Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi announces roster for European Baseball Championship in Macerata and Montegranaro
Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi reveals the names of the 20 players selected to play in next week's European Baseball Championship in Macerata and Montegranaro
After a five-month search for the best U18 Italian baseball players, Team Italy manager Francesco Aluffi has selected 20 players to compete in the European Baseball Championship in Macerata and Montegranaro from July 5-11, 2021. The international tournament is the gateway to the WBSC U18 World Cup in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida from September 9-19, 2021 as the two top Euro finishers will qualify to play in American-hosted competition. Team Italy is in Group A, which includes defending Euro champion Kingdom of the Netherlands, France, Lithuania and Israel. Group B features 2018 runner-up Spain, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. .
Team Italy manager Francesco Aluffi said, "We have a difficult group. The Netherlands are definitely the favorites and will show up with a lot of Antillean players as well as two imports from the United States. They are the team to beat, but Israel should not be underestimated. Group B is more balanced. Spain will be loaded with players from overseas and Latin America so they will be challenging. Germany is a solid group of athletes who have played together since the U15 days. In addition, three German Americans have since joined the roster of the best players from the baseball academies there. Czech Republic is a solid team with strong pitching and good defense."
The Team Italy U18 squad plays its first game against Lithuania on Monday, July 5, 2021. Italian skipper Francesco Aluffi will be assisted at the European Baseball Championship by hitting coach Stefano Cappuccini, bench coach John Cortese, pitching coach Massimiliano Masin, infield coach Davide Sartini, athletic trainer Fabrizio Goracci, physiotherapist Graziano Abbate, and delegation manager Aldo Peronaci.
The following players will represent Team Italy in the U18 European Baseball Championship:
Cognome
Nome
Ruolo
Squadra d'appartenenza
1
Adorni
Tommaso
OF
Crocetta B. C.
2
Bertoldi
Nicholas
IF
New Black Panthers
3
Bruno
Samuele
C
Academy of Nettuno/Montefiascone B. S. 67
4
Bruno
Vincenzo
P
Staranzano Ducks B. S. C
5
Buin
Enrico
IF/P
Crazy Sambonifacese/BSC Rovigo
6
Cappuccini
Francesco
OF/P
B.S.C. Grosseto 1952
7
Ercolani
Alessandro
P
San Marino B. C./Pittsburgh Pirates
8
Gamberini
Samuele
C
Fortitudo B.C. 1953
9
Giacomini
Tommaso
C/IF/OF
Baseball Club Pesaro/Macerata Angels
10
Giulianelli
Ettore
P
Torre Pedrera Falcons B. C./St. Louis Cardinals
11
Lollo
Alessio
OF/IF
New Black Panthers
12
Luciani
Diego
P/IF
B. S. C. Grosseto 1952
13
Moronta Rodriguez
Francisco Julian
IF
Fortutido BC 1953
14
Nani
Tommaso
2B
Codogno Baseball '67/Baseball Old Rags Lodi
15
Nepoti
Riccardo
P
Bologna Athletics
16
Ricci
Federico
IF/OF
Academy of Nettuno B. C
17
Segreto
Francesco
C/IF
B. C. Sala Baganza/Carega Park Rangers Sala Baganza
18
Taschin
Lorenzo
P
Baseball Softball Club Rovigo
19
Wong
Williams
IF
BC Settimo
20
Zingarelli
Edoardo
P
Redclay B. S. Castellamonte/Porta Mortara B. S. Novara
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of pitcher Diego Luciani in Colorno on June 1, 2021 by El Pato73)
