U15s agonisingly short in 3-4 loss

GB’s Under 15s fell agonisingly short against hosts Italy in the first game of the European Championships in Trieste.

After two scoreless innings, GB took a three run lead in the top of the third through solid hitting spread across the team. That seemed to be enough until the bottom of the fifth when Italy came back with three runs of their own, before winning it in the sixth. GB were left with two men on in the final frame, but could not plate the run needed to keep the game going.

Starting pitcher Charles Battista threw five plus good innings with three strike outs and only two walks over 78 pitches. His first three innings were efficient, facing only one batter over the minimum. Battista was replaced by Owen Wagner for the sixth who managed to hold the Italians scoreless, but the runs Italy amassed in the fifth and sixth.

“That loss was a tough one, said Ian Griebenow, Head Coach of the GB team. “The boys played a very solid game but they weren’t quite good enough to beat Italy on the day who were the 2023 Pool A Finalist. Now we know the sort of standard we are up against and can compete with and I’m confident that we can bounce back tomorrow against Czechia.”

Photos courtesy of WBSC Europe