THE ROAD TO PHOENIX
Great Britain Baseball made national history in 2022 when the men’s senior team qualified for the World Baseball Classic for the very first time.
Victories over France, Germany and Spain propelled Drew Spencer’s team into the tournament, where they’ll meet heavyweights and rivals Team USA, along with three other top baseball countries in Canada, Mexico and Colombia.
But just how did GB Baseball get on the Road to Phoenix?
Great Britain took part in the Regensburg qualifying group in Germany which was eventually played in September of 2022, some two-and-a-half years after they were originally scheduled.
The mood on the way to the tournament was brilliant, with Drew Spencer optimistic as ever about GB’s chances. He pushed idea that it was “no longer OK to be average,” a philosophy which motivated his team.
The double-elimination tournament meant that two defeats would see Great Britain sent home, resonating Drew’s message about high standards.
Game 1: Great Britain 14 - 4 France (16/09/22)
It’s fair to say any nerves of the occassion were quickly stifled. Despite France scoring first, Great Britain soared into a 4 - 1 lead in the top of the fourth inning and never looked back.
Anfernee Seymour delivered 3 RBI’s and Harry Ford crushed a home run as Team GB scored four runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, earning a mercy rule victory.
This flying start set up a mouthwatering game the following day with hosts Germany…
Game 2: Great Britain 8 - 1 Germany (17/09/22)
This was Germany’s first game of the tournament, something may have counted against them.
Team GB scored three in a confident first inning display. But after Germany hit back with a single run in the bottom half of the inning, GB gave up just two more hits, running out comfortable 8 - 1 winners.
Webb, Fernander and Thomas all delivered hitless innings to send Great Britain into a final qualifier showdown with Spain.
Game 3: Spain 9 - 10 Great Britain (F/10, 20/09/22)
Perhaps the only sporting story more popular in Britain than the underdog story is the story of the great comeback and the last minute winner.
Throughout the first seven innings, the two teams traded blows in fantastic fashion.
After the top of the third inning, Spain led 5 - 1, with only a lead-off home run putting GB on the board.
As always, Drew Spencer's team refused to lie down, with Nick Ward and Justin Wylie delivering RBI's off extra base hits in the third.
Spain weren't finished yet however. They greeted Michael Roth out of the bullpen with three straight hits, the third a three-run-home run from Noelvi Marte.
Harry Ford was at it again though, coming up with a two-run hit to cut the deficit to 8 - 5.
By the bottom of the seventh inning Spain still had their three-run-lead, now at 9 - 6. GB needed something special.
D'Shawn Knowles got it started. He came up with Alex Crosby on first and blasted a huge home run to straight away right field.
But going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Spain were up by one, on the verge of forcing Team GB to play one final do or die game against the Czech Republic.
Enter Jaden Rudd, the Blue Jays prospect who was 0 for 3 in the game. He homered to right field and tied the game, sending it to extra innings.
After a successful challenge by Drew and with two men on base in the bottom of the 10th inning, Alex Crosby hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Matt Koperniak from third for the walk off win.
The celebrations were fantastic, marking an historic achievement for British Baseball.
What now…
Great Britain Baseball will be out in Phoenix alongside the other four Pool C teams, USA, Canada, Mexico and Colombia.
Drew Spencer’s side start off with the crunch game against favourites USA in the early hours of Sunday 12th March GMT.
The journey has been incredible so far. But in the words of Drew himself, “a journey is balance, not linear.”
“It’s a great achievement for our lions to reach the classic, but why stop there? This tournament is played with single games, there are no series.”
Every team, including Great Britain, has a real chance to go deep into the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
#LetsGoGB
