(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Great Britain Clinches First U-23 Baseball European Title, Qualifies for WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup Alongside Czechia
Great Britain secured a historic victory at the 2025 U-23 Baseball European Championship, coming from behind to defeat Czechia 9-7 in an exciting final. This marks Great Britain’s first-ever European title in U-23 baseball.
Both Great Britain (world No. 17) and Czechia (No. 15), as finalists, have earned qualification spots for the upcoming WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2026, set to take place in Nicaragua, with dates and venues to be announced soon.
In the final, Great Britain’s runs came in two key rallies: five runs in the bottom of the third inning and four crucial runs in the bottom of the sixth. Trailing 7-5, Great Britain mounted a strong comeback against reliever Matyas Trcka with three consecutive one-out hits. Paul Lambdin’s RBI double cut the deficit to one run, followed by Tucker Strockman’s two-RBI double that gave Great Britain the lead. Strockman later scored the ninth run thanks to a defensive error by Czechia.
Pitcher Zachary Colletti closed out the game, securing the win with three final outs.
In the bronze-medal game, the Netherlands (world No. 8) defeated Italy (No. 14) 9-4 to claim third place.
