GB DEFEATS THE CZECHS FOR A CLEAN SWEEP AT THE EUROPEAN SLOWPITCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday, July 10 -- The GB Slowpitch Team rounded off a perfect opening day at the European Slowpitch Championships this evening with a 15-4 win over the Czech Republic that left GB top of the table after the first round-robin was completed.

After yesterday's scheduled first day of play was washed out by persistent heavy rain, the ESF Tournament Commissioners crammed an entire five-team round robin into today and will do the same tomorrow (weather permtting) to get pool play completed before the playoff round on Saturday.

But should more rain make it impossible to complete the second round-robin, then GB's current position at the top of the pile will put them in good stead for the playoffs.

GB's results for the day were:

GB 25, Jersey 1
GB 11, Ireland 8
GB 23, Slovenia 4
GB 15, Czech Republic 4


Ireland finished the day in second place with a 3-1 record, losing only to GB and playing the closest game of the day in defeating the Czech Republic 15-13.

The Czechs finished with a 2-2 record, Jersey were 1-3 (thanks to an 18-6 win over Slovenia), and the Slovenians finished at 0-4.


Czech Mate

GB may have been anticipating a tough game against the Czechs, who had reputedly sent a stronger team than the one that finished second in this Championship in 2006 in Slovenia.

But GB hit the Czechs with six runs in the top of the first inning on three hits, two walks and two Czech errors, and the Czechs strugged from that point on. Uncharacteristically, the Czechs committed seven errors, and their offense against GB pitcher Dan Spinks consisted of eight rather scattered singles, leading to only four runs.

Meanwhile, GB was cashing one or two runs in every inning, and the score steadily mounted. Moe Flett had a double and a triple and scored three runs, Dan Spinks had an inside-the-park home run, Ruth Macintosh went three-for-three with a double and two singles and Emily Clifford and Steve Hazard also chipped in two hits each.

Brett Gibbens, who had been the team's most dangerous hitter earlier in the day, managed only a double in four at-bats but made a spectacular diving catch in left field in the first inning when the Czechs were threatening to get back in the game.

So it was a good first day for GB, and a good first day for the tournament, despite some showers in the morning and cold, gusty winds in the afternoon. A good crowd was on hand for the Opening Ceremony, more schoolkids came during the day and had a great time, and the flags and banners looked spectacular on the main field, which finally dried out enough to be used for the Opening Ceremony and the GB-Czech game.

But GB should avoid complacency. They only narrowly beat the Irish after trailing for most of the game and the Czechs are notorious for turning it on when the playoffs arrive.

So there are still two potentially exciting days to go -- and there's every reason to come down to Southampton for Saturday's playoff round.