U23 EC: Italy beats Czech Republic after a walkoff hit
An incredible drama with an unfortunate ending for the Czech team was on display on Saturday against Italy. Czechs were only two outs from the win and the fifth place. However, bronze medal winner from the previous EC edition managed to snatch the win in the end.
Italians had a better start of the game, when they took a two run lead with a homerun from Lorenzo Morresi. Czechs managed to respond right away when they pressured Italian pitcher. He then made a mistake and Czechs lower the deficit after a balk, for Jakub Winkler to manufacture a tying run.
However, Samuel Gamberini gave Italians the lead again in the third inning. Fortunately, Czechs tied the game in the fourth inning thanks to Martin Pernička who reached the home base after a wild pitch.
The game was tied until the end of the seventh inning and we went to extra innings. Czechs entered it brilliantly, scoring four runs. They were 7-4 ahead before the bottom half of the inning, but this didn’t go according to the plans at all. Italians scored the fifth run with one out and two runners on bases. Czech trainers substituted the pitcher, however, Italians scored the sixth run after a wild pitch and still had only one out. Giarola then manufactured the tying run after a squeeze play. A few moments later came a grand slam homerun from Samuel Gamberini and the celebration of Italians could commence.
While Czechs managed to awaken their bats in the last game, it wasn’t enough and after losing 7-11 they finished 6th. This was also historically the worst finish of the team in this category.
