This summer the Red Hawks, U23 National Baseball Team and U12 National Baseball Team will take part in the Baseball European Championship, the U23 Baseball European Championship and the U12 Baseball European Championship Qualifier. The coaching staffs of these teams have been announced.
The Red Hawks will participate in the Baseball European Championship in Czech Republic, from September 29th until October 1st. Read more about Group D in which the Red Hawks will be playing.
The U23 National Baseball Team will participate in the U23 Baseball European Championship in Austria, from August 8th until August 12th.
Both Red Hawks and the U23 National Baseball Team will have the following coaching staff:
Paco Garcia will lead the coaching staff and take up the role as manager. Garcia has been with the Red Hawks and U23 National Baseball Team as a pitching coach since 2021. He is no stranger to European Baseball as he came to The Dutch Hoofklasse in 2001 as a player and already in 2002 took up a player – manager role for the Regensburg Legionaere. Throughout the years Garcia stayed active in European club baseball. He stood at the helm from 2002 until 2005 of the Regensburg Legionaere, the Freising Grizzlies in 2008 – 2010, back with the Regensburg Legionaere in 2017 – 2018 and with the Haar (Munich) Disciples in 2019. Garcia was also the pitching coach of the German National Team (Seniors and Juniors) in 2002 – 2003, a technical advisor to the Norwegian National Team in 2015- 2016 and the pitching coach for the German U18 National Team in 2020.
Benjamin Dille is a well known and respected name in the Baseball community in Belgium. Dille was a member of the Red Hawks for a continuous 18 years. He also had an outstanding career in the Dutch Hoofdklasse for team Curaçao Neptunus with whom he won numerous titles. Dille is now taking the first steps in sharing his extended knowledge and experience.
Sven Hendrickx is back as a National Team coach since his retirement in 2019. The excitement of European baseball drew back the longtime National Team head coach and 2016 EBCA Coach of the Year. In the meantime Hendrickx has won the Division 1 National Championship 3 times with Hoboken Pioneers. At the 2023 Baseball European Championship, Hendrickx fill in the 3B coach role.
Jakub Vančura new to the Belgian Baseball scene, will be the pitching coach for the Red Hawks and the U23 National Baseball Team. Vancura was a longtime pitcher for the Czech National Team, as well their Sports Manager at the Euro Championships. He has been the Head Coach for Kotlářka Praha in the 1st and 2nd leagues in Czech Republic.
The U12 National Baseball Team will participate in the U12 Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Bulgaria, from July 3rd until July 8th. They will have the following coaching staff:
Jamie Flynn is back to lead the team as the manager. Flynn filled in the same role during the U12 Baseball European Championship in 2021.
Dennis De Quint is also back to coach the U12 Baseball National Team. De Quint is an active player for multiple National Champion Hoboken Pioneers and he is also a longtime member of the Red Hawks. Across borders De Quint has an outstanding record as a player in the Dutch Hoofdklasse. De Quint was a part of the U12 coaching staff in 2021 as well.
Xander Verspreet, a member of the Red Hawks and active player for the Hoboken Pioneers, was a coach in 2021 for the U12 Baseball National Team and he will return this summer again fulfilling that same role.
Michel Calamera is a board member of the LFBBS and the catching coach at the LFBBS Academy. Calamera is back again after his involvement with the 2021 U12 team. He will act as bench coach, lead team warm ups and warm up catchers.
Chris Ruggenberg is the newest member of the coaching staff and will lead the pitchers in Sofia, Bulgaria. Ruggenberg is an active coach for the Brasschaat Braves U12 team, with whom he won the gold division league title in 2022.