European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 02, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Softball player Narike Deboer and another to australian Sarn Bentley a 10-year-old outfielder in the baseball league. A neither of them had any trouble handling Taft s floaters. A although Many soccer minded europeans have difficulty gripping the Subtle intricacies of baseball television is helping to make the game More accessible for them. Recently a number of sports channels have. Sprouted in Germany Belgium and other places on the continent providing baseball games to those with Cable or satellite hookups. That s How tue Rasmussen a first year ballplayer from Sealand Denmark Learned what to to when he stepped into the batting Cage at the International school for one of the first practices of the new season shortly after opening festivities  i watched a lot of baseball on to in Denmark Quot the 1 14-year-old Dane said. From the Way he swung the Bat tue must have been watching a lot of Boston red sox batting Champion Wade Boggs. When a visitor complimented him on his natural hitting ability tue just smiled and ran off to Field some grounders. The Brussels sports association Little league does t seem to suffer at All from having non american Talent. On the contrary the league boasts of having one of the most successful records in the world in recent years. In seven out of 10 years during the 1980s, Brussels won the european championship at some level a earning the right to represent Europe As one of the final eight teams in the world to compete in the Little league world series in the United states. Quot we Are the Only chartered Little league association in the world Ever to do this at every age level Quot including Little league Ages 11 and 12senior Little league Ages 13-15 and big league Ages 16-18notes Bonnie Moynihan who is a kind of informal historian and spokeswoman for the Brussel s program a last year the Brussels senior Little league team won the european championship and eventually placed fifth in the world with two victories in the senior Little league world series in Kissimmee Fla. It was the first time a european team Ever won a game in the senior world series. The team won with four nationalities British Canadian japanese and american. _ and six years earlier Victoria Roach then a 12-year-old British girl playing for Brussels made the Little league Hall of Fame As the first girl to Ever play in the Little league world series in Williamsport a. Of course the learning curve is better for some new. Players than others. Some Veteran baseball watchers still chuckle about the time a belgian boy showed up for baseball tryouts wearing a fur Cap and a Beautiful and expensive camels hair coat. He picked up a Bat proceeded to straddle Home plate and thrust the Bat aloft High Over his head As if he were ready to chop Wood. Geoff Waller who is British and who has coached All Levels of teams from tee Ball to senior Little league said non americans find the game easier to pick up if they Start at a younger age. Quot if you re Only Here for a Short Kay you re 13 years old and swedish and you be never played the game before then you could get Hurt out there Quot he said. Fred Alvarez an american who is the commissioner of the tee Ball league for youngsters just learning the game said As Many As 40 percent of those playing tee Ball Are non american. Quot kids that Are general Good athletes pick up the game Well Quot Alvarez said. Quot it gets harder As older kids try to join the upper  Denis Guimont a Canadian from Quebec City Canada who coaches a senior Little league team thinks baseball is becoming More attractive to parents looking for a sport that will stimulate but not Hurt their youngsters Quot there s something about baseball Quot he said. Quot it s nonviolent first of All. The rules Are intellectually appealing. I think the fact that it is challenging and essentially nonviolent makes it  \ r As for the youngsters themselves Many look puzzled when asked Why they like baseball. Said 13-year-old t brazilian Icaro Degasperi with a hint of impatience As though the answer were obvious Quot it s  spectators can see members of the Brussels sports association Little league teams in action every weekend during the next three months. The games Are held at three different Sites with the first game at each site beginning at noon. The senior leagues and the tee Ball league play at the International school of Brussels the 11 to 12-year-Olds play at St. John s International school and the 9 to 10-year-Olds play at Brussels american school. A group of Young cubs and a Little Black dog March behind the team s colors. Opening Day festivities included a Parade of All the teams. A amps photos by David Tarrant brazilian Icaro Degasperi shakes some of the Winter rust off his Home run swing during the first Day of baseball practice. Members of the Brussels senior Little league team gather behind their 1990 championship Banner May 2, 1991 stripes Magazine 5