U-18 European Championship 2018: Relatively easy win for Dutch over Czechs

After a day of rest, the Kingdom of the Netherlands took on the Czech Republic. Until the seventh inning, the Czechs could keep pace with the Dutch but eventually, the Kingdom of the Netherlands walked away and won 9-5.

In the first two innings, both teams kept each other in balance but in the third, the Czech Republic took a 5-3 lead thanks to two unearned runs. The two-run lead would last for an inning and a half as the Dutch tied the game in the fourth when Leandro Anasagasti led off the inning with a double, followed by a single Mick Vos that drove in Anasagasti. Nolan Beugeling then bunted Mick Vos over to second, who advanced to third on a balk. A fielding error that followed on the hit ball by Tyler Boersma, allowed Vos to score the tying run.

After the Kingdom of the Netherlands scored a run in the sixth, they finally walked away from the Czech Republic in the seventh inning.  With runners in scoring position, Jeandro Tromp singled to second base to drive in Mick Vos from third base. Back-to-back singles by Tyler Boersma and Darryl Collins drove in two more runs to give the Dutch a safe 9-5 lead.

Luuk ter Beek, who started the game, only lasted two innings as he gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk as he struck out one. His replacement Stefan Iannelli lasted three innings in which he gave up two runs (one earned) on four walks. Eventually, Arij Fransen kept the Czechs from scoring as he pitched three innings in which he allowed only one run and two walks and struck out two, numbers he earned the win with. Jiorgeny Casimiri finished the game by pitching a perfect ninth in which he fanned two.

Best hitter for the Dutch was Darryl Collins, who went 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Tomorrow, the Dutch will take on France, that has a 2-1 record.