GB U18s off to winning start against Czechia

GB Baseball U18s opened their European Championship campaign with a thrilling 4-2 win over Czechia behind solid pitching by starter Colin Lebel who earned the complete game win for GB.

Lebel struck out nine Czechia players while giving up just three hits over his seven innings pitched

Colin Lebel struck out nine Czechia batters in his complete game win

It was a pitchers duel through the first two innings but in the bottom of the third, GB centre fielder Owen Bourgeois cracked a line drive to left field for a standup double. He was driven in by GB Shortstop Will Kraemer’s hit to centre field.

Centre fielder Owen Bourgeois celebrates his stand up double in the third inning

Czechia scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead but then GB outfielder Jack Warrington launched a fly ball that bounced off the left field wall for a triple, bringing him to third with no outs.

He then scored on a passed ball to tie the game.

In the bottom of the 5th, GB put runners on first and second and a line drive single to left field by shortstop Will Kraemer scored catcher Travis Harfield, giving Kraemer his second RBI of the night.

In the bottom of the 6th and with a 3-2 lead, Jack Warrington reached on an infield single before pinch runner Louis Dean reached 2nd on a sacrifice bunt by Kaden Horwood.

Next batter third baseman Leo De Giorgi then knocked Dean in with an RBI base hit bringing the score to 4-2.

Those four runs would be all GB needed to take the game.

Box Score

GB’s next opponents at 1.00pm today (Tuesday) are Sweden.

All photographs courtesy of WBSC Europe.

Great Britain U18s are supported during 2024 by Tracsis