Stellar pitching propels GB U15s to a 12-2 win over Finland
GB got out to a strong start with a great first inning, but it was the pitching that dominated Finland today.
Dylan Nelson and Nathan Bartlett combined to limit Poland to two runs and two hits in a game that was shortened to five innings due to GB scoring 2 runs in the bottom-of-the-fifth with no outs to make it a 12-2 ‘mercy rule’ final score margin.
Dylan Nelson was the starting pitcher on the mound and star of the show for GB today, throwing three no-hit innings.
In the second inning Dylan threw a nine-pitch ‘immaculate inning’, striking out all 3 Poland hitters on the minimum pitches.
At one stretch Dylan had thrown 12 strikes in a row, and 15 of 16. He finished with six strikeouts in his three innings of work. Nathan Bartlett came in to relieve and held the lead for the final two innings with three strikeouts.
GB followed yesterday’s good start with another four-run inning in the bottom of the first. Euan Gulliver led off with a walk and then Harry Craig reached base on an error.
With some aggressive baserunning, they each then ended up scoring on the same wild pitch to give the team a very early 2-run lead. After Charlie Battista walked,
Evan Ust delivered a double down the left field line to score Charlie to make it 3-0 before scoring on Jacob Henry’s single to left to make it 4-0.
That was really all the runs GB would need on the day. The bats overall were a bit quiet today, with just five hits on the day, but they did manage to put together a 5-run 4th inning with just two base hits but some great at-bats producing walks and the coaching staff keeping the squad very aggressive on the basepaths.
With two outs in the bottom of the 4th, GB had a 10-0 lead and looked to close out the game early but a tricky ground ball up the middle got through for a hit, driving in two Poland runs for a 10-2 lead and fans would have to wait another half-inning to get back to a 10-run lead.
It didn’t take long as it took GB just three batters to finish things off in the bottom-of-the-fifth. Hugo Esperon led off the inning with a single to right, and then Euan Gulliver walked.
Harry Craig delivered a sacrifice bunt that turned into a major throwing error by the Polish pitcher and in the ensuing chaos, both Max Josefs (pinch-running for Hugo) and Euan scored the two runs that finished the game off 12-2 in the fifth inning.
Defensive heroics for today’s game go to catcher Harry Craig who threw out three Poland base stealers and also contributed to a pickoff/rundown play between third and home. Euan Gulliver drew four walks today – after getting on base yesterday six times! – and also had a key RBI groundout.
Euan has got on base in 13 of his 15 plate appearances this tournament. Evan Ust’s double was his fourth extra-base hit of the tournament thus far.
With the win GB is now 2-1, and has solidified its place as one of the top three teams battling for final two championship spots.
The team needs a win tomorrow against Israel at 8.00am BST to keep its momentum going towards the ultimate goal of playing in Saturday’s final.
