Ukraine defeated Belgium, 13-2 (box), on Saturday to complete its undefeated run at the 2023 U12 European Championship Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria, with the victory giving the country a ticket to next year’s U12 European Championship.
Leading 4-2 to start the fourth inning, Ukraine broke open the game with seven runs in the bottom half of the frame, with Artem Afonin’s three-run homer capping off the rally.
On the other side of the ball, Andrii Novak was dominant on the mound for the champions, allowing just one hit and striking out five in a five-inning, complete game.
Ukraine and Belgium qualified for Saturday’s title decider after finishing atop the six-team, round-robin group stage. Ukraine came through the pool unscathed, having outscored its opponents 60-12, though it was pushed hard by Belgium, 5-4 (box), and, on the final day of group play, by Poland, 5-3 (box).
Belgium’s lone loss in group play was the 5-4 nailbiter to Ukraine, a game that could easily have gone the other way. Trailing by two to start the fifth inning, Belgium managed to bring one runner home to start the inning, with a pinpoint throw by the right fielder, the aforementioned Afonin, and a strong tag by Saturday’s winning pitcher, Novak, this time behind the plate, preventing the tying run from scoring at home later in the inning.
Ukraine’s championship was the product of more than just the strong play of Afonin and Novak, however. Among other notable achievements in the tournament, teammate Yohar Tatarchenko hit two balls over the outfield fence and also struck out 10 Polish batters in Ukraine’s 5-3 victory and Bohdan Hutkovskyi hit .600 while collecting 19 total bases thanks to five extra-base hits.