The final and the consolation round at the 2014 European Championship started on Thursday in Brno, Trebic and Blansko.
Final Round in Brno:
Italy remains undefeated in the 2014 European Championship. Two runs in the bottom of the eighth gave them a 6-4 win over Spain in the morning game on Thursday as the tournament shifts to Brno. It was the first match of the final round, where Italy improves to 3-0. Spain dropped to 1-2. Read the full recap.
The Czech Republic blew by France 14-3 to improve to 1-2 in the final round. On Thursday afternoon at MBS ballpark in Brno they blew an early 2-0 lead, got back in front in the fifth and blew the score open with four runs in the sixth and seven in the seventh. France dropped to 1-2 in final round play. Read the full recap.
The Netherlands improved to 6-0 in the 2014 European Championship and 3-0 in the final round, as they defeated Germany 10-4 on Thursday evening in Brno. They joined Italy as undefeated team, remaining on line to reach the final on Sunday. A pair of four-run frames lifted the record title holder to the win. Germany dropped to 0-3 in the final round. Read the full recap.
Final Round Standings:
1) Netherlands 3-0
1) Italy 3-0
3) Spain 1-2
4) Czech Republic 1-2
5) France 1-2
6) Germany 0-3
On Friday the day starts with a matchup between the Netherlands and France at 12pm. At 3.30pm Spain battles Germany. In the evening Italy clashes with the Czech Republic at 7pm.
Game for 7th Place in Blansko:
Belgium closed out a strong European Championship in seventh place. They won the first classification game for the final standings on Thursday evening in the lone Euros game in Blansko 12-2 in eight innings against Russia. Both teams will remain in the A-Pool. Robin Roevens led the way, driving in four runs. Benjamin Dille and Jamie Verheyleweghen each scored three runs and two RBI. Kevin Desmedt threw five one-hit innings for the win. Nikita Lobanov took the loss. Russia will finish the tournament in eighth place.
Consolation Round in Trebic:
Two games were played in the consolation round on Thursday in Trebic. The last two of these round will be relegated to the B-Pool. In the morning Croatia dropped Sweden 11-10 in a dramatic contest. Sweden scored five runs in the fourth, Croatia in the fifth. Ross Vukovich and Dario Colovic hit home runs. Magnus Pilegard went 4-for-5 with three doubles, a triple and three RBI to lead Sweden. Matija Grofelnik earned the win in relief. Jakob Klasson got charged with the loss.
In the afternoon Great Britain downed Greece 10-4. The Greek squad took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third. Great Britain answered with two runs in the bottom of the same frame and broke the tie with a RBI single by Ben Pearson in the fourth. Four runs in the fifth, three on a double by Pearson, blew the score open. Mitch Evans and Chris Berset hit home runs. Spencer Kreisberg struck out seven in five innings for the win. Chris Kapothanasis took the loss.
Consolation Round Standings:
1) Great Britain 2-0
2) Greece 1-1
3) Croatia 1-1
4) Sweden 0-2
On Friday Greece will face Sweden, while Croatia takes on Great Britain.