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Photo: Eline Brandsma/WBSC Europe
Great Britain's U15 Women started Group G play on Wednesday, 29 July following their openeing round in Group D. After dropping an 11-3 decision to Poland, the team staged an epic comeback against Turkiye to split their first day of Group G play.
In the first game of the day, Poland jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and led for the full game. Despite two runs for Great Britain in the first - thanks to a Nola Auzenne double, a Natalie Gordon triple, a wild pitch and an error - and another in the fifth thanks to Gordon's sacrifice fly to score Jessica Rice, GBR were unable to overcome Poland's relentless early offense, dropping the game 11-3.
The second game of the day, against Turkiye, looked to be a similar story. The visitors scored twice in the first, four in the second, and added another run in the third, giving them an 7-0 lead over Great Britain through three innings.
The no-quit Brits had other plans, however. Amelia Cloke reached on an error to start the fourth inning and Gordon singled her home for GBR's first run. Carmen Arrevillagas walked and Gordon scored on a wild pitch with Ryo Lord at the plate. With one out, Arrevillagas advanced to third on Brynlee Armstrong's infield single, and Georgia Powell reached on an error to load the bases for Darcy Howard, who smashed a single to right field to score Arrevillagas and Armstrong. Auzenne followed with a triple to score Powell and Howard, and Finley Hamrick would score Auzenne with a fielder's choice. With two out in the inning, Cloke, Gordon, and Arrevillagas singled back-to-back-to-back, with Cloke and Gordon scoring on an error by the left fielder. All-in-all, nine British runs would cross the plate in the bottom of nthe fourth - and Great Britain led, 9-7.
Great Britain would add an insurance run in the fifth. Powell reached on an error, and Sophia O'Connell replaced her on the basepaths, stealing both second and third with two out. Hamrick then singled her home with a bunt to third base for the 10th GBR run of the game. While Turkiye would scrape a run back in the bottom of the sixth, Armstrong - who pitched four innings of one-run ball in relief - was able to slam the door on one of Great Britain's best-ever comeback performances.
Great Britain is now 1-1 in Group G, and 2-2 overall at the U15 European Championships with two games to play. Gordon enters Thursday's action as the tournament leader in hits with 8, whiule Auzenne is tied for second in doubles with 2.
The U15 European Champion ships continue Thursday with Great Britain facing Israel at 16:30 BST, followed by a matchupo against Ukraine on Friday evening at 18:30 BST to wrap up the tournament.
All European Championship games can be viewed at baseballeurope.tv.
Follow the Great Britain Women’s Junior Teams, including the U15, on social media @GBSoftballU18 on X and Instagram, at facebook.com/gbsoftballu18, and on the British Softball Federation website, britishsoftball.org.