By Ieuan Gale
Friday 8 July -- After a dramatic first day on Wednesday, the GB Under-23 Men’s Team hoped to build on their successes on Day 2 of the European 
Under-23 Men’s Championship yesterday. However, neither result went GB’s way despite some excellent batting.
As a result, they will try and put the day behind them as they face two tough opponents – Denmark and the Czech Republic -- on Day 3 (Friday) before finals day on Saturday.
Game 1: GB v Israel
Having already played Israel on Wednesday, losing by only 2-1 in a tight and dramatic game, GB arrived at the field on Thursday morning in good spirits, despite the early start and the miserably grey, damp weather. After their usual warm-ups and game preparation, the team assembled, determined to make the adjustments from the previous afternoon’s game after an evening of homework and reflection.
Bryn Davies was given the start in the circle and he went straight at the Israeli hitters. However, the Israeli hitters had clearly also done their homework, and came out of the blocks swinging. The Israeli lead-off hitter, Ofer Bobrov, started with a hard shot up the middle that a diving Bruce Candlish at second base kept to an infield hit. The next batter walked on a full-count drop ball that was a fraction too low, and Israel had runners at first and second with no outs. Then the three-hole hitter, Shrim Bar-Arie, came up and looked poised to make something happen. And happen it did, but not in the way he would have wanted.
Bar-Arie turned on the first pitch and hammered it down the third base line, but Ben Tomlin did what he had been doing all day Wednesday, snagging the hot shot, stepping on third and turning the double play at first base. It was another stellar defensive play early on from GB.
But the next Israeli hitter, Leon Kfir, drove a sharp single up the middle that scored the runner from second to give Israel an early 1-0 lead. However, the following batter hit a weak grounder to the left side of the infield that was hoovered up by Ben Tomlin, who made the out at first with some assistance from a great stretch by Max Fagan to beat the speedy runner.
In the bottom of the first inning, GB lead-off hitter Josh Stanley started with an eight pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk, which was exactly the response GB needed. Josh was quickly driven in on a line drive into the right centre field gap by Lucas PreFontaine, who advanced to second on an outfield error. Tom Russell then drove a ball deep into right field that was caught, but it was more than deep enough for Lucas to tag up and advance to third. With just one out, DP Matt Eder stepped to the plate and had a team at-bat, pushing a ground ball to the right side of the infield that allowed the run to score and suddenly GB were leading 2-1.
Bruce Candlish then followed up with a hard-hit ball straight back at Israeli pitcher Benjamin Ross, who bobbled it and failed to make the play, leaving Bruce safe on first. Max Fagan also hit a hard shot back to the pitcher, but Ross made sure of the out this time and got out of the inning. However, GB had had a great inning and seemed poised to keep it rolling.
In the top of the second inning, Bryn Davies started strongly with a strikeout on a beautiful change-up. However, the next batter reached safely on an infield error and then Bryn walked the following batter on a drop ball that was again just too low. The conditions had been damp all morning and both pitchers had struggled with their grip at times. This seemed to be the case for Bryn as the next batter was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. A single up the middle, an infield single on a difficult play back to the pitcher, some control issues and another single, and suddenly Israel had scored five runs. However, Bryn battled back and struck out Benjamin Ross to get out of the frame.
In the bottom of the second inning, Josh Smith led off with his first at-bat of the tournament and hit the ball hard but was beaten by a good play to just get him out at first. Ben Tomlin and Jack Scholes followed, both having good at-bats and both hitting the ball hard, but straight at fielders. So despite having good a- bats and making good hard contact, GB were out of the inning with nothing to show for it.
In the top of the third inning, Bryn Davies started well but surrendered a walk on another drop ball that was a fraction too low. This was followed by a weak ground ball to third which even Ben Tomlin couldn’t pick up and throw to first in time to beat the very speedy runner. A line drive to the outfield then scored both of those runners.
Bryn then induced a fly out to left fielder Jack Scholes but he did seem to be struggling with his control and so Head Coach Richard Brown made the change, bringing Olly Howley into the circle. Sadly, Olly seemed to struggle from the outset with the damp conditions and trying to find the umpire’s strike zone and gave up five walks and a couple of hits before striking out the last batter to get out of the inning. It had been a rough one, with nine runs being conceded, but the game was not over yet.
GB came up to bat in the bottom of the third inning at the top of their order and continued to hit the ball hard, but were struggling to find the holes in the Israeli defense. Josh Stanley and Lucas PreFontaine both grounded out on hard-hit balls. Tom Russell reached on a line drive to right field and then Matt Eder smashed the ball straight through the third baseman’s glove to reach base. But Bruce Candlish went down swinging on a mean rise ball.
In the top of the fourth inning Olly Howley induced a ground out to third base that was played well by the new third baseman, Edan Lord, but after that Olly’s control issues continued. He gave up another two walks and a hit-by-pitch before giving up a single to right field. At this point Bryn Davies was re-entered to pitch and managed to induce a ground out. Then an over-zealous Israeli runner was called out for leaving early, and so GB escaped that inning with just two runs conceded but with the score now standing at 17-2 in Israel’s favour.
Going into the bottom of the fourth inning with the game on the line due to the mercy rule, Max Fagan led off but went down swinging. Shortstop Josh Smith followed but he was thrown out at first by a hair’s breadth on a grounder into what seemed to be a gap in the infield.
