It was close and chaotic but ultimately GB couldn’t beat France to claim a semi-final spot in the European U18 Championship in Ronchi.
Starter Luke Donaldson went two and a third, giving up one run and fanning four batters. Jacob Henry and Ben Peters followed on the mound before James Parmet went three strong innings, giving up two runs with five Ks.
GB opened a two to nothing lead in the first with Akshay Chopra coming home on a wild pitch after a double down the left field line. He was followed in by Luke Donaldson, stealing home in a melee caused by Kyle Griebenow’s swipe of second.
Donaldson helped himself with a quick second, striking out another two batters, before GB scored six in a wild bottom of the second. Two runs came home on errors and another on a wild pitch, Christian McCarthy got one RBI and Akshay Chopra hit a triple before a Sam White double to right scored two.
After such a long half inning, Donaldson lasted only one more out before being lifted for Jacob Henry. France scored one run, credited to Donaldson, but the damage was limited.
France scored two more in the fourth, but a ground out to the pitcher left the bases loaded. In their half, the Brits put two men on base with singles before a double play sent the game to the fifth.
France scored seven runs to take the lead as GB couldn’t lock it down. Three wild pitches led to runs crossing and a very close fielders choice play was ruled safe at the plate.
A two out rally in the bottom of the sixth brought one run back, but GB left two runs in scoring position as George Evans long fly ball was caught at the warning track.
In the top of the seventh, France extended their lead after two walks and a triple.
In the bottom of the last, down to their last out with the tying run at the plate, it was not to be as a pop up to the second baseman in shallow right field sent the France team through 12-9.
GB now faces two ranking games to decide their eventual place in the tournament standings.
Photo courtesy of WBSC