By Baseball Europe
Box Score
VARAZDIN, Croatia — World No. 42 Croatia has won the Qualifier to next year’s U-18 European Baseball Championship, needing extra innings to defeat No. 24 Great Britain 10-8 in the final on Saturday. Finishing one and two, both Croatia and Great Britain will earn tickets to participate in the 2015 Junior Euros.
The Qualifier used the IBAF Extra-inning Rule, and after a scoreless 10th inning, which left the scored tied 6-6, Croatia put four runs on the scoreboard in the top half of the 11th. Nino Kruhek had the big hit with a two-run single. The British squad managed only two runs in the bottom half of the frame and had to settle for second place.
Croatia had erased a 0-6 deficit by scoring six runs in the last four innings. Andrija Tomic and Franko Vrlic hit home runs. Alexandar Kruhek pitched four innings of no-hit relief for the win. Antonio Horvatic scored three times and got the save. Luke Armstrong took the loss.
Lithuania finished in third place after a 6-4 victory over Belarus in the Bronze Medal Game. Slovakia finished in fifth place after winning an extra-inning affair 7-4 against Hungary on the last day. Switzerland came in at sixth following a 16-14 slugfest over Poland.
Final Standings:
1) Croatia (No. 42)
2) Great Britain (No. 24)
3) Lithuania (No. 54)
4) Belarus (No. 58)
5) Slovakia (No. 56)
6) Switzerland (No. 55)
7) Poland (No. 57)
8) Hungary (No. 65)
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