [9]

Ballpark

Arrows Ostrava plays their home games at the Arrows Park, located in the Poruba district in Ostrava. The complex has two softball fields, a secondary baseball field and the main baseball field, that has a capacity of 600 seated spectators. There is also a restaurant, a conference room, VIP are and a press room.[10]

Arrows Park hosted the 2021 European Champions Cup, the top European competition for baseball clubs, won by Parma Baseball, with the local team finishing sixth.[11]

Achievements

European Champions Cup record

YearVenueFinishWinsLossesWin%Manager
7th 2 3 Boris Bokaj
6th 2 2 Boris Bokaj
5th 1 3 Boris Bokaj
7th 3 2 Boris Bokaj
Total 8 10

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arrows Ostrava. Extraliga. 13 April 2021. cs.
  2. Web site: Historie . arrows.cz. 13 April 2021. cs.
  3. Web site: Arrows Ostrava. Baseball-stat.cz. 12 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Český Baseball 2018. baseball.cz. 13 April 2021. cs.
  5. Web site: Standing. baseballstats.eu. Confederation of European Baseball. 12 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Parma Baseball wins the 2021 Champions Cup. WBSC Europe. 18 July 2021. 12 January 2024.
  7. Web site: 2022 EU-CHAMP-CUP-M-BB European Baseball Champions Cup 2022 Final Report. 2. WBSC Europe. 11 June 2022. 12 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Czech Republic Roster & Staff. MLB.com. 20 April 2023.
  9. Web site: Petr. Kubovčík. Hráči Arrows bojují na WBC. arrows.cz. 12 March 2023. 12 January 2024. cs.
  10. Web site: Areál. arrows.cz. 12 January 2024. cs.
  11. Web site: Champions Cup and CEB Cup underway in Ostrava and Sénart. WBSC Europe. 12 July 2021. 15 January 2023.