By Mary Murray
Tuesday 28 June – The GB Under-22 Women’s Team enjoyed an expected easy win over Hungary this morning on the second day of the European Under-22 Women’s Championship in in the Czech Republic, but a heart-breaking 5-4 loss to France this afternoon means that GB will miss the playoffs.
The loss to France, coupled with Monday’s loss to the Czech Republic, means that GB has finished third in Pool D and will spend the next three days playing against third, fourth and fifth-place finishers from other groups, with games in both tournament venues in Kunovice and Brno. Depending on how GB does in those games, they will play off on Saturday for a final tournament placing, but the highest they can finish will be ninth.
GB's game tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9.00 am local time will be against Belgium, who finished fourth in Group C. On Thursday, GB will play Poland and there will be two games on Friday, against Sweden and Croatia.
France 5, GB 4
In a back-and-forth game, France jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Chiara Enrione-Thorrand was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single from Emma Patry. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice fly, and a single from Kimane Rogron brought them both home to put France up 2-0.
GB responded in the top of the second inning, with Jessica Chan launching a two-out solo home run over the center field fence. Katie Burge and Carys Lynch both singled following Jessica’s round-tripper, but were left on base, leaving GB 2-1 down.
GB starter Georgia Wilson, who pitched all six innings, shut down the French offense in the bottom of the second: after a walk to Emelie Olivier, three straight infield pop-ups brought the British back in to bat.
And the top of the third inning started off with a bang. Lauren King sent a ball over the center field fence to lead off the inning, tying the score at two runs each. Molly Blackwood then tripled to right field – but when she tried to tag up on a fly ball by Imogen Gie, Molly was thrown out at the plate. However, Cameron McGinnis sent a single up the middle and stole second on the next pitch, and Alexis Larrow singled to left field, plating Cameron to put GB 3-2 ahead.
It could have been more, as Jessica Chan and Katie Burge then walked against French starter Enora Simon, loading the bases. But the French made a pitching change and brought in Clelia Costes, who ended the threat with a strikeout.
Georgia Wilson again worked quickly in the bottom of the third inning, throwing only 12 pitches to force three fly outs, leaving one French baserunner stranded.
GB had chances in the top of the fourth inning – but that was the story of the game, with GB outhitting the French 11 to seven but leaving 10 runners on base.
Morgan Salmon led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground out to the right side by Lauren King. But Molly Blackwood lined a ball hard to third and Morgan was doubled off base to end the inning.
The French again failed to score in the bottom of the fourth, despite two consecutive base hits to start the inning. Ines Haudiquer was thrown out trying to advance to third on a single from Emelie Olivier, and a fielder’s choice and a strikeout ended the inning.
GB stretched their lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning -- but again, it could have been more. Imogen Gie and Cameron McGinnis reached base with an infield single and a walk to start the inning, but France turned a double play on a ground ball up the middle to leave Imogen on third with two outs. Jessica Chan singled through the left side to bring Imogen home and Katie Burge added another single, but both runners were left after a ground out to third ended the inning.
It always felt possible that GB would pay the price for their missed opportunities, and momentum started to swing in the bottom of the fifth inning when France plated two runs to tie the score at 4-4.
Amina Taleb reached on an infield error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. An outfield error then allowed Emma Patry to reach, and a single to center field from Yasmine Derbal plated Taleb to bring the French within a run. Kimane Rogron’s ground out brought Patry home, tying the game.
In the top of the sixth inning, French pitcher Clelia Costes induced three straight ground outs to shortstop, bringing France quickly back to the plate.
An error in the outfield with one out in the bottom of the sixth allowed Ambre Brouard to reach base and she advanced to second on a foul fly out to left field. Amina Taleb then doubled to right center, bringing Brouard in to score and giving France the 5-4 advantage.
With their backs against the wall, GB went down in order in the top of the seventh inning, and the tough loss meant the end of their playoff hopes.
