25/07/2024 2 Minute Read

Team Italy roster announced for U18 Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage in Pingtan, China

Sixteen players have been named by Azzurre manager Andrea Longagnani to represent Team Italy in U18 Women's Softball World Cup Group B in Pingtan, China from August 14-18, 2024

Team Italy is ready to compete in the U18 Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage (Group B) in Pingtan, China from August 14-18, 2024. The Italians will be led by manager Andrea Longagnani along with coaches Simona Nava, Paola Marfoglia and Sara Dall'Alpi, team physician Dr. Emanuele Siano, physiotherapist Marta Cioni and delegation manager Bruno Gasparotto.

Team Italy is in Group B with host China, Japan, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Peru and Puerto Rico. The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the U18 Women's Softball World Cup Finals in Dallas, Texas next year. In addition, two teams from the Group Stage competitions will also qualify for the finals as wild cards.

The following players will represent Team Italy in the U18 Women's Softball World Cup Group Stage:

Last Name	First Name	POS	B	T	Date of Birth	Club Affiliation
Biffi	Alessandra	1B/P	R	R	04/06/2006	Bollate softball 1969 A.S.D.
Campioni	Alida	SS/2B	R	R	28/08/2009	Bollate softball 1969 A.S.D.
Colino	Giulia	2B/P	R	R	18/12/2008	Bollate softball 1969 A.S.D.
Cortesi	Noemi	SS	R	R	03/07/2007	Forlì Softball Club
Di Lauro	Chiara	2B/P	R	R	02/10/2006	Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Di Pancrazio	Felicia	OF	L	R	27/09/2006	Pianoro Softball A.S.D.
Forlani	Federica	P/OF	L	L	25/05/2008	Giovanile Collecchio Softball
Milano	Kylie	P/1B	L	R	13/11/2007	Forlì Softball Club
Moggi	Sveva	OF	L	R	17/08/2007	Pianoro Softball A.S.D.
Peyrani	Giulia	C/OF	R	R	09/06/2006	A.S.D. Avigliana Rebels
Polini	Lucia	C	R	R	03/10/2007	Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Rubanu	Ilaria	C/3B	R	R	26/05/2007	Forlì Softball Club
Silva	Emma	P	R	R	01/02/2007	Bollate Softball 1969 A.S.D.
Turci	Caterina	1B/3B	L	R	02/05/2009	Forlì Softball Club
Villa	Carlotta Maria	1B/OF	L	L	01/12/2006	Legnano - Milano 1946
Zumerle	Vittoria	P/OF	R	R	15/01/2007	Thunders & Dragon Softball

Team Italy U18 manager Andrea Longagnani said, "We have made an excellent preparation journey: first in Legnano, where we also faced the Czech Republic, and then in Canada, challenging well-balanced teams that were excellent sparring partners. The competition was fierce and results were certainly positive. The girls played around 20 games. We were victorious in most of our battles, and we were able to experiment with the lineup to see how deep our roster truly was."

Italian skipper Andrea Longagnani continued, "We are ready to compete in World Cup Group Stage knowing that Group B will be very tough, especially due to the presence of Japan and Puerto Rico. We go to China knowing that every game will be like a final, unlike the European Championship where you have easier games. We know that there is something more at stake in the World Cup. I have a lot of confidence in these girls because they want to show the world that Italy can compete with the softball elite."

U18 WOMEN'S SOFTBALL WORLD CUP GROUP B WEBSITE

Forza #Italia!

by Nicolò Gatti and Roberto Angotti

(Photo of Team Italy celebrating after the victory over the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the 2023 U18 Women’s European Softball Championship by LG-FIBS)