WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - BRAZIL VS GREAT BRITAIN

March 9, 2026

Brad Marcelino

Gary Anderson

Brandon Beck

Ian Lewis Jr.

Harry Ford

Daikin Park

Team Great Britain

Postgame Press Conference

Great Britain - 8, Brazil - 1

Q. Harry, what's the difference between this World Baseball Classic and the last one?

HARRY FORD: This World Baseball Classic was really amazing. We made so many strides from last time to this time. We added so many key players and coaches, and everyone was working together.

We had a hunger from last time carrying in. I thought we just did a such great job competing and just staying in the games that we played and just being relentless.

Q. Could you tell us what was the jersey hanging in the dugout before the game and when you were celebrating?

HARRY FORD: It was for one of our guys, Lucius. He was here with us, but he got hurt in last spring training and our practice games, and he wasn't aim to make it. So we had it because he was here in spirit.

Q. Will we see your next edition?

HARRY FORD: Yes.

Q. Ian, when you were crossing home plate after the homer, it seemed like you were breathing a sigh of relief. Could you take us back to that moment and everything that was running through your mind right there?

IAN LEWIS JR.: Definitely a lot of emotions, just being able to come up big for the team right there and help us out, spark a little plug for the guys to get going. And just stay focused in that moment and give thanks to the good Lord himself for allowing me to have that blessing.

Q. Brad, could you speak to the contribution of the players from the Bahamas over the course of, not just this tournament, but from the years for the qualifiers leading up to now?

BRAD MARCELINO: It's always been, I think, a unique environment, right, because for us we have players from the Bahamas, from all over different backgrounds. But the Bahamians have a special place in my heart just because how infectious and how energetic and love for the game, passion for the game, they play that way. You see it. It's awesome to have them be part of this family for sure. It's great.

Q. Brad, last tournament, Drew Spencer, after beating Colombia, in reference to people who might have thought that Great Britain was the easy game in the group, said that people are going to look at the schedule and no longer think that's the easy game. What message do you have maybe similar to that after this tournament?

BRAD MARCELINO: That's a good one. I think hopefully, for us, we know we played probably three and a half games of really, really good baseball. So we keep making progress there as far as complete games. Today you saw a complete game. Pitching staff, lights out. The boys were doing their thing.

So I think when you look at it from the wins and if you just look at it wins and losses, it doesn't give you a true indication how we performed. But when you look at how many innings we put together, it's getting close. So, yeah, I love where we're at.

Q. To the three players, what would you like to say about the fans both here and the contingent back home who are tweeting pictures and videos and so forth?

HARRY FORD: I'd say we've talked about this in our meetings over the last few weeks that they are one of the biggest reasons and parts of what we do and why we go and why we play as passionately as we can.

It's on all of our minds, the kids, whether they're from the Bahamas or whether they're in Great Britain or anyone that's following our team, that we want to make a difference in their lives and show them that we can all play and further this program for the people on this team and who will be on this team in the future.

And the fans have supported us so much. We've got one school in Great Britain who just loves us, and they're amazing. St Gregory, shout out to them, they're awesome. But we were so thankful for the support, and it's made such a big difference knowing that there's people behind us.

IAN LEWIS JR.: I would say Harry answered that question perfectly. But we notice the support, and we love you guys, and we appreciate you guys for everything you guys have for us during this journey.

BRENDAN BECK: I would echo the same thing. Obviously seeing so many watch parties across the country and all over is pretty cool. We tried our best to play a good brand of baseball that they'd be proud of. I know we're proud of it.

But, ultimately, like Brad said, we're close to being able to take that next big step. And it's going to come from people back home realizing that they can play on this field, they can play with these teams.

And for the kids back home who are dreaming about wearing the GB uniform, we welcome it. And we hope they're here with us next time.

Q. Brad, you and your family have been involved with Great Britain baseball for a long time. What does it mean to have -- your sons are involved -- what does it mean to have multiple generations of your family involved in this edition of the tournament?

BRAD MARCELINO: Yeah, I've said this before, but it's part of, for me, it's like the family. And it starts with G.A. down there, who helps us put this program together. And I think when they see these guys and how they interact with each other and the type of teammates they are and the people they are, that's what you want, right? You want your kids to be around that environment. So I think that's the most special part for me.

Q. What does it mean for Great Britain to get this win and qualify for the next WBC?

GARY ANDERSON: Those that don't know me, I'm Gary Anderson. I'm heading up the delegation and the Olympic program in Great Britain.

This game today was absolutely huge for our program. It means that I don't have to go begging to our government organization anymore, that they see that we've repeated the feat. And to repeat what we achieved last time, it was a huge achievement.

Brad and I had a conversation about how other teams are taking us that much more seriously now. So that one win was a huge achievement this time around. Repeatability in sport is always my mantra, the fact that we can repeat it.

