In a historic triumph at the recently concluded U-23 European Championship, Great Britain shocked the host nation Czechia with a dramatic 9–7 victory in Třebíč, capturing their first-ever European title at any age level. This marked the nation’s first international gold medal since winning the 1938 Amateur World Series, where they defeated the United States 4–1 to become the inaugural world champions of international baseball.
Nearly 87 years later, Great Britain claimed its second-ever gold — and did so in stunning fashion.
The final began disastrously for the Brits. Czechia jumped out to a commanding 7–0 lead by the second inning. GB starter Cameron Moore was chased after just two-thirds of an inning following RBI hits from Michal Pokorný and Jan Pospíšil, capped off by a two-run triple from Šimon Drápela and another RBI single by Šimon Klacl.
With Czechia firmly in control, it looked like the hosts were cruising toward their second U-23 title, but Great Britain had other plans.
J’Quann Smith sparked the comeback with a three-run double off 18-year-old Czech phenom David Křeček. The promising right-hander — a future leader for Czechia — couldn’t silence the British bats this time. On the very next pitch, reliever Matyáš Trčka entered the game, only to give up a two-run homer to Jack Wallis. Just like that, it was 7–5, and the momentum had swung.
Left-hander Oliver Duthie emerged as an unsung hero, providing stability on the mound. He held Czechia scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings before being lifted with two outs in the sixth, keeping Great Britain within striking distance.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jake Lambdin delivered an RBI double to make it 7–6. Then came the pivotal moment: Southern Miss catcher Tucker Stockman hit a fly ball down the left-field line that Czech outfielder Šimon Klacl misread and overran, allowing it to land fair for a double, scoring two runs. In a critical blunder, Czech catcher Matěj Vlach tried to throw behind Stockman at second but airmailed the ball down the right-field line, allowing Great Britain to get an insurance run as Stockman managed to score.
Great Britain had completed the seven-run comeback — and was suddenly just three outs from history.
In the top of the seventh, Zac Colletti allowed back-to-back singles to open the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, he got Šimon Klacl to fly out to centerfielder Jackson Kraemer for the final out.
It wasn’t the senior team, but this was undeniably the most significant win for British baseball in nearly a century. A nation once considered an afterthought in international baseball is now a growing force in Europe, following silver medals at both the 2023 European Championship and the 2022 U-23 European Championship. This time, they took home gold.
U-23 Championship Standouts
🇨🇿 Michal Šindelka (OF, Czechia)
The 19-year-old, set to play at Chipola College in 2026, dominated at the plate with a tournament-leading 1.666 OPS, adding a home run and five walks. His bat-to-ball skills, athleticism, and all-fields approach make him a strong candidate for the 2026 World Baseball Classic squad.
🇳🇱 Raphaël Smeenk (IF, Netherlands)
The Brazilian-Dutch infielder crushed three home runs and hit .526/.583/1.000, helping the Netherlands secure bronze. He’ll suit up for Tarleton State next year after missing 2025 due to injury and will be one to watch for the 2026 MLB Draft.
🇫🇷 Mathis Meurant (SS, France)
Meurant put France on his back, hitting .563/.611/.875 with one home run. He’s expected to start at shortstop for the University of Arizona in 2026 and could become the first born-and-raised French position player ever drafted into the MLB.
🇩🇪 Noah Lindt (LHP, Germany)
The 21-year-old struck out 11 over 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit in the tournament. His 9-strikeout effort against the high-powered Dutch lineup was among the best pitching performances all week. He sits at 93 mph and is an under-the-radar arm for the 2026 Draft. He could be pitching for Germany at the European Championship next month.
🇬🇧 Zac Sohosky (LHP, Great Britain)
Sohosky threw a gem against France, going six innings with 12 strikeouts while retiring 17 of 18 at one point, and allowed one earned run. With a fastball touching the mid-90s, he’ll be pitching for Miami (OH) next season and could join the senior squad at the European Championship next month.
🇩🇪 Germany & 🇮🇱 Israel Relegated
Germany and Israel finished 7th and 8th, respectively, and will need to re-qualify in 2027. Germany’s performance was especially disappointing, squandering a 6–1 lead in a 9–6 loss to France. With arguably their most talented U-23 roster to date, the result damages their bid for a Premier12 qualifying spot. Germany currently holds one of the final rankings but risks being overtaken by Brazil or Canada, which will play in the Copa América this November.
What’s Next: The European Championship (Sept 20–27)
The senior-level European Championship kicks off next month across the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium. With Premier12 qualifier spots potentially on the line, every game counts.
Top Groups (Rotterdam):
All eight teams automatically advance to the knockout rounds based on 2023 performance.
Qualifying Groups:
The top two teams from Groups C and D will face the bottom two from A and B to fight for quarterfinal spots.
Final U-23 Standings
