Spain Are 2023 European Baseball Champions; Great Britain, Netherlands Round Out Top Three

BRNO, Czechia – Spain claimed its second European title with a complete performance in the final of the European Baseball Championship, overwhelming undefeated Great Britain, 11-2. The relentless Spanish offense delivered yet again, ripping five doubles in a five-run first, with Wander Encarnacion and Engel Beltre blasting a pair of two-run homers in the sixth. España last won the Euros in 1955 – when the Netherlands did not compete – and, since then, only once has a nation other than the Netherlands or Italy claimed the European title, as Belgium took the crown in 1967, a year in which neither the Dutch or Italians sent teams. Meanwhile, that year was the first time a British national team medalled, with the only other silver medal for Great Britain occurring in 2007.

The Spanish team began the game at a scorching pace, with Béltre leading off with a double and scoring on a one-out single from Edison Valerio. Jesus Ustariz followed with a run-scoring two-bagger and, after an out, back-to-back-to-back doubles by Daniel Jimenez, Encarnacion, and Gabriel Lino secured a five-run lead.

From that point, Spain cruised to the victory, with Nick Ward plating both of Britain’s runs, striking in response to the Iberian onslaught with a solo shot in the bottom of the first before walking and crossing home on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Meanwhile, in the earlier game, the Netherlands came-from-behind to defeat Germany in the bronze medal game, using a home run to win 5-4 in 10 innings