Friday 7 July – Both the GB Under-18 and Under-16 Men’s Fastpitch Teams came up empty yesterday in their concurrent European 
Championships in Sezimovo Usti in Czechia, as the GB Under-18s lost to Israel and Czechia and the GB Under-16s went down to Denmark.
The GB Under-18s, fresh off their first win yesterday against Croatia, were tied 5-5 with Israel after the top of the third inning, but then fell away and Israel recorded a 14-6 win. Later, in the day, the Under-18s came up against the all-conquering Czechs, and went down 21-1.
The GB Under-16 Men had only one game yesterday in the European Under-16 Men’s Championship, and lost 16-1 to Denmark.
With today’s games ending the round-robin phase of the tournaments, both GB teams look likely to be playing in bronze medal games on Saturday.
GB Under-18s
Israel 14, GB 6
The GB Under-18 Men came into this game with confidence after their win against Croatia on Wednesday, and started well, thanks to a bout of wildness from Israeli starting pitcher Aharon Gefen Itzhak, who nevertheless went on to pitch a complete game. Three walks, to Connor Peberdy, Will Adams, and Henry Barnes, loaded the bases, and a flurry of wild pitches brought two runs home.
However, the Israelis returned the favour and then some in the bottom of the first inning against GB starter Connor Buxton. Three walks got the inning started, a single and two doubles followed, and by the end of the inning, Israel had a 5-2 lead.
Things settled down in the second inning, as both teams failed to score. GB went down in order, and the Israelis only managed one infield hit.
The GB Under-18s then rallied in the top of the third inning to tie the score. Sam Buxton and Will Adams singled, a wild pitch scored Sam, and Will came home on a long ground-rule double to centre field by Edan Lord. Edan then came home on an error at third base on a ball hit by Luis Allan Arrevillagas, and the game was tied at 5-5.
Unfortunately, that was the high point for GB. Israel scored a decisive nine runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the score to 14-5.
GB scored once more in the top of the fourth inning when Fin James walked and came around to score on a long double to left field by Sam Buxton. But neither team could score after that, and the mercy rule (seven after five) came into play after GB failed to add to their tally in the top of the fifth inning, with the score standing at 14-6 for Denmark.
Czechia 21, GB 1
The Czechs are far and away the best team in the tournament, as they usually are in European men’s fastpitch, and the GB Under-18s, who had lost to the Czechs by 15-0 on Monday, knew what they would be up against.
The game started in a relatively quiet fashion, as Raul Dodson-Richi, pitching for GB, held the Czechs to just three runs in the top of the first inning.
GB then came to bat and scored against the Czechs for the first time. Catcher Sam Buxton led off with a walk, and one out later went to second on a single by Edan Lord against Czech starter Matyas Zelinka. Charlie Barnes flew out to right field for the second out, and then came in as a temporary runner for Sam Buxton, and it was Charlie who scored the run after two illegal pitches by Zelinka.
Zelinka was then replaced by Matej Macas, Luis Allan Arrevillagas struck out, and the first inning ended with the Czechs ahead 3-1.
After that, the Czechs scored nine runs in each of the next two innings, GB didn’t have another baserunner, and the game ended after three innings with the Czechs ahead 21-1.
For Great Britain, the crucial game is their encounter today with Croatia If GB can beat Croatia again, then the British team will have earned a place in the bronze medal game on Saturday.
Today’s results from the European Under-18 Men’s Championship were:
Denmark 16, Croatia 11
Israel 14, Great Britain 6
Israel 11, Croatia 1
Czechia 21, Great Britain 1
The standings, with one more day to go in round-robin play, are:
Czechia (6-0)
Denmark (4-2)
Israel (4-2)
Great Britain (1-5)
Croatia (0-6)
GB Under-16s
The GB Under-16’s looked defiant as they lined up next to Denmark on Thursday for the second game between the two teams. God Save The King echoed through the valley at Kamora as the team faced the Union flag.
Jacob Henry led off the game for GB with a single to shortstop off Danish starter Mathias Rigtrup, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a passed ball, and scored when there was another passed ball as his brother Freddy struck out. The GB Under-16s were leading in a game for the first time!
Noah Hickling-Fox was then hit in the leg with a pitch as Rigtrup struggled with his control, and Noah then stole second. Luca Taylor struck out swinging, but GB ended their first at- bat with a 1-0 lead.
Nathan Wyborn started in the circle for GB, but walks, wild pitches and a flurry of singles allowed the Danes to put seven runs on the scoreboard before a fine relay from left field to third base to catcher Jacob Henry, who applied the tag at home, closed out the inning.
As Jack Ashby-Lloyd walked up to the plate to start the second inning, the noise from the GB dugout was deafening. Jack grounded out, but Charlie Thacker hit a double to right centre field. Unfortunately, Charlie took off on a fly ball to right field by Ethan Hull and was doubled up trying to get back for the third out.
The bottom of the second inning was pretty much a repeat of the first inning for a strong Danish side, with Ethan Hull, who relieved Nathan Wyborn during the first inning, now pitching for GB, and he in turn was relieved by Noah Hickling-Fox after a number of hits and walks. By the time the inning was over, the Danes led 15-1.
GB went down in order in the top of the third inning, and Denmark went into their at-bat knowing they needed just one more run to invoke the mercy rule (15 after three). Unfortunately, two walks and two hit batters brought in the run the Danes needed.
Today’s results from the European Under-16 Men’s Championship were:
Denmark 16, Great Britain 1
Czechia 31, Israel 0
The standings, with one more day to go in round-robin play, are:
Czechia (5-0)
Denmark (4-1)
Israel (1-4)
GB (0-5)
Because there are only four teams in the European Under-16 Men’s Championship, all four will play in the medal games on Saturday, and it looks like GB and Israel will contest the bronze medal game. But GB’s final round-robin game on Friday is against Israel, which if nothing else will be a good rehearsal for Saturday.