01/10/2023 1 Minute Read

Spain beat Great Britain to win first Baseball European Championship in 68 years

Spain defeated Great Britain 11-2 in the Gold Medal Game at the Baseball European Championship 2023 in Brno, Czechia, and claimed their second continental title in history. After 68 years of waiting, Spain claimed the European Baseball title undefeated on Sunday in front of 2,394 baseball fans.

Spain scored five runs in the top of the first inning, with a run-scoring single by Edison Valerio and RBI-doubles from Jesus Ustariz, Daniel Jimenez, Wander Encarnacion and Gabriel Lino, to set the tone for the game. In the sixth frame, Encarnacion (who was named the MVP of the tournament) and Engel Beltre hit two-run home runs to put the score to 9-2; while a Jimenez two-run double in the ninth capped off the final match.

Pablo Guillen earned the win, allowing just one hit, two runs and two walks in five innings. Carlos Sierra, Daniel Alvarez and Rhiner Cruz closed out the victory.

The Spanish team landed in the final after a 7-6 comeback win over the Netherlands in the semi-finals. Spain scored six unanswered runs in the last four innings of the game to overcome a 6-1 deficit and stun the defending champions. Great Britain eliminated Germany, 8-4, in the other semi-final.

The Netherlands grabbed the bronze medal, with a 10-inning 5-4 victory over Germany.