In the semi-final, the Netherlands faced a strong Czech team. The team that had beaten Italy in the round robin. The Dutch team went down but not without a fight.
The Netherlands 4 – 8 Czech Republic
In the first inning the game started to look like yesterday’s ass whooping by Germany, as the Czech Republic scored six runs. But the Dutch fought back and got on the board in the next two innings.
In the second inning, after three consecutive singles, Marcus Callender drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Netherlands on the board. One inning later, doubles by Dean Moust, Rayan Bosch, and Marcus Callender, drove in three runs. Unfortunately, from there the run production stalled for the Dutch.
A wild pitch and an error allowed the Czechs to score two more runs in the fourth inning, to reach the final score. In the sixth inning, the Netherlands pushed for more runs when it put runners on first and second with two outs but it could get any closer to home plate as Dominik Durlin recorded the final out.
Stepan Nemcansky earned the win. In 4.1 innings he gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks and struck out three. Dean Moust took the loss. In three innings, he allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks and struck out three.
Richard Hladky was the best Czech hitter as he went 1 for 1 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Thanks to this win, the Czech Republic will face Italy in the final. The Italians beat Germany in the other semi-final 19-11. The Dutch are destined to play the bronze medal game vs the Germans.
Other scores of today:
Austria 4 – 11 Hungary
Belgium 0 – 8 France.
Tomorrow Poland and Lithuania will play each other in the relegation game.
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