Check, Check, Check…Wha?

The semifinals of the 2007 IBAF world cup are set.  In the group B bracket, familiar international powerhouses Cuba and Japan face off.  While it would be tempting to write “in a rematch of the 2006 WBC final), that would be misleading.  The Cuban team, as always, is the class of the international baseball circuit, and is heavily favored in this one.

In Group A, the solid core of prospects from the USA faces off against…the Netherlands.

On the strength of a 2-run extra innings double by Seattle Mariners farmhand Gregory Halman, the Dutch national team beat Chinese Taipei 6-3 to reach the semifinal round.

We’re not exactly in unprecedented territory  here.  The Netherlands placed 4th when they hosted the 2005 World Cup, but their series of victories  that year was nowhere near  as impressive.

It’s pretty sweet to see Europe fielding competitive  teams in international competition.