Three Girls, One Dream: Czechia’s Adriana Salabova at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025

Adriana Salabova isn’t just the second tallest on the Czechia team, she also started on the mound on both Day 1 and Day 4 of the Opening Round, and the first day of the Placement Round at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS in Tainan (TPE), showing her edge in both physical presence and pitching skills.

With Europe’s fastest fastball at the U-12 level in her arsenal, Salabova still felt a bit of pressure starting three games, especially since they were meaningful encounters against the Dominican Republic and Panama in the Opening Round and against Australia in the Placement Round.

“I’m glad I stayed calm,” Salabova said. “I handled the game and did what the coaches asked me to do.”

On Thursday, Salabova kept Australia scoreless for three innings. When she left in the top of the fifth, the Aussies opened the score.

Even with her talent for throwing heat, Salabova, who is visiting Taiwan for the first time, doesn’t take anything for granted. She’s constantly working hard to maintain her speed.

“I started to throw faster than 100km/h when I was 10,” Salabova said. “But I tried to develop more and more velocity and command. I believe command is an important skill for my game.”

To reach her goals, Salabova focuses on her movement, tries to hit the same spots, and repeats the same things during the game.

She started playing baseball at age seven and chose the sport because she said it’s "the best" for the friendships made and the team spirit. Now standing at 1.7 metres tall, she humbly said she’s only a little taller than most kids her age, and she handles it well, always looking for ways to use it to her advantage on the field.

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