By Ian Tomlin
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Prague, Czech Republic: 23 July -- The GB Under-19 Men’s Fastpitch Team arrived in Prague on Friday in a buoyant mood and were pleased to see that the Czech hosts, the Joudrs Softball Club, has provided a superb setting for the forthcoming European Junior Men’s Championship.
A Saturday morning training session followed by a visit to the historic centre of Prague soon settled the nerves of the young side.
On Sunday, the GB team played a scrimmage game against the Israeli Under-16 side, who are here as one of the teams competing in the ESF’s first-ever European Championship for Under-16 Boys, which will run alongside the Under-19 tournament.
One-sided start
Due to age difference and pitcher ability, the game started in a slightly one-sided fashion, and GB scored nine quick runs, with every batter getting a hit and shortstop Tom Russell homering on the first pitch he saw.
With the score at 9-0 and no outs, GB Head Coach Chris Yoxall retired his side to let the young Israeli team in to bat.
And Israel came out swinging and managed to put to put four runs on the board on three hits and three walks.
Israel brought a senior player in to pitch in the second inning and the game became much more even, with the GB players able to face a pitcher of some quality, who quickly set them down without adding to the score.
In the bottom of the second inning, Sam Grafton found his rhythm in the circle for GB, and set the Israelis down in order with the help of some slick fielding from third baseman Max Fagan and catcher Ben Tomlin.
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More runs
In the top of the third inning, GB hitters began to time the pitching, and a lead-off single from Ben Tomlin, followed by singles from Daniel Downes and Max Fagan, helped to put another three runs on the scoreboard.
A final run followed in the top of the fourth inning, driven in by GB captain and first baseman George Young, and with the score now standing at 13-4, GB looked certain to claim the game.
But Israel had other ideas, and a flurry of base hits and walks reduced GB’s advantage.
Time constraints led to an early finish to an entertaining game that allowed both teams an opportunity to test their skills, with the final score 13-8 to GB.
The day was then completed for the GB players with a final training session.
Looking ahead​
GB will face stiff opposition when the European Championship opens on Monday, with games against the defending champion Czech Republic and then a much-improved Israeli Under-19 side, who registered a 11-7 win on Sunday in a scrimmage game against a local Czech league team.
You can get full details on all games played by the GB Under-19 Men at the European Championship on this website.