Trebíc, Czechia – Cal Poly Pomona senior righthander, Andrew Campbell, pitched Great Britain to a European Championship this past weekend, while also being named the best pitcher in the tournament. Great Britain defeated host Czechia by a score of 9-7 on Saturday, claiming the 2025 U-23 Euro Baseball Title.
 
"Playing in the European championship was an amazing experience," said Campbell. "I'm grateful to have met some amazing coaches and players with exceptional talent and character. As aforementioned, the players were all great and I expected other pitchers to receive the [best pitcher] award, but I was honored to have been recognized for my part in the team reaching the championship. Competing overseas was a great experience."
 
Campbell made two appearances in the tournament, posting a stellar 1.00 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 7.0 innings, holding opponents to a .240 batting average against.
 
Great Britain went 4-1 in the tournament, their only loss coming to Czechia in pool play. They defeated Israel 7-0 in the opening game of the tournament, with Campbell throwing 2.0 scoreless innings in relief. After falling 3-0 to Czechia in their second game, Great Britain claimed a 4-3 victory over France to secure a spot in the tournament semifinals.
 
"On the field, we faced teams with different playing styles, which forced us to adjust quickly and think differently about the game," continued Campbell. "Off the field, it was amazing to be immersed in a new culture — meeting players from around the world, trying new foods, and seeing how much baseball means to people in other countries. It gave me a bigger appreciation for the sport and also made me grow as a person, not just as a player."
 
In the semifinals against Netherlands, Great Britain got off to a rocky start by allowing two runs to score in the first inning. Campbell came in to pitch in the second inning, and immediately shut the door by allowing just one more run to score over the next 5.0 innings on 78 pitches. Campbell's clutch performance out of the bullpen would allow Great Britain to come back and defeat the Netherlands 7-4, advancing to the championship with Campbell earning the win.
 
"Andrew's hard work and dedication continue to provide him opportunities," said Cal Poly Pomona Baseball Head Coach Randy Betten. "He's a winner on all levels. It's great to see CPP baseball represented on the world stage."
 
Great Britain got revenge on Czechia in the championship on Saturday, winning 9-7 to claim their first ever gold medal in the Baseball European Championship. The win secured Great Britain an automatic berth into the 2026 WBSC World Cup.