Great Britain
Czechia
Great Britain Women lost an almost four-hour long battle against hosts Czechia in their second game of the Women’s European Baseball Championships.
After both teams crushed their opponents on Day 1, only giving up one run each, GB and Czechia both relied on their defence during the first two innings.
From fly outs to ground outs and strong pitching displays, the teams made such quick work of each other that the game was still scoreless by the end of the second.
In the top of the third, second baseman Laura Hirai then made it on base when Czech pitcher Tereza Šustrová hit her with a pitch.
Thanks to quick and aggressive base running, Hirai managed to make it all the way around to home to score the game’s first run before the next batter ground out and took the game into the bottom of third.
More strong British defence and two quick outs made it look like it would be another run less inning for the Czech side but they managed to get three runners home before relief pitcher Caitlin Frank took over and secured the last out.
Three strike outs in the top of the fourth inning kept GB off the scoreboard before the British women gave up another two runs to give the Czech side a four run lead by the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth inning, a fielding error cost Czechia dearly as GB scored two runs to narrow the gap. There was nothing the British women could do, though, when their opponents ramped up their offense and hit three singles, a double and a triple which allowed them to get five runs in and extend their lead.
Both teams showed lots of patience at the plate in the sixth inning, getting them on base enough to make it another three runs for Great Britain and another five for Czechia.
Even though with a score of 6 – 15 and the odds against them, GB refused to give up in the final inning.
Hopes started rising when Claury Scatliffe kicked off the top of the seventh with a deep left field double. Despite an early first out, the British women stayed patient during their plate appearances and raced around the diamond to score six runs before a fly out from Scatliffe eventually ended the game 12 – 15.
“The women came up short today but not for lack of commitment. This game was a great learning experience for both players and staff”, said Head Coach Pietro Sollecito.
“Now we have a chance to put those lessons to work against the Dutch and hope we can test our mettle against the Czechs again in the final.”
Overall, Claury Scatliffe led the team in total bases with three as well as in hits alongside Darier Malone and Laura Hirai with two each. Laura Hirai also stole three bases.
GB Women will go up against the Netherlands, who have so far failed to win a game this tournament, tomorrow at 14:00 local time (13:00 BST). Czechia will be facing France in the last game of the round robin stage tomorrow at 18:00 local time (17:00 BST).
If Great Britain and Czechia win their games, GB will automatically advance to the final on Sunday. However, if GB and France or Czechia and the Netherlands win, run difference will decide whether the British women get to play again.
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Photos courtesy of WBSC Europe