Team Italy repeats as Women's European Softball Champion after defeating Kingdom of the Netherlands 9-5 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Team Italy repeats as Women's European Softball Champion after defeating Kingdom of the Netherlands 9-5 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia
03/07/2021
The last time Team Italy beat the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Euro championship final game on Italian soil was in 1995 when the international competition was held in Settimo Torinese.

Team Italy leveled the playing field after matching the number of times (8) Kingdom of the Netherlands had beaten the Azzurre softball squad in the Women's European Softball Championship final game by defeating the Dutch 9-5 in Castions di Strada on Saturday, July 3, 2021. It was the 12th time in history that Team Italy had claimed the Women's European Softball Championship title.

Winning pitcher Greta Cecchetti had difficulty getting through the top of the first inning unscathed as she surrendered three runs. Despite her excellent performance two nights prior against the Dutch when the Italians prevailed in the 2-1 Euro Round Robin 2 phase victory, Greta Cecchetti was the target for Kingdom of the Netherlands in seeking revenge during the Women's European Softball Championship game.

Team Italy leadoff hitter and Euro co-home run leader Andrea Howard slugged her fifth home run of the international competition in the bottom of the first inning. Giulia Longhi tripled and scored on an RBI single by Elisa Cecchetti in the bottom of the second inning for the first of three runs for Team Italy. Elisa Cecchetti advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Aberacherli. Then Giulia Koutsoyanopulos was hit by a pitch and Amanda Fama walked to load the bases for Emily Carosone. Her RBI single would lead to another two runs crossing the plate.

With a slim 4-3 advantage, "Iron" Greta Cecchetti had renewed confidence and a second wind. She then pitched four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk before leaving the game in the top of the seventh inning with a runner on first base. Reliever Ilaria Cacciamani gave up a two-run homer and left two runners in scoring position with one out for closer Alexia Lacatena. The young and talented pitcher struck out the first batter she faced and induced a game-ending flyout to secure the 9-5 win for the Italians in memory of the late and great Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter.

Team Italy broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a four-run rally. After Giulia Koutsoyanopulos was hit by a pitch for the second time in the contest, Andrea Howard made Kingdom of the Netherlands pay with a two-run bomb which gave her the Euro home run lead for about five minutes. After Emily Carosone singled. Erika Piancastelli followed with a two-run home run of her own to tie Andrea Howard with six homers.

Team Italy added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. After back-to-back singles by Giulia Longhi and Elisa Cecchetti, Brittany Abacherli put down a perfectly-executed bunt to move the baserunners into scoring position. Pinch-hitter Beatrice Ricchi came through with an RBI single on an 0-2 count to give Team Italy the 9-3 lead.

It was a total team effort for the Italian softball squad. However, the offensive fury was lead by Erika Piancastelli and Andrea Howard. Team Italy captain Erika Piancastelli led the Euros in home runs (6), on-base percentage (.688), and slugging percentage (1.409). She was second in runs scored (15), third in RBI (13) and fourth in batting average (.545). Andrea Howard led the Euros in hits (18)), home runs (6), and RBI (23). She was third in runs scored (14), fourth in batting average (.545) and fifth in slugging percentage (1.212)..

Pitcher Greta Cecchetti was instrumental in Team Italy's success in the European Women's Softball Championship. She picked up four wins with 36 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA in 24 innings pitched. Perhaps the unsung hero behind the scenes was Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball President Andrea Marcon, who grew up nearby in the Castions di Strada region. To win the European Women's Softball Championship in his backyard was a major accomplishment in light of the pandemic.

It appeared that the addition of special advisor Mike Candrea had a profound effect on the winning ways of Team Italy. The synergy between the National Softball Hall of Famer and the coaching staff of Federico Pizzolini, Julio La Rosa Zequeira and Giovanna Palermi can only lead to great things. The next stop for Team Italy is the Tokyo Olympics. Let's hope the Azzurre squad can build on the momentum created in Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

By winning the 2021 Women's European Softball Championship, undefeated Team Italy (11-0) not only earned the gold medal but also qualified to compete in the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Kingdom of the Netherlands took home the Euro silver medal. Czech Republic won the battle for the bronze with a 2-0 shutout over Israel in Castions di Strada. Spain placed fourth, while France settled for fifth in the Euro Final Round Robin.

In the Women's European Softball Championship placement games, Germany defeated Russia 3-2 to take seventh place in Porpetto. Poland placed ninth with a 1-0 extra-inning win over Croatia in Castions di Strada. Austria earned 11th place honors with a 10-0 shutout over Ukraine in Castions di Strada. Slovakia took 13th place after a 6-1 victory over Denmark in Porpetto, while Bulgaria placed 15th by blanking Hungary 7-0 earlier in Porpetto. Forza #Italia! #PerEnrico

by Roberto Angotti

EURO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BOX SCORE

(Photo of Team Italy celebrating after winning the European Women's Softball Championship by EzR-NADOC)