The Qualifier U15 European Championship in Huenenberg, Switzerland continued on Wednesday with day three of the preliminary round. Both games were high-scoring affairs. Poland improved to 3-0 with a 17-6 win over Great Britain. Belarus lost 6-23 to Slovakia. For Belarus it was the third loss in as many games. Slovakia got their first win in the tournament. On Thursday Switzerland re-enters the competition after the off day with a matchup against Slovakia. Great Britain takes on Belarus in the afternoon.
Belarus – Slovakia 6-23
Slovakia defeated Belarus 23-6 in seven innings to earn their first win in the U15 Qualifier. They scored seven runs in the fourth and nine in the seventh to blow the game open. Belarus managed to avoid a mercy rule ending, but never really got back into the game after closing the deficit to 4-6 after three innings. Marej Hrebicek and Michal Slampa collected five RBI apiece. Adam Zacko scored four times. Matej Grenzda-Dons conceded four hits, six runs (3 ER) and two walks in six innings for the win. Ilya Sladzinski got charged with the loss in relief.
Poland – Great Britain 17-6
Poland stunned Great Britain with a 17-6 victory in the early evening game in Huenenberg. Leading 6-3 Poland put 11 runs on the board in the fourth to secure the win. Kacper Blacha doubled twice and drove in four. Patryck Zajac went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Dominik Grzecicha picked up three RBI. Kacper Wolsztyniak issued seven hits, five runs and four base on balls in 3 2/3 innings for the win. Graydon Koyanagi scored three times for Great Britain. Jamie Warren and Ben Jones combined for four RBI. Alex Sollecito surrendered three hits, four unearned runs and four walks in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Standings after Day 3
Schedule for Day 4
Live play by play, box scores and statistics are available through CEB’s competition website www.baseballstats.eu. Local organizers have launched a dedicated Facebook page for the tournament at www.facebook.com/baseballem2016. Game of Great Britain will be live streamed on YouTube