Immediately following scheduled athletic strength and conditioning tests in Modena on December 4, 2021, Team Italy pitchers will begin a two-day training camp led by respected softball pitching coaches Nancy Evans and Becky Blatnick on December 5 and 6 in Modena (Emilia-Romagna). Another group of pitchers will be summoned to Bollate (Lombardia) for a second clinic on December 7 and 8 followed by a third group of pitchers in Caprino Veronese (Veneto) on December 10-12, 2021.
Softball legend Nancy Evans excelled as both a player and coach at University of Arizona. In her collegiate path as a pitcher from 1994 to 1998, she tallied 124 total wins and led the Wildcats to three national titles. She later played in the US professional leagues from 1998 to 2005 and became the pitching coach at the University of Arizona. In addition, Nancy Evans was recruited by Kingdom of the Netherlands as a member of the national softball coaching staff.
Becky Blatnick followed in Nancy Evans’ footsteps on the University of Arizona pitching mound from 1998 to 2001. She led the Wildcats to a national title during her senior year and notched a total of 103 wins and 916 strikeouts at U of A. Becky Blatnick has since worked under Arizona iconic softball skipper Mike Candrea at his Southwest Softball Camp over the years. Mike Candrea served as special advisor to Team Italy prior to the squad embarking to the Tokyo Olympics.
The following seven pitchers and three catchers (italicized) are expected to report in Modena on December 5, 2021:
Last Name | First Name | Year of Birth | Club Affiliation |
Melegari | Alessia | 2000 | U.S. GIOVANILE COLLECCHIO SOFT. A.S.D. |
Aroldi | Silvia | 2005 | U.S. GIOVANILE COLLECCHIO SOFT. A.S.D. |
Desii | Sara | 2005 | PIANORO SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Moretti | Lucrezia | 2005 | OLD PARMA BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB A.S.D. |
Marmo | Alessandra | 2006 | U.S. GIOVANILE COLLECCHIO SOFT. A.S.D. |
Milano | Kylie | 2007 | NEW BOLOGNA SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Cacciamani | Ilaria | 1994 | SOFTBALL CLUB FORLI' A.S.D./ C.S. ESERCITO |
Carati | Clara | 2004 | PIANORO SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Giacometti | Noemi | 2000 | THUNDERS & DRAGONS SOFTBALL - BASEBALL A.S.D. CASTELLANA |
Torre | Silvia | 2002 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
The following eight pitchers and three catchers (italicized) are expected to report in Bollate on December 7, 2021
Last Name | First Name | Year of Birth | Club Affiliation |
Marazzi | Chiara | 2001 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Rusconi | Chiara | 2001 | SARONNO SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Manera | Delia | 2005 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Di Lauro | Chiara | 2006 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Biffi | Alessandra | 2006 | A.S.D. BOVISIO MASCIAGO 1980 |
Silva | Emma Stefania | 2007 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Bigatton | Laura | 1997 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Nicolini | Alice | 1995 | SARONNO SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Raviola | Elisa | 2004 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
Princic | Elisa | 2000 | BUSSOLENGO SOFTBALL 2.0 A.S.D. |
Torre | Silvia | 2002 | BOLLATE SOFTBALL 1969 A.S.D. |
The following five pitchers and two catchers (italicized) players are expected to report in Caprino Veronese on December 10, 2021:
Last Name | First Name | Year of Birth | Club Affiliation |
Salis | Carlotta | 2000 | THUNDERS & DRAGONS SOFTBALL - BASEBALL A.S.D. CASTELLANA |
Zumerle | Marianna | 2004 | BUSSOLENGO SOFTBALL 2.0 A.S.D. |
Munaretto | Valeria | 2003 | VICENZA BAS. SOFT. CLUB A.S.D. |
Silvoni | Anita | 2006 | A.S.D. BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB ROVIGO |
Comar | Veronica | 1995 | A.S.D. STARS RONCHI-SARONNO SOFTBALL A.S.D. |
Giacometti | Agnese | 2006 | BUSSOLENGO SOFTBALL 2.0 A.S.D. |
Zenari | Giorgia | 2006 | BUSSOLENGO SOFTBALL 2.0 A.S.D. |
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida by Simone Amaduzzi)