Youngster Edan Lord then stepped to the plate and showed mature discipline by drawing a walk, which was followed by Jack Scholes also working a walk. New centre fielder Dom Stephenson then came to the plate and, after a great at-bat, also worked a walk to load the bases for Harvey Robinson. But despite a good at-bat, fouling off many close pitches, Harvey finally struck out, which ended the game on the mercy rule.
Final score: Israel 17, GB 2.
Game 2: GB v Denmark
So, after a tough first game, GB had to turn their attention to the Danes. For those unaware, Denmark are a very strong European men’s fastpitch team at all levels, second only to the Czechs, and so everyone knew this was going to be a difficult contest.
Matt Eder started on the mound for GB, coming off his excellent performance against Israel the previous day. However, he was a little slower out of the blocks this time around, giving up a hard single to Danish lead-off hitter Nicolai Elsner. The Danes then put down an excellent sacrifice bunt that was deftly fielded by Ben Tomlin, this time playing at second base, to get the first out. However, the next batter, Oscar Andersen, worked a walk and then Danish clean-up hitter Nicholai Andersen hit a long home run. It was certainly not the start GB had hoped for, but Matt re-set and then induced two fly outs to end the frame.
GB came up to bat in the bottom of the first inning, and much like in the previous game, they came out swinging and hitting the ball hard. Josh Stanley led off again with a hard grounder, but straight at the Danish second baseman. Lucas PreFontaine also hit the ball hard, this time straight at the Danish shortstop. Tom Russell then came up and his hard hit found a gap as he laced the ball through the hole between third and short. But the elation for GB was short-lived as Matt Eder grounded out to third base.
In the top of the second inning Matt looked much more composed in the circle and struck out the first Danish batter looking. He surrendered a walk to the second batter on a close call, and the runner advanced on a passed ball. But then a ground out to third baseman Edan Lord, who made a hard hopper look easy, got the second out. A single perfectly placed up the middle scored the Danish runner, but then another ground out to Edan at third ended the inning.
In what was becoming a frustratingly recurring theme for GB today, the first two batters in the bottom of the second inning both hit the ball hard but straight to Danish fielders, who made great defensive plays. Max Fagan then had a great at-bat and drew a walk, but Edan Lord went down swinging to close out the inning.
The third inning started with Matt Eder missing his spot and the pitch being hit for a line-drive home run by Oscar Andersen. Unperturbed, Matt struck out the next two Danish batters, one looking and one swinging. But a diving Bruce Candlish at shortstop couldn’t stop a single up the middle, and this was followed by a walk. Matt then induced another ground ball to third base, but the throw was spiked, which led to two runs scoring.
Perhaps frustrated that he should havebeen out of the inning, Matt then surrendered a line drive double to left field, followed by a two-run shot over the outfield fence by Nicolai Elsner. But again, Matt re-set and struck out the next batter looking.
Jack Scholes led off for GB in the bottom of the third inning and again hit the ball hard, but again it found a Danish defender. Then Josh Stanley finally found a gap with a deep line drive to right centre field, resulting in a stand-up triple. Lucas PreFontaine was up next. Lucas had had good at-bats all tournament and had another good one here, but grounded out and was unable to score the runner. Tom Russell then put a great swing on a hanging rise ball, but just missed it and it was caught on the warning track for the third out.
In the top of the fourth inning, Matt Eder, who now seemed to be settling into the game, made short work of the Danish hitters, inducing a fly out, a ground out and another strikeout looking.
Matt then led off the bottom of the inning for GB and laced a single into left field. Bruce Candlish went down on an unlucky foul tip strikeout, but then Kai Owens, who had come in for Ben Tomlin at second base, laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move Matt to second. Matt then advanced on a wild pitch during Max Fagan’s at-bat, and then scored GB’s first run of the game on a poor throw from the Danish catcher trying too hard to force an out on the base paths. Max battled, but sadly went down swinging.
In the top of the fifth inning Matt Eder made light work of the Danes again, this time getting a ground out, a swinging strikeout, and a fly out.
So into the bottom of the fifth, with GB needing to score to stay alive, and they got off to a great start with Olly Howley smashing a pitch right back up the middle. Olly then stole second base and went to third on a passed ball, but Jack Scholes went down swinging, so it was up to Josh Stanley to try to drive Olly in.
Josh hit a line drive into the outfield that was more than deep enough to score Olly, who tagged up and crossed the plate. But on a Danish appeal, Olly was given out for leaving early and the game ended on that not very ceremonious note.
Final score: Denmark 10, GB 1.
Summing up
Despite the scorelines, GB players hit well today, but were unlucky that so many of the hard hits they had were straight at fielders. But that can be softball, a cruel game at times.
Head Coach Richard Brown said, “We were beaten by two very well-drilled and experienced teams today and they were clinical in their approach. But whereas yesterday our defense was stellar, it let us down at times today. Our offense, on the other hand, was much better today, so I look forward to us putting the two together in our final days here. As long as we don't beat ourselves, we will be right there at the end."
Scores and standings
Scores on the second day of play at the European Under-23 Men’s Championship were:
Israel 17, GB 2 (4 inns)
Czech Republic 15, Denmark 1 (4 inns)
Denmark 10, GB 1 (5 inns)
Czech Republic 12, Israel 0 (4 inns)
Standings after the second day of the tournament are:
Czech Republic (4-0)
Denmark (2-2)
Israel (2-2)
GB (0-4)
Photos by Ieuan Gale