Thursday, July 10 -- The GB Slowpitch Team followed up its opening game mercy-rule win over Jersey with a tight 11-8 win over Ireland as the first morning's play concluded at the European Slowpitch Championships at the University of Southampton.

But GB is having to share the leaderboard with the Czech Republic, who recorded two easy shutout wins during the morning, blanking Jersey 21-0 and Slovenia 20-0.

GB will meet the Czechs in the final game of the day at 6.30 pm after the Opening Ceremony, delayed from yesterday, has been staged at 6.00 pm.

This morning's other game saw Ireland score a bunch of late runs to defeat Slovenia 12-1.

In the GB-Ireland game, Ireland took a 2-0 lead after the first inning and held the lead until the bottom of the fifth, when GB mounted a five-run rally that decided the game. Consecutive RBI singles by Dave Baird, Emily Clifford and Martin Cartledge and then a two-run double by pinch-hitter Brett Gibbens brought in the runs, and an efficient GB defense set Ireland down in order in the sixth and seventh.