The Team Italy Elite national baseball squad will ready early on Thursday, July 7, 2022 to catch a morning flight from Milan to Amsterdam in order to get one last practice together in the afternoon and prepare for Haarlem Baseball Week. The international six-team tournament takes place at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, the Netherlands from July 8-15, 2022. Team Italy will compete in seven-inning games against 2018 champion Japan, USA, the Netherlands, Cuba and Curacao. Both Japan and USA will field collegiate all-star teams.
Now in its 30th edition, Haarlem Baseball Week began in 1961 and has been held every other year in even-numbered years since 1972. The scheduled 2020 games were cancelled due to the pandemic.
National Baseball Hall of Famer and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza has selected the following players to compete in Haarlem Baseball Week: Mattia Aldegheri, P; Maurizio Andretta, P; Alex Bassani, P; Matteo Bocchi, P; Murilo Brolio Gouvea, P; Federico Celli, OF; Erick Epifano, INF; Leo Ferrini, INF; Diego Gergolet, P; Noel Gonzalez, OF; Vito Friscia Jr. , OF; Ernesto Liberatore, C; Renzo Martini, INF; Mattia Mercuri, INF; Alberto Mineo, C; Lorenzo Morresi, C; Angelo Palumbo, P; Ricardo Paolini, INF; Dario Pizzano, OF; Gabriele Quattrini, P; Yomel Rivera, P; Christian Scafidi, P; Claudio Scotti, P; and Andrea Sellaroli, UTL.
Italian skipper Mike Piazza will be assisted by pitching coach and national baseball program coordinator Bobby Cramer, coaches Doriano Bindi, Gianmario Costa, Alberto D’Auria, Michele Gerali, and staff coordinator Gianmarco Faraone, In addition, athletic trainer Simone Bonaccorso, physiotherapist Massimo Baldi, team physician Dr. Davide Ortolina and delegation manager Vincenzo Mignola will be in Haarlem to lend their support.
Team Italy begins the 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week Opening Round against Euro rival and host the Netherlands on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 7:30 pm (local time). The Italians return to action on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 12 noon (local time) when clashing against USA. Team Italy battles Curacao on Monday, July 11, 2022 at 3:30 pm (local time) before taking on defending champion Japan the following day at 12 noon (local time). Team Italy concludes Haarlem Baseball Week Opening Round play against Cuba on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 12 noon (local time).
The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm (local time). The two winners will go head-to-head in the Haarlem Baseball Week Championship on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 7 pm (local time). The two losers will play in the Bronze Medal Game earlier in the day at 2 pm (local time). Forza #Italia!
HAARLEM BASEBALL WEEK SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
HAARLEM BASEBALL WEEK LIVE STREAM
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy manager Mike Piazza waving to the crowd before the game against Austria in the 2021 European Baseball Championship by EZR Nadoc)
