GREAT Britain third baseman BJ Murray Jr is unable to get to a ball hit by Colombia’s Reynaldo Rodríguez, who singled during the eighth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Phoenix on Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photos/Godofredo A Vásquez)
By BRENT STUBBS
Senior Sports Reporter
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
AFTER losing their first two games of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2023 World Baseball Classic, Great Britain, with its Bahamian connection, has finally gotten in the win column.
Great Britain, coming off a 6-2 loss to the defending champions United States of America on Saturday and a 18-8 rout by Canada on Sunday, prevailed with a 7-5 decision over Colombia yesterday at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
“It was rough. We anticipated coning in here and winning some games, but after the two losses, it was tough,” said Antoan Richardson, one of two Bahamian coaches on the team.
“After the two losses, we had to go back to the drawing board and rethink our strategy and to see how we can execute that strategy.”
Cartwright, who serves as a bench coach while Albert Cartwright is the first base coach, said the Bahamian players are a key ingredient to the success of Great Britain.
“I don’t think we could perform at this tournament without the Bahamian players, so they play a big part in the success of this team,” said Richardson, who is a first base coach for the San Francisco Giants after he finished playing in the Major League.
“Chavez Fernander pitched a couple innings for us and so the Bahamian players are playing a big role on this team. It’s been challenging trying to win some games, but it’s also been a lot of fun playing at such a high level against these quality teams. We just have to prepare as much to be as successful as possible.”
Great Britain will close out their competition in Pool C today against Mexico.
A win and they have a chance to stay in contention for the next round, depending on the outcome of some of the other games. If they lose, they are automatically eliminated.
In staying alive, right fielder Chavez Young, one of seven players of Bahamian descent on Great Britain’s team, got his fourth stolen base to pull within just one of the all-time mark for steals in a single Classic.
Young tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth as he advanced on an error before breaking out the club’s signature move upon reaching second.
The 25-year-old member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organisation made Britain’s second impressive defensive play of the top of the fifth when he sprawled down the right-field line for a grab, then immediately sprang to his feet to high-five a young fan.
Young finished with a 1-for-3 night with a RBI and a walk and third baseman BJ Murray was 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Harry Ford, the catcher, led the attack with a 2-for-4 plate appearance with two runs scored and first baseman Nick Ward was 1-for-2 with three runs scored.
Fernander, a native of Grand Bahama, pitched an inning, giving up a pair of hits and as many walks.
He’s expected to be one of the pitchers the Bahamas Baseball Association will be relying on when the national team travel later this month.
So the experience he is gaining is critical.
Even though they suffered two straight losses, Cartwright said it was a great team effort that secured their first win. “We made good moves to give ourselves a chance to win the game,” Cartwright stated.
Great Britain scored three runs in the fourth and two each in the fifth and seventh, compared to Colombia, who had one in the second, two in the fourth and two more in the ninth.
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