The final phase of the European Championship in Hoofddorp, Netherlands got underway on Thursday. Five games were on the schedule. In the Winners Round Robin the hosting Dutch national team won the clash of undefeated teams against Spain with a nail-biter 1-0. Earlier on the day the Czech Republic celebrated a comeback walk-off triumph in extra innings over Belgium, while Italy blew by Germany.
The Netherlands lead the winners standings with 3-0, but will face another tough team on Friday evening with arch rival Italy. The Squadra Azzurri and Spain follow the Dutch team in the standings with 3-1 records. Germany and the Czech Republic are at 1-2, while Belgium is currently in sixth with a 0-3 record. Germany opens day eight against Belgium. In the afternoon the Czech Republic and Spain will square off.
While the Winners Round Robin continues through Saturday, the consolation round for the spots 9th to 12th will get concluded on Friday. On Thursday Greece stunned Russia 3-1 behind a complete game pitching effort and Great Britain downed Croatia 6-2. For Greece and Great Britain these were the first wins in the tournament. All four teams now sit at 1-1 records. The winners of Friday will remain in the A-Pool, the losers will be relegated. In the morning Greece and Great Britain face each other. In the afternoon Russia takes on Croatia in the second match.
Player of the Day:
Matej Hejma (Czech Republic). The former minor leaguer of the Minnesota Twins lifted the Czech Republic with his two-run walk-off double in the 10th to a 4-3 win against Belgium.
No more winless:
After Thursday’s game day each of the 12 teams in the competition have won at least one game. Greece and Great Britain both ended their drought at the start of the consolation round.
Fact of the Day:
Spain won the European Championship in 1955 and since then has won 13 bronze medals, but hasn’t returned to the final.
Results Day 7:
Winners Round Robin:
Czech Republic – Belgium 4-3
Belgium 000 100 100 1 3 4 1
Czech Republic 001 000 001 2 4 10 5
Box score
Germany – Italy 0-12
Italy 030 000 306 12 14 0
Germany 000 000 000 0 4 5
Box score
Spain – Netherlands 0-1
Netherlands 000 010 000 1 7 0
Spain 000 000 000 0 6 0
Box score
Consolation Round 9th to 12th:
Russia – Greece 1-3
Greece 200 100 000 3 12 1
Russia 000 000 010 1 6 0
Box score
Croatia – Great Britain 2-6
Great Britain 000 004 002 6 12 1
Croatia 000 000 002 2 7 1
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