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Men’s Slowpitch European Championship 2022 - Official Payoff

Great Britain wins the 2022 Men's Slowpitch European Champion

Great Britain wins the 2022 Men's Slowpitch European Champion
18/06/2022
Great Britain wins the second edition of the Men's Slowpitch European Championship after defeating Netherlands in the gold medal game, 47-31, on the field of Colorno, Italy. Netherlands ranked second, and Germany took the bronze medal.

In an extraordinary final, the offence of both Great Britain and Netherlands showed how powerful they could be: 21 combined homeruns and 78 combined runs scored in seven innings.

The defending champions from Great Britain started strong scoring 16 runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to 13 hits and four errors of the Dutch defence. Of the many hits, with bases loaded Macdowell Mike sent one over the fence for his seventh homerun of the 2022 Men's Slowpitch European Championship. The Dutch replied with seven runs to stay in the game. In the second, both teams scored five runs to bring the game to 21-12. 

Another big inning of 15 runs for Great Britain almost cost Netherlands a loss by mercy rule when the bottom of the fourth started with the score of 37-14. A strong reaction by the Dutch produced 11 runs, shortening the lead of Great Britain to 12 runs, not enough to reach the 20-run difference.

In the fifth inning, three solo shots by the British hitters, Macdowell, Yoxall, and Grantham produced the fortieth run. The Dutch scored six more times in the fifth and sixth, to make it 40-31. Great Britain scored more runs in the seventh inning to close the game to the sensational final score of 47-31.

Final day recap

To access the championship game, Great Britain topped Germany, 13-33. Germany scored twice on top of the first, and the British squad replied with five runs to take the lead at the bottom of the first. Germany stayed in the game until the third inning, at the end of which the score was 12-16. Great Britain closed the game in the fourth inning thanks to a big inning of 17 runs.

Previously in the day, the Kingdom of the Netherlands secured a spot in the final, winning the first game of the day against Great Britain. In the second game, Germany showed its power (21 hits, 5 homeruns, 20 RBIs) and topped Ireland, 21 to 7, to access the semifinal against the British.

Italy and Belgium played a very balanced game, tied on the fourth, fifth and sixth. The tournament regulation did not allow to start the seventh inning, and ballgame was called despite the tie. Both teams ranked fifth.

WBSC Europe Softball Vice President Gabriel Waage complimented the six teams that took part in the European Championship for the great level of games played during the week, showing an improvement in Europe compared to the first edition of the Men's Slowpitch European Championship in 2018.

All results, statistics and information about the Championship can be found at www.wbsceurope.org.

Cover photo by NADOC Media / Oldmanagency / FIBS