Team Great Britain has defied all the odds and secured a win in the World Baseball Classic over Team Colombia, winning 7-5. This is the first win for Team Great Britain in the international tournament and the largest win in the team’s history. Baseball has never been a massively popular sport in the United Kingdom, but this win could change that.
Team Colombia held the lead to start the game until a brilliant three-run inning from Team Great Britain. The British then put up four more runs, giving them a commanding lead heading into the ninth inning. Team Colombia gave them a scare by scoring two runs, but Team Great Britain shut the door.
Needless to say, British fans were equally stunned and thrilled with the result. Many were satisfied when the team qualified for the tournament, not expecting any further success. Now, they’ve got a taste of winning on the international stage, and they are hungry for more. Winning in comeback fashion as they did only adds to the immense drama.
For Team Colombia, the loss is devastating to their chances of advancing to the next round. They were expected to win this game and win handily. Now, they will need to get lucky to continue in the tournament. This game could have massive repercussions for the current competition and the future of baseball in Great Britain.
The American pastime becoming a hallmark of British sport would be a fascinating twist of fate. Team Great Britain has some solid MLB players such as Trayce Thompson from the Los Angeles Dodgers, but not many. Harry Ford, the Seattle Mariners’ top prospect, also had a great game for Team Great Britain.
Team Great Britain may not have done it in style thanks to its uniforms, but it finally had its first World Baseball Classic win.
The long-term effects of the World Baseball Classic could be massive for the sport
The mission statement of the World Baseball Classic is to bring together the best talent on the planet to play for their countries. This is the closest they have come to accomplishing that goal ever, and the early indications are it’s a huge success.
Nations that were once ambivalent towards baseball are finding themselves more and more invested in the sport. As that investment grows, the quality of play will go up and the true victors will be the viewing audience.