Team Italy players announced for U18 European Baseball Championship in Ostrava and Brno, Czech Republic from August 13-20, 2022
For the next six weeks, Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi leads his Azzurri baseball squad on an international journey touching down in Germany, Czech Republic, Canada and the USA
After undergoing a series of medical examinations in Verona, the Team Italy U18 baseball squad embarked on a six-week expedition which will include: the Gateway Tournament in Regensburg, Germany from August 8-11, the U18 European Baseball Championship in Ostrava and Brno, Czech Republic from August 13-20, Training Camp in Toronto, Canada from late August to early September, and the U18 Baseball World Cup in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida from September 9-18, 2022.
The first stop on the way to the European Baseball Championship is the Gateway Tournament in Regensburg, Germany, where the Team Italy U18 baseball squad will be able to train at state-of-the-art Legionaere Sports Complex. In addition, the Azzurri will compete in exhibition games againstGermany(August 8), the U23 Gateway European All-Stars (August 9) and Kingdom of the Netherlands (August 10).
Team Italy will then travel to Ostrava, Czech Republic, where the Azzurri will play the first four games of the first round of the U18 European Baseball Championshipagainst Group B opponents Ireland (August 13), Czech Republic (August 14), Israel (August 15) and Germany (August 16).
The Italians move on to Brno, Czech Republic for their final Group B game against Belgium (August 18) and the remainder of the U18 European Baseball Championship through August 20, 2022.
Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi knows the competition will be challenging in the upcoming European Baseball Championship. He said, "It will not be a walk in the park. Israel and Ireland have done extensive recruiting from the United States and have a strong American presence. Germany has a solid and cohesive group which has worked to together as a team for the past five years with excellent potential, the Czech Republic is made up of many players who play in the first Czech division Extraliga, The Czechs appear to be the strongest team on paper with the advantage of playing at home.
Italian skipper Francesco Aluffi continued, "It will be important for us to play competitively right from the start. I believe and hope that our players will form the nucleus destined for the next U23 Championship and the next Elite team that will represent Team Italy at the Olympics in Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032)."
BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952
S.S.D. A R.L.
6
Ercolani
Alessandro
21
P
R
R
2004
A.S.D. TITANO BEARS
FCL PIRATES
7
Gergolet
Diego
22
P
R
R
2006
A.S.D. STARANZANO DUCKS B.S.C.
NEW BLACK PANTHERS A.S.D.
8
Laghi
Cristian
23
P
R
R
2005
SOFTBALL CLUB FORLI' A.S.D.
CRAL ENRICO MATTEI A.S.D.
9
Laise
Alessandro
33
IF
R
R
2005
A.S.D. SENAGO MILANO UNITED B.C.
10
Luciani
Diego
25
IF, P
R
R
2004
BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952
S.S.D. A R.L.
11
Montanari
Davide
24
P
R
R
2004
CROCETTA BASEBALL CLUB A.S.D.
JUNIOR PARMA BASEBALL CLUB A.S.D.
12
Nepoti
Riccardo
26
P
R
R
2004
BOLOGNA ATHLETICS A.S.D.
13
Ragionieri
Marco
30
C
R
R
2004
OLTRETORRENTE BASEBALL CLUB A.S.D.
14
Taschin
Giacomo
29
P
L
L
2006
A.S.D. BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB ROVIGO
15
Venditti
Filippo
32
IF.P
R
R
2004
A.S.D. ACADEMY OF NETTUNO B.C.
A.S.D. NETTUNO B.C. 1945
16
Verzin
Pietro
39
P
R
R
2005
A.S.D. CRAZY SAMBONIFACESE BASEBALL
SOFTBALL
17
Volpe
Alessandro
14
OF
R
R
2005
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE (HS) - ONTARIO
18
Wong
Williams
34
IF
L
R
2005
BASEBALL CLUB SETTIMO A.S.D.
A.S.D. AVIGLIANA BEES
19
Zazza
Manuel
35
IF
R
R
2005
LION'S BASEBALL NETTUNO A.S.D.
20
Zingarelli
Edoardo
7
P
R
R
2004
REDCLAY BASEBALL & SOFTBALL
CASTELLAMONTE A.S.D.
A.S.D. GRIZZLIES TORINO 48 B.S.C.
Reserves: Alessandro Barbona (Academy Nettuno), Lorenzo Barbona (Academy Nettuno), Attilio Bellucci (Lion’s Nettuno), Nicholas Bertoldi (New Black Panthers Ronchi), Vincenzo Bruno (Staranzano Ducks), Simone Carnevale (Bergamo B.S.), Michel Gonzato (Crazy Sambonifacese), Davide Malusà (Staranzano Ducks) and Matteo Marelli (Senago Milano United).
Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi will be accompanied by John Cortese (bench coach), Massimiliano Masin (pitching coach), Bobby Cramer (pitching specialist), and coaches Stefano Cappuccini, Davide Sartini and Gianmarco Faraone. In addition, athletic trainer Fabrizio Goracci, physiotherapist Sergio Arigano, team physician Dr. Davide Ortolina and delegation manager Aldo Peronaci will be on hand to assist on the road. Forza #Italia!
