Team Italy elite softball manager Federico Pizzolini gave pitcher Bianca Messina the opportunity to start for the first time in the 2022 European Softball Championship against France, and she did not disappoint. The new face on the Azzurre squad proved her weight in gold by throwing a three-hitter with two strikeouts and one walk in the four-inning mercy-rule 10-0 shutout over the French.
Team Italy scored one run in the bottom of the first inning, three runs in the bottom of the second inning and six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to enforce the mercy rule. The Italian offense was fueled by Melany Sheldon (3-for-3, 3 RBI, R), McKenzie Barbara (3-for-3, SB, RBI, R), Fabrizia Marrone (2-for-3, 2 RBI, R), Laura Vigna (1-for-2, BB, SB, 2 R) and Amanda Fama (1-for-3, 2B, 2 R).
FRANCE-ITALY BOX SCORE
FRANCE-ITALY LIVESTREAM REPLAY
Team Italy came back in the afternoon for a battle against the Brits. Great Britain sent out starter Georgina Corrick. The last time she faced Team Italy was in the 2019 European Softball Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic on July 5, 2019, when she threw 2.1 innings of relief and allowed three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in a five-run mercy rule 7-0 loss to the Italians. Fast forward three years and she is the holder of eight University of South Florida softball records, including being the program's all-time leader in strikeouts, along with five American Athletic Conference records. In 2022 Georgina Corrick was named NFCA Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-American, Softball America Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-American and D1Softball First Team All-American.
Team Italy countered with the young and talented starting pitcher Alexia Lacatena, who allowed two earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks during her seven innings of work in the 2-1 loss to Great Britain.
The Team Italy offense could not bring baserunners home early in the game. McKenzie Barbara led off with a single in the bottom of the second inning, but the Italians were unable to score. Laura Vigna tried to start a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning with a single but was stranded on base. McKenzie Barbara did the same thing in the bottom of the fourth inning with the same result.
However, Great Britain was able to execute a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning when scoring two runs. Back-to-back singles by Sydney Brown and Katie Burge was followed by a two-run triple from Kendyl Scott to give the Brits a 2-0 lead.
Team Italy answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Fabrizia Marrone reached first base on an infield error and later scored on an RBI triple by Melany Sheldon. With the tying run on third base, Great Britain pitcher Georgina Corrick intentionally walked the hot-hitting McKenzie Barbara. The British strategy paid off as a flyout to right field by Elisa Cecchetti ended the inning.
In the end, Team Italy came up short and lost its first 2022 European Softball Championship game to Great Britain by a score of 2 to 1.
GREAT BRITAIN-ITALY BOX SCORE
GREAT BRITAIN-ITALY LIVESTREAM REPLAY
Team Italy plays two final round-robin games on Thursday, July 28, 2022. The first contest against Czech Republic takes place at 11:15 am (local time) at Estadio Municipal de Sófbol Antonio Hervás, Sant Boi de Llobregat (Barcelona). The Italians return for a second game against Kingdom of the Netherlands at 8:15 pm (local time). The international competition continues through Saturday, July 30, 2022. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND SCHEDULE
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP LIVESTREAM
TEAM ITALY ELITE SOFTBALL NEWS
(Photo of Team Italy speedster Fabrizia Marrone being congratulated by Alessandra Rotondo and Laura Bigatton after scoring against France in the 2022 European Softball Championship by Ezio Ratti/Nadoc)
