WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - GREAT BRITAIN VS ITALY

March 8, 2026

Brad Marcelino

Daikin Park

Team Great Britain

Postgame Press Conference

Italy - 7, Great Britain - 4

Q. That's another tough loss for GB. And moving on to the final game now against Brazil what are the positives you can take out of that game over the last few innings?

BRAD MARCELINO: We built some momentum there, obviously offensively kind of quiet in the middle there, inning started off well. So it's nice to have the momentum at the end.

I just felt like we ran out of the finish line there if we had a little bit longer.

I thought Spraker did a great job coming in, giving us some length. But the middle innings is where we had some mistakes as well.

Covering the bag there was a big one when Wells was on the mound. It's those little details that lead to you lose by a slim margin.

But overall, I think we're in a good spot going into tomorrow with some momentum.

Q. How important is it to get a win in the last game just to kind of keep the momentum of British baseball going?

BRAD MARCELINO: Yeah, I mean, it's everything. So everything is all onboard, all hands on deck. It's definitely a must-win.

But I think we still have to get better at our game play, because it's not going to be easy. Brazil is a good team. So we have to get after it tomorrow, again, on an early game.

And it is up to the boys, right? They know what they need to do. Nothing to be said besides go and win a ball game.

Q. Sitting in the press box and looking down to the GB dugout on the opposite side of the field, it was really obvious today just how many GB fans were out, almost uniformly wearing jerseys often with GB players on the back, cheering constantly. Can you talk about what this means and how it helps the team?

BRAD MARCELINO: I was talking to someone about this before the game because we came back on the bus and was kind of surprised when we got back to the hotel because all the fans were there.

So it gives you perspective. You try and get out of your own way with the loss, but the sacrifices that they've made, the money they've spent and the time to just come out and support the team, it's tremendous.

I don't think we can thank them enough for coming out al this way to support us. And we want to send them home with a win.

Q. Can you speak a little bit to Nate Eaton's plate appearances, what you're seeing? He's been doing really well this tournament.

BRAD MARCELINO: I've already said this. He's one of my favorites. He is the type of player that you love to coach. And the tools are all there -- excuse me, the tools are all there -- mentality, toughness, the grittiness. You can see it on display.

I'm really excited that he's part of the program. It's going to be special to watch him in his career in the future for sure.