It was a game and a tournament as epic as Trafalgar and the result was the same. In 1805, Britania ruled the waves. Today the masters of the seas became masters of the Pool A WBC qualifier. The Union Jack was hoisted over Regensburg to the tune of a 10-9 extra inning win over the favorites Spain. preceding this historic result were a 14-4 drubbing of France that mimicked the Battle of Agincourt and a tidy 8-1 result over Germany.
The game began inauspiciously, maybe even ominously. Spain raced out to an early 4-0 lead after a half inning. However, in a fine display of English pluck, Mariners prospect Harry Ford answered back with a first inning homer, his third of the tournament. Spain got this run back in the third and the Brits answered accordingly with another in the bottom half of the inning before another Mariners prospect, Noelvi Marte, homered Spain into a seemingly secure 8-3 lead. The aforementioned Ford cashed in two more in the 4th and DeShawn Knowles another in the 5th to make it 8-6. Spain got another in the seventh to make it 9-6. They seemed to have it made though this would prove their final run of the game. This would have been fine if not for the fact the homeruns by Knowles and Blue Jays prospect Jaden Rudd in the 8th and 9th innings respectively tied proceedings at 9-9. Spain was an out away from qualifying before Rudd rudely snatched it all away with a but of sweet redemption from his first inning miscue. Gutsy pitching from Tahnaj Thomas kept it at 9-9 going into the bottom of the 10th where Matt Koperniak was initially out at third trying to advance on a Rhiner Cruz throwing error. This was overturned upon video review. Alex Crosby would then hit an 0-2 pitch to left for a sacrifice fly consumating a historic result.
It's pain for Spain but they are still alive and will try to repeat their drubbing of the Czech Republic from their first meeting. For Great Britain, they await placement in a group knowing that their date with history is secure. In what has been a difficult week and a bit for Britons, their national baseball team has done its duty to queen (and king) and country winning a great victory that will do wonders for the growth of the sport in the UK. The Union Jack will fly at WBC 2023!
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