For the third straight summer, Brno, Czech Republic is at the World Series
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A familiar team is back in South Williamsport for 2025. In a tournament where maturity, composure, focus are key attributes to long-term success in the double elimination tournament, South Czech Republic Little League's persistent trips to the Keystone State are expected to be a huge plus for their chances.
The Little League based out of Brno, the second largest city in the country next to their capital of Prague, has become familiar travelers in the Williamsport area with the southern team clinching its third straight trip to the Little League Baseball World Series this campaign as the Europe and Africa Regional champions.
"It's unbelievable that the Czech Republic got here three times in a row," said Tomas Ovesny, a first-year assistant coach with the team. "I think the number of players (that play) grows a little bit (every year). The clubs are doing a very good job. So the level of baseball is growing, for sure. That's the reason we are here."
Working through the Europe and Africa Regional Tournament -- the only regional that comprises multiple continents -- South Czech Republic Little League went 7-0 in the region, outscoring opponents by a monstrous 42-3 differential. Notable results include an 11-0 rout against Ukraine, a 10-0 win against Germany, and a 13-2 decision versus Belgium.
While their semifinal and championship contests were not as dominant, a 2-1 win against the Netherlands and a tight 3-2 contest versus Spain, the results sufficed for the Czechians to make the trip to Billtown.
"I think (we) have a better knowledge of baseball from the coaching side," discussed Ovesny when asked what separated the Czech's from other European nations. "(We've had) better facilities, and more talented kids lately."
While continuing to dominate the Europe and Africa Regional Tournament, the Czech's have yet to transfer that to success in South Williamsport. Over the last two years, the Czech Republic are 0-4 in South Williamsport after dropping two games in 2024 versus Cuba (4-1) and Aruba (8-3) after a quick exit in 2023 against Panama (4-0) and Canada (3-0).
The other two occasions where a Czech team made it to the Series were also fruitless in terms of making a deep run.
"We are going to go step by step," concluded Ovesny. "We didn't have big expectations because last year we had a little bit (of a) better team, more talented kids. But this season, (it's been) step by step, game by game and how we finished, it is great to be here."
"In history, nobody from the Czech Republic ever won a single game," admitted Ovesny. "We want to be the first one, that is our goal."
Joining Ovesny on manager Serhiy Holovko's staff is Anna Rotreklova, another first year assistant who will become the fifth woman to coach in a Little League Baseball World Series game this week.
South Czech Little League will once again wear the Europe and Africa uniforms on Thursday, where they will take on Japan at 1 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium. The winner of that contest will go up against either Canada, Puerto Rico, or Venezuela with the loser going up against either Panama or Australia.