Australia – Czech Republic 8:3, Fighting Czechs fell with the favorite, the World Baseball Classic ends. However, their participation in the next year is certain

Fifth place China has to qualify, having lost all four matches. The final one with Korea ended due to the high score difference of 2:22 already after the fifth inning.

“Regardless of whether we keep up or not, I have to say I’m incredibly proud of the boys. We played four great games and showed we can compete with the best teams in the world. Who would have thought six months ago he thought,” coach Chadim said in a press release before the decision on the move.

The baseball players opened their WBC debut with a win over China after an 8-5 shutout in the final inning. In the second game, after a 1:0 lead after two innings, they lost to the favored home Japanese 2:10 and lost to the Koreans 3:7 in the first inning after conceding five points.

The match against Australia was even in six innings. Although Alex Hall hit a one-run home run to pitcher Martin Schneider in the first inning, the Czech fireman did not allow his opponents any more. When Schneider pitched in the sixth inning, Coach Chadim bowed to him. “If he didn’t have to go down because of the high number of pitches (68), we might have won it,” Chadim said.

Schneider, who has become a favorite of Japanese fans, was not completely satisfied with his performance after the game. “The team result is always before the individual result. And I can’t be satisfied if we didn’t win,” the Czech pitcher was quoted by the website iSport.cz.

Schneider added that overall baseball players left a good impression among the elite at the WBC. “We faced the best players in the world and we played every match with honor. We had a chance to advance to the quarterfinals until the last match, but it didn’t happen, we didn’t advance. It’s like fifty to fifty,” said Schneider.

Captain Petr Zýma took care of the 1:1 tie in the third inning after American native Eric Sogard hit. The Czechs again presented themselves with a good defense in the field.

The victory of the Australians was decided by the final three innings, in which the opponent scored seven runs. Pitchers Marek Minařík and Daniel Padyšák faced tough shots, youngster Michal Kovala stopped the Australian onslaught for a moment, but he too was replaced and Jan Tomek finished the match.

With the score at 1:6, the Czech batters still showed hope in the eighth inning, and after Marko Chlup’s shot, Vojtěch Menšík and Sogard finished for two points. In the end of the last inning, the baseball players filled the bases thanks to the alternating players, but the game was ended by a double by the Australian defense.

After the performance in Tokyo, Czech fans will see the representation at the September European Championship, which will be held in Brno, Ostrava, Prague, Třebíč and Blansk. “We want the first medal in history,” Chadim declared the goal of the team, the basis of which should be the same as now at the WBC.