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Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada: 9 July – The GB Men’s Fastpitch Team lost their second consecutive game at the WBSC Men’s World Championship on Saturday, and were shut out for the second straight time, in a 3-0 loss to European rivals Denmark.
Once again, as in the 1-0 loss to Botswana on Friday, GB pitcher Kyle Linton threw an excellent complete game, giving up only two hits and one earned run while striking out 10.
But this time, Linton walked eight hitters, and four of those walks came in the bottom of the third inning, along with GB’s only error and the only extra-base hit of the game, a ground rule double to left field by Denmark first baseman Daniel Julenon. This combination of events allowed Denmark to score all three of their runs, and the only runs in the game.
Veteran Danish pitcher Kim Hansen, who also pitched a complete game, allowed four GB hits, two of them to Designated Player Luke Peters, but struck out 12 and didn’t issue a walk, while the Danish defense played errorless softball behind him.
Decisive moments
Luke Peters had singled off Kim Hansen in the top of the fourth inning and Amit Aswani reached on an infield single in the top of the fifth. But the only GB threat – or potential threat – came in the top of the seventh inning when Luke Peters led off the inning with another single, a fly ball that fell between the Danish outfielders in short right centre field. However, Luke was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. James Darby followed with a single down the left field line, but Hansen struck out Kyle Linton and Neil Davies swinging to bring the game to an end.
In the bottom of the third inning, when the game was decided, Valdemar Terkelsen led off for Denmark with a walk and stole second base, and Anton Brown also drew a walk. Kyle Linton struck out Martin Simonsen, but Daniel Julenon followed with his double to left, driving in Terkelsen with the first run of the game. Anders Jorgensen then walked to load the bases, and after Anders Svane flew out behind first base, both Brown and Julenon scored when the throw home got away from the GB catcher.
Looking ahead
Things won’t get any easier today for a GB Team that has already lost players to injuries when they play the World #1 and tournament favourites New Zealand at 5.30 pm Canadian West Coast time (2.30 am on Monday in the UK).
After that, GB will play the European champion Czech Republic on Monday, World #5 Japan on Tuesday, newcomers Turkey on Wednesday and World #4 Venezuela on Thursday, looking somehow for the four wins from those five games that will be needed to make the Championship playoffs.
Failing that, GB will wind up in the Placement pool, and will have games on Friday and Saturday to determine their final placing.
Standings
The standings after two days of play at the WBSC Men’s Fastpitch World Championship are:
POOL A
Canada (2-0)
Dominican Republic (2-0)
Argentina (1-1)
Australia (1-1)
Hong Kong (1-1)
USA (1-1)
Indonesia (0-2)
South Africa (0-2)
POOL B
Japan (2-0)
New Zealand (2-0)
Botswana (1-1)
Czech Republic (1-1)
Denmark (1-1)
Venezuela (1-1)
Great Britain (0-2)
Turkey (0-2)
All games from the tournament are webstreamed, and can be watched live or on-demand afterward through http://sportscanada.tv/worldsoftball.