Michal Holobradeck, Jakub Osicka to lead Czechia's pitching staff at WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A in Hermosillo
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<p>Czech Softball revealed its roster to represent the country at this year's <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-group-a/home">WBSC Men's Softball World Cup</a> group stage. The fifth nation in the <a href="https://wbsc.org/en/rankings/softball-m">WBSC Men's Softball World Ranking</a> will open the World Cup in Group A, to be staged in Hermosillo, Mexico, from 12-16 June.</p>
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<p>"We rely on having great pitchers. Michal Holobradek and Jakub Osicka are our aces, but Jonas Hajny and Lukas Kubat are also exceptional pitchers, and together they form a very strong part of our team," said head coach Jaroslav Korkac. "In the long term, we strive for speed to be our strength. I think we are doing well and our team is a bit faster than in the past. It's one of the things that will help us win. We have fewer freshmen than we did two years ago. It's time for this group of players to stick together at national events and gain experience for the future."</p>
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<h3>Czech Men's National Softball Team</h3>
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<ol><li>Viktor Chuchma </li><li>Jonas Hajny </li><li>George Harris </li><li>Michal Holobradek </li><li>David Jaluska </li><li>Mikulás Klas </li><li>Tomás Klein </li><li>Patrik Kopecný </li><li>Lukás Kubát </li><li>Adam Lunák </li><li>Martin Magula </li><li>Jakub Osicka</li><li>Matej Rysavy </li><li>Martin Turek </li><li>Jakub Vasícek </li><li>Marek Volf </li></ol>
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<p>A total of 10 players in the roster participated in the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-mens-softball-world-cup/teams/20462">2022 Men's Softball World Cup</a>, where Czechia couldn't qualify for the playoffs and finished in ninth place with an even 4-4 record: Hajny, Harris, Holobradeck (pictured), Klas, Klein, Kubat, Magula, Osicka, Turek and Volf. Three players are veterans of <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2020-u18-mens-softball-world-cup/teams/1726">Czechia's 2020 U-18 squad</a> that conquered the bronze medal at the World Cup in Palmerston North, New Zealand: Lunak, Osicka and Vasicek.</p>
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<p><a href="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/MSWC_Group_Brackets_Landscape_V2.png"><img src="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/MSWC_Group_Brackets_Landscape_V2.png" alt="Men's Softball World Cup Groups" width="100%" height="auto"></a></p>
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<p>"I believe we have a well-prepared team," added Korkac. "We have quality players with international experience, either from the national team or playing in the USA and Canada, and we believe that we will advance to the World Cup Finals."</p>
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<p>With only two tickets available to next year's <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-finals/home">WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals</a>, Group A appears to be the most competitive in the group stage, with Czechia facing off the defending world champions and No. 1 Australia, No. 7 Venezuela, hosts and No. 9 Mexico, No. 14 the Philippines and No. 20 Dominican Republic.</p>
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