The U18 European Championship in Gijon, Spain continued on Tuesday with the second day of the preliminary round. France and the Czech Republic entered the competition with mixed results. France lost a nail-biter to Germany, while the Czech team beat Russia in a lopsided contest. Meanwhile Great Britain won their first game in U18 play since 1994, while Spain beat Lithuania for their first win in the tournament. Last year’s finalists Italy and the Netherlands had an off day.
France – Germany 1-2
Germany won a nail-biter over France to improve to 2-0 in the U18 European Championship 2016. Marco Cardoso broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth. Jeffrey Arndt scored in the fifth to tie the game. Melissa Mayeux had crossed the plate in the third to put the French team ahead. Niklas Rimmel struck out nine batters in eight innings, allowing just an unearned run on five hits and a walk. Daniel Mendelsohn closed it out. Lorian Andro had issued five hits, an unearned run and a base on balls in seven frames. Yoan Antonac got charged with the loss.
Sweden – Great Britain 4-7
Great Britain scored six combined runs in the seventh and the eighth to turn a 1-4 deficit into a 7-4 victory over Sweden. It was their first win in the tournament in two games, while Sweden dropped to 0-2. Richard Brereton had a triple, two doubles, two runs and two RBI, while also pitching the ninth for the save. Linus Holmberg drove in two in a four-run fifth for Sweden. Gavin Bowden pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Oskar Syren got charged with the loss.
Czech Republic – Russia 15-0 (5)
The Czech Republic scored 11 runs in the second en route to a 15-0 blowout against Russia in the afternoon game in Gijon. Marek Chlup and Jakub Grepl combined for five hits, seven runs and four RBI for the Czech team. Nikita Laykov went 3-for-3 for Russia. On the mound Martin Bares and Jan Nebenfuhr issued just five hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, striking out eight. Andrei Efimenko conceded three hits, eight runs (1 ER) and three base on balls in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss. Russia allowed ten-plus runs in an inning for a second straight day.
Spain – Lithuania 13-1 (7)
In the evening game in Gijon host Spain got their first win with a 13-1 win over Lithuania. Both teams are now 1-1 in Group B. A six-run second decided the game early for Spain, using only two hits and taking advantage of three errors. Eloi Puigferrer had three RBI for Team Espagne. Adrian Escolano scored three times. Matas Sirgedas scored the lone run for Lithuania. Alexandre Alfonso allowed two hits, a run and two walks in five innings for the win. Norvydas Zukauskas took the loss, getting charged with four hits, nine runs (2 ER) and seven base on balls in three frames.
Schedule for Day 3
The complete schedule, live play by play and all statistics are available through www.baseballstats.eu. The official website of the tournament and the Facebook page of the local baseball federation are offering further information.