By Lee Grafton
Most, Czech Republic: 12 July -- The GB Under-19 Men’s Fastpitch Team flew to Most, in the Czech Republic, on Saturday night 11 July for the European Junior Men’s Championship, which will be played from 13-17 July with six teams competing.
The tournament will be contested by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Croatia, Israel, GB and Poland.
GB’s first competitive game will be against Poland on Monday but the team had a chance to play against the local Under-19 Men’s Team on Sunday, a game that started at 5.00 pm after a friendly welcome from the local team and an exchange of handshakes and gifts.
Falling behind
GB went 1-0 down in the first inning, having escaped a bases-loaded jam thanks to a nice inning-ending catch in right field by Ben Tomlin, who was making his GB debut.
The British team went down in order in the second inning and the Czechs scored a run on a long drive to left field that fell in despite a diving attempt by Kai Benaim and another on a long drive to centre. The inning ended on a fantastic pick-up at first base by George Young after a wide throw from shortstop. But the score was 3-0 to the Czechs.
That lead was extended to 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth, but it could have been worse. A great double play from Trent Nash at shortstop, diving to the bag to beat the runner and then throwing home to get a tag, kept GB in the game.
GB offense
GB made changes for the fifth inning to give all the players some game time, and Trent Nash was the first GB player to reach first base on a walk. Alex Reynolds followed with a single and Rob Studholme reached first on a bunt which advanced the runners and loaded the bases for Sam Grafton.
A passed ball gave GB their first run of the trip. Sam Grafton singled to score two more, and Jack Nielan then hit a two-run home run to bring the score back to 6-5. But the Czechs added three in the bottom half of the fifth to pad their lead against Sam Grafton, making his GB pitching debut.
So GB trailed 9-5 going into the top of the sixth inning, but they failed to capitalise on a bases-loaded no-out chance.
The Czechs then added another couple of more runs to take the game by a final score of 11-5.
But it was a good warm-up game for the GB Under-19 Men, played in a good spirit, and it leaves them well placed for the opening game against Poland.
Photos by Jan Grafton