It was a
back and forth battle in the final of the U-18 Baseball European Championship
Qualifier 2023 on Sunday between Croatia and Poland. After both teams exchanged
runs in the fourth, Poland took a 2-1 lead thanks to a RBI single by Piotr Piudowski
in the fifth. However it was a short-lived advantage as Croatia answered right
back. A bases loaded walk by Petar Horvat tied the game in the top of the sixth.
Leo Andrijanic followed with a RBI single to put Croatia up in front. A two-run
single by Roko Skalko provided some insurance for the remainder of the game.
Four teams
participated in the second U-18 Baseball European Championship Qualifier this
week. After the preliminary round Poland came out on top with a 3-0 record
followed by Croatia (2-1), Slovakia (1-2) and host Ireland (0-3).
Sweden had
won the first U-18 Baseball European Championship Qualifier, which was held in
Zurich, Switzerland earlier this month.
All results from the U-18 Baseball European Championship Qualifier in Ashbourne, Ireland can be found at www.wbsceurope.org.
Photo by Declan Fallon
