Team Greece Shuts Out Denmark, Earns Rematch with Switzerland to Close U-22 European Championship

By Sophia Karavantos-Schnur

Team Greece continued its impressive run through the placement round of the 2026 WBSC Europe U-22 Women's Softball European Championship with a commanding 10-0 victory over Denmark on Thursday. The win keeps Team Hellas unbeaten in the placement round and secures a rematch with Switzerland in the tournament finale.

Greece wasted little time taking control, scoring three runs in the opening inning before adding two more in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth to complete the run-rule victory. Team Hellas finished with 10 runs on 12 hits while playing error-free defense.

The offense was once again fueled by production throughout the lineup.

Georgia Polydoros delivered another outstanding performance, going 2-for-2 with two home runs, four RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. Sophia Vlahos continued her hot streak at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Sophie Pappas stayed hot with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double, an RBI and two runs scored, while Kasey Xenidis added two hits, including a double, and crossed the plate once. Kirsten Malasky chipped in with a hit and a run scored, Chloe Trimandilis collected a hit and scored a run, and Sofia Zepeda added a base hit. Sylvia Mudis drove in a run with a sacrifice fly as Team Hellas continued its balanced offensive attack.

In the circle, Kasey Xenidis was dominant. The right-hander tossed a complete-game, four-inning shutout, allowing just two hits, walking one and striking out six to earn the victory. Greece's defense backed her throughout the game, turning in a flawless performance without committing an error.

The victory marks Greece's third consecutive win after defeating Croatia and Switzerland earlier in the placement round. Team Hellas has scored 40 runs over its last three games, showcasing one of the tournament's most productive offenses while continuing to receive consistent performances in the circle.

Team Hellas will face Switzerland once again in the placement-round finale after defeating the Swiss 18-5 earlier in the tournament. In that first meeting, Greece collected 15 hits and erupted for 18 runs behind home runs from Polydoros, Pappas, and Vlahos. Polydoros finished 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple and three RBIs, while Pappas drove in four runs and Vlahos added three RBIs in the victory.

Although Greece won the first matchup convincingly, the coaching staff knows a rematch presents a new challenge. Switzerland will be looking to make adjustments, while Team Hellas aims to continue the disciplined approach that has carried it through the placement round.

Offensively, Greece will look to stay aggressive early in counts, continue producing quality at-bats and capitalize on scoring opportunities. Defensively, the combination of Xenidis and Vlahos has given Team Hellas confidence throughout the championship, while the defense has continued to make routine plays behind them.

With momentum on its side and confidence continuing to grow, Team Greece has an opportunity to finish the 2026 WBSC Europe U-22 Women's Softball European Championship on a winning note. A victory over Switzerland would cap an impressive placement-round run and provide a strong finish to an encouraging international tournament for Team Hellas.

Fans can follow the action through the official WBSC Europe schedule and streaming platforms, as well as the Hellas National Softball Team's social media as Team Greece closes out the U-22 European Championship.