European Cup 2014: Results of Day One
On day one, only one game was decided in less than nine innings. The Dutch had no mercy with Croatia.
The first game in Regensburg (Sweden vs Great Britain) was rained out and has been rescheduled for tomorrow.
The French beat the Germans 3-2, but the score could have been a lot bigger. In the top of the ninth they got the bases loaded but couldn’t cash in.
Results of Group A
Italy vs Belgium 12-7
Sweden vs Great Britain ppd
France vs Germany 3-2
Belgium made the Italians work hard for their money. Deep down inside the Red Hawks must have known that they wouldn’t win vs the reigning European champion. In the top of the first inning the Italians took a 4-0 lead but Belgium got within a run in their first at bat. In the second and third inning Italy scored a run each to take a 6-4 lead. In the fifth inning they added another run to their score. But once again Belgium bounced back by scoring two runs in their fifth frame. Another run for the Italians in the sixth and two runs for Belgium in the eighth kept it a close game. But eventually the Belgians had to surrender when a couple of errors and a wild pitch sealed their fate. The Italians scored four runs and shut the door for Belgium in the ninth. Despite the bad ininng in the ninth, I really think that the Red Hawks can be proud of themselves.
Results of Group B
Greece vs Spain 3-15
Netherlands vs Croatia 19-2
Russia vs Czech Republic 0-5
The Russians and the Czechs kept each other in check (sorry for the pun) until the sixth inning. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Russian starting pitcher Andrey Lobanov surrendered four runs. In the seventh inning the Czechs would score another run.
Czech starting pitcher Martin Schneider pitched eight shut out innings in which he allowed only two hits and fanned thirteen (!) Russian hitters.