29/09/2023 1 Minute Read

Great Britain comes back against Germany to reach Gold Medal Game at Baseball European Championship 2023

Great Britain reaches the Gold Medal Game at the Baseball European Championship in Czechia for the first time since 2007 in Barcelona. They overcame 1-2 and 2-3 deficits to beat Germany 8-4 in the first semifinal on Friday afternoon in Brno. They now will face the winner of the second semifinal between defending champion Netherlands and Spain on Sunday evening in the championship game. Germany, which reached the top four for the first time since 2016 will play in the Bronze Medal Game on Sunday afternoon.

The first semifinal of the Baseball European Championship 2023 was a close encounter of two undefeated teams in the competition. Alex Webb and Dalton Duke von Schamann were locked into a pitcher’s duel early on with Great Britain taking a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by Kennard Dawson in the fourth.

Germany fought back and got up in front in the sixth inning through a RBI double by David Grimes and a sac fly by Alexander Schmidt. A RBI fielder’s choice by Dawson tied the game in the bottom half of the same frame, but Germany regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Again Grimes drove in a run – this time with a sac fly.

In the bottom of the seventh Great Britain decided the game. They loaded the bases and a hit by pitch to Shamoy Christopher made it 3-3. A bases loaded walk by Michael Flaherty pushed the go-ahead run over the plate. A RBI single by Kennard Dawson, a passed ball and a two-run single by Ray Mercer extended the advantage to 8-3.

Germany answered by loading the bases in the top of the eighth, but only managed a sac fly by Vincent Ahrens to cut the deficit to 4-8.

All games can be followed by live streaming on www.baseballeurope.tv and live play by play through www.wbsceurope.org.

Photo by Grega Valancic