Spain wins U-18 European Baseball Championship 2022

Gold Medal Game: Spain – Netherlands 6-2 (Box score)

In the championship game Spain continued its impressive run from the preliminary round and the semi-finals scoring five runs in the first two innings en route to the 6-2 win against the Netherlands on Saturday evening in Brno. Its their first Gold Medal at the U-18 European Baseball Championship after previously finishing second four times and third eleven times. The final was cut short with one out in the top of the fifth due to heavy rain, which made the continuation of the game impossible.

Spain put out the big bats in the beginning. A two-run double by Marc Rodriguez in the first gave them the quick lead. A two-run double by Lluis Badenas and a RBI triple by Eusebio Salas extended their advantage to 5-0 in the second. The Netherlands, which had won the U-18 European Baseball Championship last year, got on the board in the top of the fourth with a RBI double by Mees Robberse and a bases loaded walk by Amarensio Franka.

But Spain answered right away in the bottom of the frame when Anderson Pena used a passed ball and a throwing error by the catcher to score a sixth Spanish run. Afterwards the Dutch team threatened to rally in the fifth, but with one out and runners on first and second the rain came and eventually ended the contest.

Bronze Medal Game: Czechia – Italy 4-2 (Box score)

Czechia claimed third place in the tournament with a 4-2 win over Italy on Saturday afternoon in the bronze medal game. A three-run home run by Michal Zelenka decided the outcome early in the opening period. Ondrej Vank and Tadeas Kalcev kept Italy to just three hits in the game. Williams Wong and Edoardo Cornelli scored the two runs for the Squadra Azzurri.

Game for Fifth Place: France – Germany 1-14 (Box score)

Germany stormed past France 14-1 in the game for fifth place on Saturday morning at MBS Stadium. Germany scored eight runs in the third to blow up the score. Yannic Walther went deep with a solo home run. Moritz van Bergen collected four RBI on a three-hit game. Walther and Joshua Harrison scored three runs apiece.

Game for Seventh Place: Israel – Great Britain 3-9 (Box score)

Great Britain used a pair of four-run innings to beat Israel 9-3 in the game for seventh place on Saturday at Hroch stadium in Brno. Thomas Flaherty and Benjamin Sporleder drove in two runs apiece to lead the way. Cameron Moore struck out nine in five strong innings of two-hit, four-walk ball. Kai Friesem, Aviv Bobrov and Michi Segal scored the three runs for Israel.

Game for Ninth Place: Austria – Belgium 4-3 (Box score)

In a thrilling game for ninth place at the U-18 European Baseball Championship Austria stunned Belgium 4-3 with two late runs. A sac fly by Lukas Norek tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth. One inning later a fielding error allowed Felix Stephan to score the winning run. Belgium had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on an error and a wild pitch.

Game for Eleventh Place: Ireland – Lithuania 11-3 (Box score)

Ireland won their first game of the tournament in a 11-3 victory over Lithuania in the game for eleventh place on Saturday. It was a close contest until the Irish juniors extended their advantage to 5-1 in the fifth and added six more runs one inning later. John Mcadams went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Matthew Dutton had three hits, two runs and two RBI for Ireland. Cillian Murphy hit a home run. Airidas Sukys, Elgijus Miciuta and Domas Pauliukevicius scored the runs for Lithuania.

Final Standings:
1) Spain
2) Netherlands
3) Czechia
4) Italy
5) Germany
6) France
7) Great Britain
8) Israel
9) Austria
10) Belgium
11) Ireland
12) Lithuania

Complete results, box scores and statistics can be found at www.wbsceurope.org.