Great Britain upset Colombia to claim their first-ever victory on the World Baseball Classic stage.
After opening defeats to the USA and Canada at the World Cup-style tournament in Arizona served to boost the GB team’s confidence that they could compete on their tournament debut, Monday night saw a comeback victory capped off with a nail-biting finish.
Britain had led early on in both their previous games before their opponents’ superiority told but, in their third match, Colombia leapt into a 3-0 lead after four innings.
Colombia beat Mexico to open their Pool C campaign and boast several players with Major League Baseball experience, something GB have in very short supply.
Chavez Young delivered the hit to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, celebrating with a tea-sipping celebration as one of many nods the predominantly American and Bahamian-born British team have taken to embody their team.
When 20-year-old Seattle Mariners prospect Harry Ford ripped a solo home run to make it 6-3 in the seventh inning, he was bestowed with a crown, cape and knighting ceremony with a plastic sword upon his return to the dugout.
Colombia managed to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning but MLB reliever Ian Gibaut struck out the final batter to mark a historic 7-5 win.
GB’s final group game comes against Mexico in the early hours of Wednesday morning, UK time, and while qualifying for the next stage remains unlikely, they will hope results can still go their way to avoid finishing bottom - which will earn an invitation to the next Classic in 2026.
Manager Drew Spencer said: “When you’re managing a national team, you’re not playing for one game or one season – you’re playing for generations.
A Knight and his kingdom. 👑
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
Harry Ford gives Great Britain some insurance. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/KAVNmP85Fi
“So what this means is that when we got to Regensburg and we qualified on our third attempt, it felt like the end of Chapter 1. This is the beginning of Chapter 2 for Great Britain baseball and British baseball in general.
“I think there will be people who can use this moment as inspiration to come out and play the game and to believe that someone with [Great Britain] on the front of their chest can be successful.”
