Baseball-softball team Medvednica Bears

We are a family oriented, recreational sport club consisting of veteran players and young prospects. Many of the players are in the sport for 18 years, but continuing to play actively in official legaues of the country. During years many of our players attended various (MLBI, ISF, ESF...) seminars and clinics for baseball, softball, umpiring and scorekeeping. In 18 years of existence, 300 players played for our team in all categories. Today we have around 40 active baseball and softball players.
We love to travel around the Europe and attend various tournaments, so if you are organizer, call us!

Short history of the club

Boys from Slanovec hill in in eastern part of the Croatian capital Zagreb, played stick-ball in the street for a few years.
In 1989 they established Baseball club Medvednica Bears.
The following year 1990, Medvednica Bears started to compete officialy in the regional league of Zagreb. The same year, with the support of the Zagreb Baseball Association, Bears hosted two dutch teams; Amsterdam Pirates and Harlem Heimsteiden who played friendly games against several teams from Zagreb, including senior Bears team. After them, Bears hosted Athletes in Action, american college players team who held a baseball clinic, and played a few games vs Bears. At the end of the year, Bears hosted a guest from the USA, Ted Thoren (Cornell University), who was proclaimed for the best university coach of the decade in the USA. He held a baseball clinic for both younger and older Bears baseball players.
In 1991, in despite the horrors of war, Medvednica started to compete in a new, unified, Croatian baseball league.
In 1992, on austrian tour, Medvednica Bears won a tournament held in St.Poelten. Bears also topped all the teams they played against in Vienna. Bear's hosts in Vienna, Hietzing Dogs visited Zagreb same year, and played some games. Junior team of Bears had a special success that year, when they finished third in the Croatian Championship.
In 1993, on spring training held in Stockerau (Austria), Medvednica Bears defeated then actual champions of Austria, Wienna Bulldogs in all of three played games. Same year, four of our players played for the senior National team of Croatia on the European B-pool championship held in Ladenburg (Germany). Also four of our players atended on the junior A-pool championship held in Spain.
In 1994, Medvednica Bears female softball team started to compete in the Croatian league.
In 1995, in reforms of croatian baseball, Croatian league was divided into first and second (major and minor), and Bears managed to qualify for the 1.Croatian league.
In 1996, Medvednica Bears finished ranking fourth in the league. Same year Bears attended two international friendly tournaments held in Voitsberg (Austria), and Ancona (Italy).
In 1997, the Medvednica Bears senior team withdrawed on their own will from the First league due to financial problems and because they lost their playing field in Dubrava. Therefore, Bears chosed to play in the Second league. Female softball team continued to play in Croatian legaue. On baseball spring training in Hluboka (Czech) Bears won all games against Hluboka Cardinals. Two Bears softball players were elected to join croatian National team on the European Championship in Prague. In april Bears rented a field suitable for baseball in Kupljenovo near Zaprešić, a town 2 km west from Zagreb. Bears traveled back to Hluboka (Czech) and played on a international baseball tournament.
1998. Medvednica senior baseball team and female softball team competes in 1. Croatian legaue. Medvednica senior baseball team, due to cancelation of croatian champion, travels to European winers cup in Nagykanisza (Hungary), and ranks 5th.
In 1999. Medvednica senior baseball team and female softball team competes in 1. Croatian legaue.
In 2000. Medvednica started playing on a City baseball softball field in Središće, Zagreb. Medvednica senior baseball team rank 5th. in 1.Croatian baseball legaue. Female softball team rank 3rd. in 1.Croatian softball legaue. Medvednica Mrki Medvedi, male baseball and softball veterans team was founded.
In 2001. Medvednica Bears baseball team rank 4th. in 1.Croatian baseball leagaue, 2nd. in Zagreb legaue and 3rd. in Croatian baseball cup. Medvednica Mrki Medvedi men softball team win 1st. place in Croatian men softball legaue and 1.st. place in Croatian men softball cup. Female softball team ranks 3rd. in Croatian legaue.
2002. Medvednica Bears team rank 4th in 1.Croatian baseball league. Medvednica Mrki Medvedi team wins the Croatian men softball legaue, Independent baseball legaue Ljudevit Posavski and rank second in Croatian men softball cup. They participate at European men softball champions cup in Chomutov (Czech), where they suprise with a good plays against 8 halfpro teams from allover Europe.
2003. Medvednica is united in one team again, and competes in Croatian 1 A baseball legaue, and mens softball too. Many of our players played for croatian National team on European men softball championship, held in Chocen (Czech).
2004. Medvednica plays on European indoor baseball championship in Going (Austria). Medvednica ranks 6th in 1.Croatian baseball legaue, 2nd in Zagreb baseball league, 2nd in 1.Croatian men softball legaue, 2nd in Croatian men softball cup and 3rd in Zagreb softball league. They play on European cup winners cup held in Radotin (Czech) and rank 7th.
2005. Team competes in 1.league, and ranked 9th on European cup winners cup in men's softball in Prague (Czech) as a croatian representative.
2006. Medvednica competes in baseball senior and cadet croatian legaues, male and female fastpitch softball croatian legaues and COED slowpitch softball international tournaments.
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