Germany
Great Britain
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – Great Britain Baseball finished the 2025 European Championship in sixth place after a 2-0 defeat to Germany in their final game of the tournament.
London Mets product Matteo Sollecito got the call for Bradley Marcelino’s squad and worked a pair of scoreless innings to start the game, while Germany’s Mark Harrison matched him. Another London Mets alum, Chris Messer, entered for the third inning, and Germany loaded the bases, before a sacrifice fly brought home the first German run of the day. Messer escaped without any further damage, but Great Britain trailed 1-0.
Zach Cameron worked the fourth inning for Great Britain, and the bottom of the inning saw GBR load the bases against Harrison with no outs. Germany went to the bullpen, and it paid off, with a double play and a fly out ending the inning without a run scoring.
Cameron worked a scoreless fifth, and Donovan Benoit entered the game for Great Britain and did the same in the sixth, with GBR unable to score in either frame. In the seventh, Benoit allowed a pair of singles before a fielder’s choice – and a throwing error – led to the second German run of the game.
Owen Wild made his GBR senior debut in the eighth, striking out the side in order, but was greeted with a leadoff triple in the ninth. The Tampa Bay Rays prospect would take command of the situation, stranding the runner at third and notching another pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
The GBR offense could not get going, however, as Germany’s pitching staff – the statistical best at this year’s European Championship – held Great Britain to just two hits, and off the scoreboard.
With the championship game still to come, Julian Sanders leads the tournament with 14 hits and sits in fifth with a .542 batting average. Nick Ward finished the tournament with 8 RBIs, good for sixth. Ward and Sanders both tallied 4 doubles to tie for the tournament lead, and Will Cresswell led the Euros with 2 sacrifice flies.
Great Britain Baseball will next play on the world stage; in Houston, Texas at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where they will face the United States, Mexico, Brazil and European rivals Italy in Pool B. Great Britain will kick off pool play on 6 March 2026 against Mexico at 6 PM GMT. For more information about the 2026 World Baseball Classic, mlb.com/world-baseball-classic.
For the latest news and notes from GB Baseball at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and beyond, make sure to follow Great Britain Baseball on Facebook, gb_baseball on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, TikTok at @gbbaseball, and on the British Baseball Federation Website, britishbaseball.org.uk.
– #LetsGoGB –