Wednesday 29 June – The GB Under-22 Women’s Team began life in the consolation playoffs today – not where they wanted to be – at the European Under-22 Women’s Championship in Kunovice, Czech Republic, with a 15-0 three-inning mercy-rule win over Belgium.
A tough 5-4 loss to France on Tuesday, a game the GB Team will feel they should have won, was the difference between the Under-22 Women being in the consolation playoffs as opposed to the Championship playoff rounds. But the team will be determined to make the most of the opportunity to top the consolation bracket and finish ninth overall in the 17-team tournament.
This morning’s game provided an easy start.
GB starting pitcher Jessica Chan restricted the Belgians to two hits and a walk over three innings. Meanwhile, the GB offense was scoring heavily, with four runs in the first inning, six in the second and five more in the third, enough to end the game early with two outs in the bottom of the third inning when pinch-hitter Imogen Gie’s two-run home run brought in the 14th and 15th runs and triggered the mercy rule.
GB had 10 hits, five for extra bases, and also took advantage of a couple of walks from Belgian starting pitcher Lynn van den Brande and five Belgian errors.
Early and often
A walk to Katie Burge and an infield error on a ground ball by Lauren King put GB runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Then Katie scored on an errant throw to second on a steal attempt, Morgan Salmon doubled in Lauren, Molly Blackwood singled to score Morgan and Molly eventually scored on a double steal.
Belgium went down in order in the top of the second inning after an opening walk to Femke de Vree, and any doubt that the game was going to go GB’s way was ended after six more runs came across in the bottom of the inning. There were singles by Georgia Wilson, Jessica Chan and Molly Blackwood, a walk, a hit batter, two Belgian errors and, eventually, a three-run home run by Cameron McGinnis to deep left field that drove Lynn van den Brande from the game.
GB’s offense carried on in the bottom of the third inning, however, against relief pitcher Chloe de Baere.
Katie Burge led off the inning with a home run, followed by hits from Lauren King and Molly Blackwood and sacrifice flies by Morgan Salmon and Cameron McGinnis.
The coup de grace was the two-run blast over the fence in left centre field by Imogen Gie.
Scores and standings
Scores on Wednesday from the two consolation playoff groups were::
GROUP G
GB 15, Belgium 0 (3 inns)
Poland 10, Sweden 9 (8 inns)
Belgium 17, Croatia 13
GROUP H
Austria 12, Hungary 2 (4 inns)
Israel 15, Slovakia 0 (3 inns)
Standings so far in those groups are:
GROUP G
GB (1-0)
Poland (1-0)
Belgium (1-1)
Sweden (1-1)
Croatia (0-2)
GROUP H
Austria (1-0)
Israel (1-0)
Hungary (0-1)
Slovakia (0-1)
Games in Groups G and H will continue through Friday, with final placing games on Saturday. The winners of Groups G and H will play for ninth place in the final tournament standings, the runners-up in the two groups will play for 11th place, and so on.
Tomorrow (Thursday), the GB Under-22 Women will play Poland at 11.15 am Czech time (10.15 in the UK). Two games on Friday will pit GB against Sweden at 10.00 am local time and Croatia at 3.45 pm.
Details of what’s happening in both the consolation and Championship playoffs can be found here.