Team Italy softball pitching ace Greta Cecchetti threw a 2-0 shutout with 10 strikeouts over Honda Reverta to conclude a five-game exhibition series in Sendai, Japan. The Italians ended up winning four of the five games with one tie and outscored their opponents 11 to 5.
Prior to the start of the series finale, both teams paid tribute to the late and great Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter with a moment of silence. Feeling the spirit of the legendary Italian softball skipper early on, Greta Cecchetti responded with six consecutive strikeouts. Team Italy got on the board in the second inning when Andrea Howard crossed the plate after a pair of walks issued by Honda Reverta was followed by a costly defensive error. Team Italy captain Erika Piancastelli added an insurance run in the last inning to put her squad on top 2-0.
In a postgame celebration, Greta Cecchetti publicly thanked the city of Sendai for hosting Team Italy. Manager Federico Pizzolini will conduct one more extensive training session there before he and his Azzurre softball squad travel to Fukushima in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics opener against Team USA on July 20, 2021 at 11 pm (ET). Forza #Italia! #PerEnrico
by Roberto Angotti
OFFICIAL TOKYO OLYMPICS SOFTBALL WEBSITE
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