Lithuanian Baseball Association

The Lithuanian Baseball Association (Lithuanian: Lietuvos beisbolo asociacija) is the national governing body of baseball in Lithuania. The association was established in 1987 and joined the International Baseball Federation and the Confederation of European Baseball (today WBSC Europe) in 1991.[2]

Lithuanian Baseball Association
Lietuvos beisbolo asociacija
SportBaseball
JurisdictionLithuania
AbbreviationLBA
Founded1987
AffiliationWBSC
Affiliation date1991
Regional affiliationWBSC Europe
Affiliation date1991
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania[1]
PresidentVermidas Neverauskas
Official website
www.beisbolas.lt
Lithuania

The Lithuanian Baseball Association is responsible for the national baseball team, the coed national Baseball5 team and overseeing the Lithuanian Baseball League.

History

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Baseball was introduced in Lithuania by Lithuanian American pilot Steponas Darius in 1922, after returning from the United States.[3][4] The first season of the Lithuanian Baseball League took place that same year and LFLS Kaunas were crowned champions. The second season of the league did not happen until 1988.

Lithuania's baseball team has never qualified for any major tournament. Whereas the national Baseball5 team is the current European runner-up after losing the inaugural Baseball5 European Championship against France.[5]

In 2017, Dovydas Neverauskas became the first Lithuanian to play in the Major League Baseball, doing so with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[6]

Lithuania Baseball Association's current president is Vermidas Neverauskas, Dovydas Neverauskas father.[4]

National teams

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Team Manager
Baseball   William Gordon
Baseball5   Eimantas Zickus
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References

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  1. ^ "Lietuvos beisbolo asociacija". ltok.lt (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Apie mus". beisbolas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ Kazlauskas, Rytis (18 July 2019). "Rebirth of Lithuanian baseball – national team on the verge of top European level and no pitch". LRT.lt. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Federation Focus: Lithuania has one of three Europeans playing at MLB level". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Baseball5 European Championship: Lithuania, France qualify for Baseball5 World Cup". World Baseball Softball Confederation. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  6. ^ Mearns, Andrew (24 April 2017). "The Pirates called up Dovydas Neverauskas, the first born-and-raised Lithuanian in MLB history". MLB.com. Retrieved 22 January 2023.