GB 17, Hungary 0
Great Britain jumped on the Hungarians early in this morning game in Kunovice and never looked back. Twelve runs in the bottom of the first inning paved the way for a 17-0 mercy rule win in three innings.
Katie Burge started the first inning explosion with a single up the middle against Hungarian starting pitcher Hanna Toth. Carys Lynch laid down a bunt single, advancing Katie to third, and Katie stole home two pitches before a single by Morgan Salmon was followed by two back-to-back hit batters (Lauren King and Molly Blackwood), allowing Carys to score.
Three consecutive doubles from Imogen Gie, Cameron McGinnis, and Alexis Larrow brought in a further five runs before Katie Burge blasted a one-out, two-run home run over the center field fence. Carys Lynch added another infield single before advancing to third on a double from Morgan Salmon.
GB then had their second home run of the game, off the bat of Molly Blackwood, who drove a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left center field to drive in three more runs, putting GB ahead 12-0.
The Hungarians managed a one-out baserunner in the top of the second inning on a walk issued by pitcher Georgia Wilson, but catcher Imogen Gie threw out Anna Ilona Fekete attempting to steal. This proved crucial as Anna Ivanszki singled through the right side on the next pitch, which could have resulted in a run for Hungary had that baserunner not been erased.
Georgia Wilson then struck out Reka Buglyo to get the British back up to the plate.
Reka Buglyo took over the pitching for Hungary in the bottom of the second inning, and Great Britain quickly took advantage, loading the bases on an error, a single by Georgia Wilson, and a walk drawn by Katie Burge. Alexis Larrow was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, but Morgan Salmon drove in Georgia with a sacrifice fly to the left fielder and Lauren King followed with a single to left, scoring Katie.
Molly Blackwood then reached on an error by the center fielder, allowing Carys Lynch to cross the plate, and another error by the Hungarian first base player allowed Molly to score. That was five more runs for GB to bring the score to 17-0 heading into the third inning.
Georgia Wilson made quick work of the Hungarians in the top of the third to end the game.
In all, Georgia allowed two hits, struck out four, and walked just one to earn the shutout win.
Although GB only batted twice in the game, four GB players had two hits each: Katie Burge, Carys Lynch, Morgan Salmon, and Imogen Gie. Molly Blackwood led the team with 4 RBIs. Four different players had doubles – Morgan Salmon, Imogen Gie, Cameron McGinnis, and Alexis Larrow – and Katie Burge and Molly Blackwood added to the offense with a home run each.
Scores and standings
Scores from the second day at the European Under-22 Women’s Championship were:
GROUP A
Sweden 19, Croatia 1 (3 inns)
Ukraine 16, Slovakia 0 (4 inns)
Italy 14, Croatia 0 (4 inns)
Ukraine 10, Sweden 3 (5 inns)
Italy 10, Slovakia 0 (4 inns)
GROUP B
Germany 14, Israel 1 (5 inns)
Netherlands 21, Poland 4 (3 inns)
Netherlands 20, Israel 0 (3 inns)
GROUP C
Ireland 11, Belgium 3 (5 inns)
Spain 10, Austria 0 (5 inns)
Spain 8, Ireland 1 (5 inns)
Austria 13, Belgium 10
GROUP D
GB 17, Hungary 0 (3 inns)
France 5, GB 4
Czech Republic 15, Hungary 0 (3 inns)
Standings after the initial round-robins were completed on Day 2 (the top two teams in each group will go forward to Championship playoff rounds) are:
GROUP A
Italy (4-0)
Ukraine (3-1)
Sweden (2-2)
Slovakia (1-3)
Croatia (0-4)
GROUP B
Netherlands (3-0)
Germany (2-1)
Israel (1-2)
Poland (0-3)
GROUP C
Spain (3-0)
Ireland (2-1)
Austria (1-2)
Belgium (0-3)
GROUP D
Czech Republic (3-0)
France (2-1)
Great Britain (1-2)
Hungary (0-3)