RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Serefym Ustinov throws for Czechia in a Little League World Serries game against Japan at Volunteer Stadium on Thursday. Japan won 12-0 in four innings.

There isn’t exactly a huge pool to choose from in Brno, Czechia for players for its Little League all-stars. It isn’t because of a lack of talented players — all the kids on Brnzo’s roster are key pieces to why the team is in South Williamsport.

Rather, it’s simply because the sport of baseball still hasn’t quite found its footing in that region of Czechia. Soccer, hockey and basketball are among the more popular youth sports

It makes fielding a team difficult at times.

“Overall baseball is growing, but not so fast as we’d like to see. There are a lot of sports in Czech Republic and Europe like soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis. They are bigger than us, we have to fight for every kid,” Czechia assistant coach Tomas Ovesny said after a 12-0 loss to Japan on Thursday. “The super talented kids are usually finishing up in soccer or hockey, so compared to other countries where you have like Japan, it’s the No. 1 sport. They are picking the best talented kids and in Czech, we are kind of waiting to see who’s left.”

Brno’s Little Leaguers, coaches and fans are happy they’re back in South Williamsport even though the region has struggled in recent years at the Series. Brno, Czechia is at the Series for a third straight summer, but have yet to earn a win while here.

“It is growing, the amount of players in youth categories are growing, it’s a reason why we can make better and better teams,” Ovesny said. “Because you are picking from more kids.”

And the more the sport grows in Czechia, the more players are likely to go out. It’s good for the game, the Series and Brno itself.

But while the team suffered a lopsided loss, the team’s still glad to get the experience that only a handful of Little Leaguers ever get to say they were able to do and that’s get to South Williamsport for the Little League World Series.

“They’re enjoying it a lot. I think only two guys were here last year (from Czechia), so for the rest of the guys, it’s a new experience and they really loved it,” Ovesny said. “I think right now they already forgot that they lost and they’re looking forward to the next experience in the next two days.”

Ovesny attributes the team being close as its biggest strength.

“They’re a good team as teammates.Last year, we had a very good talented team because some played for Czech National team,” Ovesny said. “This year, we have nobody from the national team. The amount of players in Czech Republic is not so big.”

Czechia will face Australia in an elimination game and Ovesny is optimistic the team can do well against the Australian all-stars.

“Mickulas Barta, who pitched the final game in the regional tournament in Poland, he got us here,” Ovesny said of his pitcher. “He’s got a solid fastball. even on this level we hope it will work against Australia and he’s got OK off-speed stuff, so that’ll work we’re hoping.

“We’re going game by game,” Ovesny said.

And having fun and soaking in the atmosphere every step of the way too.