The U-15 Baseball European Championship is down to the medal round. Germany-Czech Republic and Netherlands-France will be the semi finals and the winners will qualify for the 2018 U-15 Baseball World Cup. The winners will also play for the European Title in Sunday’s final.
RESULTS and STANDINGS
Germany comes out of pool B with a well deserved first place. After beating France in day 3, they eliminated Italy with a 9-5 win in what turned out to become an elimination game.
Italy couldn’t stick to a first inning 3-1 lead. In their second at bat, Germany scored 4 runs on 4 hits and forced the first italian call to the bull pen. Italy’s game was plagued by 3 errors. They had committed 1 in the other games of pool play. Italy will now play the fifth place game against the hosts Austria.
France came from behind to beat (4-2) Spain and advance from pool B to the semi finals of the U-15 European Baseball Championship. France will be the number 2 seed out of pool B.
Axel Patarata pitched 3.1 innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. Tanguy Meurant shut Spain out for the remaining 3.2 innings. Center fielder Louvry and first baseman Foucaud had both 2 hits. Foucaud drove in 2 runs and Louvry and catcher Brainville added the other 2.
The Netherlands beat Czech Republic 11-6 and will advance to the semi finals as the number 1 seed in group A. Trailing 4-1, the Dutch turned the bottom half of the third inning in a 6 run rally, capitalizing on 4 walks and a hit batter by Czech reliever David Mergans. They added 4 more runs in the sixth using 3 getting the most out of 3 defensive errors. Reliever Lucas Vos went 4.2 innings to earn the win
