GB U15’s rally falls just short as Ukraine takes 11-8 win in Euros opener

GB Baseball U15s couldn’t make up an early deficit on Monday morning and fell to an 11-8 defeat to Ukraine to open their European Championship Qualifier campaign in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Ukraine came out hitting with five key hits in a six-run first. GB cut the lead inning by inning to keep the game close.

In the top of the third RBI singles by Harry Craig and Jacob Henry brought the score to 6-4.

In the 6th inning, a RBI single by Dylan Nelson made it 8-6, and then another great at-bat by Harry Craig saw him draw a bases-loaded walk to cut GB's deficit to 8-7.

Ukraine's 3B then turned in a defensive gem, a key double play third-to-catcher-to-first  to snuff out the GB rally just when it looked like GB could take the lead.

Ukraine then put across three more insurance runs in the 6th to make it an 11-7 score before GB added its final run in the top of the seventh.

Charlie Battista in action against Ukraine. He went 2 for 5 at the plate including a double

Photograph courtesy of WBSC Europe

Jacob Henry had three hits and two RBI for GB, with RBI singles in the second and third as GB mounted its comeback effort. Evan Ust had two doubles and Charlie Battista also went 2-for-5 with a double.

Defensive play of the game was made by second baseman, Griffin Franklin, who made a leaping over the shoulder catch in right field to end the 5th inning.

The squad is still in shape to make the final should it win their remaining games and hope for some other losses in the six-team pool which also includes Finland, Israel, Lithuania, and Poland.

Their second game is at 11.30am local time vs. Poland. The game can be streamed here