But what this means now for our Olympic program, that we can push ahead with confidence and continue that trajectory. We've got to be the best in Europe. That's our aim now for the Olympic Games.

Q. Brad, taking the good moments on this tournament, what's your message to the WBC about what should we expect from the national team in the upcoming years and the baseball growth with the GB team?

BRAD MARCELINO: I think you always -- that's a tricky one because, for us, it's about how we take care of our own business, right? And I think how we play, our brand of baseball, like Brendan said, what we're trying to do as a program, the quality of the players that we're trying to get in the program, all these are stats, and our trajectory is starting to go up. But we have still a lot of work to do.

I think the message for us is, one, this helps; two, being an underfunded program still, we are in a position now to hopefully move this program in a different direction.

And hopefully people will see that. And then once they see that, then we can kind of build more momentum. We're a couple pitches away from really being a special group.

Q. Brendan, you talked in one of the press conferences earlier on that when you and your brother played together, good things happen. We just saw a game where you managed to start and he finished it off. From maybe a selfish family perspective, how is that?

BRENDAN BECK: It was awesome. I think coming into the tournament, that was everything we could have dreamed of, and being able to do it in a win, obviously is humongous.

Just sharing, wearing the same jersey again, is something that we always won't take for granted. You never know when it's going to happen and if it will happen again. So this could easily be the last time we're on the same field and in the same dugout.

He and I are super close. So it's just been really special.

And I know he and I both, it was a good balance this week of enjoying the moment with each other. But I also had a great time playing with Ian, playing with Harry, getting, you know, 28, 29 new brothers in that locker room, forging bonds with those guys that are going to take us who knows where, and really I think set us up well for the WBC and for the tournaments in between and hopefully the Olympics here in a few years.

Q. Harry, we see this team together with the British style of baseball, the Bahamian style of baseball, the Jamaican style, it's kind of a big blend of different cultures. How would you describe the British style of baseball that you play when that all combines?

HARRY FORD: I think Marce said it best the last interview, that we just go out there, we be ballers, we create havoc on the bases, we play baseball and move the runners over when we need to, and we've got guys that we can take shots and hit some homers, get some extra base hits.

And our pitchers are lights out. I mean, I can't harp on them enough. They really showed it these last four games. But their ability just to go out there and not matter who is in the box and just dominate the strike zone and stay true to their plans.

We play our own brand. And we mix each other's styles a lot.

Q. Gary and Brad, could you elaborate a little bit more on what the next four years look like with this now in the books?

GARY ANDERSON: Looking at four years, it's a bit too much in the future for me at the moment. I can tell you what the next year looks like to start with. We have to now look towards a Premier12 qualifier in China. We don't know who we're playing yet, but we know we're going to China. And we need to assemble the best roster possible for that.

That brings its own challenges with the commitments that the players have got to their organizations, but we'll do our best to get that roster together.

Then we look forward to then the European Championships the following year and the Olympic qualifier. And that's all crammed into 18 months.

Brad and I have got to work very hard. We've got to make players want to play for Great Britain and be available. That's the main thing.

And I've got to keep Brad. Brad is going to be in demand. So the first thing I'm going to do is sit down with him and see what we can do to secure his services.

BRAD MARCELINO: Just echoing what G.A. said, finding those little wins every day. You prepare for this tournament for a long time. It's pretty crazy to think about how long you prepare for the tournament for four games.

But to do it on this final note, to take momentum going to the Premier12 and the European Championships, it's a good burst for us to be able to put something together.

Q. Gary, you've had a long career with a lot of different programs. Where does this tournament and this group rank among the teams and the players and the coaches you've worked with?

GARY ANDERSON: Probably need notice for that sort of question. But this is a special group, a really special group. And the World Baseball Classic, I'm fortunate, this is my second. And I've only been involved in baseball for four years, and this is my second. So I'm very privileged.

How it ranks, this tournament is fantastic. It's on a par for me for the UEFA Championships, the World Cup in football, it's on the par with that.

In terms of how this group is, fantastic. These guys, professional players. They apply themselves. They're so compliant. They do as they're told. It's brilliant working with them.

I have more trouble with Brad and his staff than I do the players. (Laughter)

BRAD MARCELINO: That's true.

GARY ANDERSON: But it's a very special group. You saw that today. They knew how much this game meant.

I just wish we could have started with a game like this and a victory and then see what might have happened.

Q. Ian, how special was it for you to start two games of the middle alongside Jazz? I know that's something you guys have talked about seeing it play out in the big leagues ever since you signed with the Marlins. But what did it feel like to have it played out on the stage?

IAN LEWIS JR.: It felt unreal. It felt like a dream, something we've been talking about not only for this tournament but for our whole lives. Even when he was in the Marlins organization, we wanted to make things like this happen as quick as possible. And to have it happen on such a big stage, it was an unreal feeling that I will remember for the rest of my life, like I said.