Head Coach Stan Doney reports on two more losses for the fledgling GB Junior Men's Fastpitch Team at the European Junior Championships, but then a well-earned second win in the competition.
Game 5
Denmark 10, GB 0
GB bats weren't working like they did in the first game against the Danes and the team had gone a bit flat
after beating Israel. Denmark's pitcher technically pitched a perfect no-hit game, although it doesn't seem right to call it that when you only play four innings because of the mercy rule.Two close calls at first base that went against GB would have ended the perfect game, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
GB were not too worried about the result, and I told the boys that I have a plan that we will stick to over the rest of the tournament and see if it works.
Game 6
Czech Republic 23, GB 0
This was the GB players' last chance to put their hands up for selection in the starting nine as we prepare to go for it in the final games of the tournament.
Carl Sharpe started the game for GB and tried hard, but threw too many walks mixed in with a few hits. The next thing you knew, the Czechs had batted through their lineup twice. Ouch!
We were still not hitting the panic button, though, as the Czechs are in a different league to the rest of the teams. They must be getting frustrated with the lack of quality games they are getting as the bottom three teams are just putting up their B teams against them to concentrate on the winnable games, just like we are.
Game 7
GB 17, Croatia 7
GB turned the tables on this one, as we were mercy-ruled by Croatia the first time we played them and now we have done it back to them.
For the first time our pitcher, Joshua Peat, was consistent and it paid dividends as the fielders did their jobs.
The writing seemed to be on the wall again in the first inning as we conceded six runs. But we mounted a good comeback, thanks in part to the Croatian pitcher battling with a small strike zone. Walk after walk mixed with good hitting led to GB accumulating 17 runs in four innings. Not bad for a bunch of guys playing in their first European tournament.
What's next?
We next play Israel, who will now finish fifth and last no matter what the result.
GB will finish either third or fourth depending on a rubber match with Croatia.
Articles from previous games this tournament can be found in the News section of the BSF website.