09/07/2024 2 Minute Read

Germany upsets defending champion Spain on day two of U-18 Baseball Euros

Germany pulled off the biggest upset of the U-18 Baseball European Championship 2024. On day two in Regensburg, Germany, the hosts upset defending champion Spain in the evening game by a score of 7-1. Earlier in the day the Netherlands, Italy and Great Britain each celebrated 10-0 wins over France, Austria and Sweden. Israel beat Croatia 18-8 in a very long game. In the second evening matchup Czechia won 8-2 against Belgium.

Netherlands – France 10-0 (Box score)

The Netherlands improved to 2-0 in the tournament with a 10-0 shutout over France in the morning game on Tuesday. After a pair of scoreless innings, the Dutch team scored four runs in the third, five in the fourth and then ended it with a run in the fifth. Tijn Fredrikze conceded two hits and two walks in four scoreless innings for the win. Djean Macares drove in four, including a bases loaded triple. Louis Perrois got charged with the loss.

Italy – Austria 10-0 (Box score)

Italy shut out Austria 10-0 in the second morning game on Tuesday to pick up their second win in the tournament. Three runs apiece in the third and fifth, as well as four in the sixth sealed the victory. Giacomo Taschin collected three RBI, while nine different players scored for Italy. Matteo Marelli struck out seven batters in four innings of one-hit, one-walk ball. Mathias Albert took the loss for Austria.

Sweden – Great Britain 0-10 (Box score)

Great Britain scored in each of the five innings played to beat Sweden 10-0 to also improve to 2-0 in the afternoon game in the stadium on Tuesday. Travis Harfield, William John Kraemer and Cayden Allen each scored twice. Owen Charles Bourgeois struck out five in five scoreless three-hit innings. 45 of his 55 pitches were strikes. Gustav Öijen issued six hits, seven runs (6 ER) and three base on balls in 3 2/3 innings for the loss.

Croatia – Israel 8-18 (Box score)

In a wild and so far longest game of the tournament, Israel prevailed 18-8 over Croatia in the afternoon on Tuesday. In a back and forth affair, which lasted three hours and 29 minutes, a seven-run fifth inning blew the score open and sealed the win for Israel. All players, which were used in offense by Israel scored at least one run, eight of them even twice. Raz Kolakovsky drove in three. Ron Karin had two RBI for Croatia. Bartol Bosanac and Dorian Bartolcic scored twice for Croatia.

Spain – Germany 1-7 (Box score)

Host Germany celebrated its second win in as many games thanks to a 7-1 upset win over defending champion Spain, which dropped to 1-1. A pair of three-run frames in the third and fourth put Germany on the path of winning lane. Matteo Gründig led the way by going 3-for-3 with three RBI. Paul Hoff kept the strong Spanish offense to just two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, while striking out seven. Anderson Pena scored the lone run for Spain. Diego Alcala gave up five hits, four runs (1 ER) and three walks in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Czechia – Belgium 8-2 (Box score)

Czechia reached the win column in the U-18 Baseball Euros with an 8-2 win over Belgium. Czechia had a strong start and scored four quick runs in the first two frames for a 4-0 advantage. They doubled their lead with four runs in the fourth, before Belgium got on the board in the top of the fifth. Filip Kubicek, Benjamin O’Rourke and Pavel Jozek had two RBI each for Czechia. Nando Mostaert and Joe Spurgeon Mizunoya scored the two runs for Belgium.

Standings U-18 Baseball European Championship 2024

#		W	L	PCT	GB
1	ITA Italy	5	0	1.000	0
2	GER Germany	4	1	.800	1
3	ESP Spain	3	2	.600	2
4	AUT Austria	2	3	.400	3
5	ISR Israel	1	4	.200	4
6	CRO Croatia	0	5	.000	5

#		W	L	PCT	GB
1	NED Netherlands	5	0	1.000	0
2	GBR Great Britain	3	2	.600	2
3	FRA France	3	2	.600	2
4	CZE Czechia	2	3	.400	3
5	BEL Belgium	2	3	.400	3
6	SWE Sweden	0	5	.000	5

Outlook

On Wednesday the preliminary round will reach its midway point at the U-18 Baseball European Championship with day three of five. In the morning at 10:00 Italy faces Croatia, at 11:30 the Netherlands take on Great Britain in a meeting of 2-0 teams. Czechia is squaring off with Sweden at 14:00. At 15:30 France takes on Belgium. At 18:00 the fans at the Armin-Wolf-Baseball-Arena will see the derby between Germany and Austria. Spain and Israel close out the day at 19:30. All games are being streamed live at www.baseballeurope.tv. Live play by play is available through www.wbsceurope.org.

Photo by Legionaere