RALEIGH, NC – Former Wake Tech diamond standouts Martin Muzik, Martin Cervinka, and Filip Capka will be representing the Czech Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Great Britain and the Czech Republic emerged as the two nations to advance to the WBC in March 2023 through the Regensburg (Germany) Qualifier held September 16-21. The double-elimination tournament featured the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, South Africa and Spain.
The team will now compete in one of four host cities for the 2023 WBC - Taichung, Tokyo, Phoenix and Miami.
The Czech Republic qualified through the loser's bracket. They earned a first-round bye, but dropped their opening game to Spain 21-7. In game two, they defeated France 7-1 and then Germany 8-4. They advanced to the WBC event defeating Spain 3-1. It is the first trip to the WBC for the Czech team.
Muzik started at first base for each game in the qualifier. In the opening game, Muzik went 2-for-4 with a solo homerun in the fifth inning. In the 3-1 win over Spain, Muzik went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in the second inning.
Cervinka was a pinch runner and scored a run in the 7-1 win over France. Capka made a brief appearance in relief on the mound lasting .1 innings allowing three hits and five earned runs.
Muzik played for two seasons for Wake Tech. During his freshman campaign in 2017, he batted .406 while recording 65 hits, 22 doubles, 10 homeruns, and 47 RBI. As a sophomore, he hit .407, with 61 hits, 10 doubles, and 12 homeruns with 56 RBI. He earned NJCAA second team All-America for both seasons representing Wake Tech. He was a first-team All-Region 10 as a catcher in 2018.
Cervinka played one year as an Eagle in 2018. He had 33 hits, nine doubles, and 17 RBI while hitting .295.
Capka also played one year for Wake Tech in 2019. He went 2-1 with one save with 17.2 innings pitched and recorded 23 strikeouts.
Radim Novotny, another former Wake Tech Eagle, also plays professionally in the Czech Republic.
PHOTO CREDIT: @BaseballCzech (Twitter)