Photo: Paul Stodart
The Great Britain Baseball U23s were held scoreless on Wednesday night, 6 August, as they were defeated by hosts Czechia at the 2025 European Baseball Championship in Třebíč, 3-0.
Oliver Duthie (0-1), pitching on his birthday, got the start for Great Britain, but Czechia wasted no time jumping out to a lead. A one-out error and a single by Michal Sindelka put two runners aboard in the bottom of the first, before Jan Popisl’s single scored the lead runner – with Sindelka cut down at third base trying to push his luck for the second out. Duthie retired the final batter to end the inning but with Czechia leading 1-0.
GBR threatened in the third, but failed to score, and CZE extended their lead in the bottom half. Three singles – and a walk – later, and GBR found themselves trailing 3-0.
Czechia’s pitching was solid all game, scattering just three GBR hits, and Eddie Taylor matched them for Great Britain, tossing two frames of scoreless baseball in relief of Duthie. GBR would threaten in the seventh, thanks to a hit batter and a walk, but Filip Kollmann, on for Czech starter Jan Kozel (1-0) slammed the door, ending the game with a strikeout.
With the win, Czechia guarantees themselves a spot in the semifinals, while GBR will need to defeat France in order to advance. Great Britain will play in their final Pool B game in Třebíč on Thursday morning, 7 August, against France. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 CEST/09:00 BST.
The 2025 WBSC U23 European Baseball Championships can be watched on BaseballEurope.TV.
For the latest news and notes from GB Baseball at the 2025 U23 European Baseball Championships and more, 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.