Thanks to Sport Sniper Photography
Great Britain opened the 2025 U-18 Women’s European Championships on 21 July with an 8-4 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands. Elena Clark-Wilson (0-1) got the start in the circle for Great Britain, with Kailyn Haig and Kora Douglass also pitching in.
The Netherlands got on the board in the second, scoring twice, and would double their lead in the third. They doubled their lead again, in the fifth, and Great Britain found themselves trailing eight to nothing, and needing to score to extend the game.
Lily Daniels delivered. With Hannah Walker and Abigail Chan aboard, Daniels lifted a ball down the left field line and scampered all the way to third for a two-run, game extending triple. Jenna Thompson followed with an RBI single and GB cut the deficit to 5.
Clark-Wilson re-entered the circle and shut down the Dutch offence for the final two frames, with GB staging a late rally in the seventh. Haig reached on a base hit, and moved over to third on an error, before Thompson’s fielder’s choice groundout brought her home. However, a groundout by Teague would end the rally, and the game.
Great Britain will play a doubleheader tomorrow as they face Spain – the A1 team following today’s play – at 11:15 CET at Campo de Béisbol de Irabia, followed by a showdown with defending champions Czechia at Campus Arrosadia UPNA at 18:00 CET.
All games at the 2025 U-18 Women’s Softball European Championship can be watched at softballeurope.tv.
For updates, exclusive content, and more, follow the Great Britain Softball Junior Teams on Facebook, X and Instagram at @GBSoftballU18.