Approaching the 32nd edition of the U18 European Baseball Championship, the Team Italy U18 squad has won 28 medals, including 13 gold and silver medals and two bronze medals. The 2022 U18 European Baseball Championship kicks off on Saturday, August 13, 2022 on the diamonds of Ostrava, Brno, Hluboka and Blansko in the Czech Republic.
Team Italy makes its 2022 debut against Ireland on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11 am (local time) in the first of five Group B games. Host Czech Republic (2018 bronze medal winners), Israel, Germany (2021 bronze medal winners) and Belgium are also in Group B.
Team Italy will get a boost from Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Alessandro Ercolani, who has been lights out in Rookie League action so far (1-0, 1.19 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched). Italian U18 manager Francesco Aluffi said, “The team is better than last year, and we have had more time to prepare for this European Championship. We begin with the hope of winning as much as possible considering the level competition that awaits us will be intense. The biggest unknowns are Ireland and Israel since they will be recruiting a majority of their players from America. Kingdom of the Netherlands, Spain and Great Britain in Group A will also be tough.”
The U18 European Baseball Championship round-robin play continues through August 18, 2022. The semifinals take place on August 19, 2022. The Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Games are on August 20, 2022. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING DAY CALENDAR
TEAM ITALY SCHEDULE IN GROUP B
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP LIVESTREAM
TEAM ITALY U18 BASEBALL NEWS
(Photo of Team Italy U18 catcher Andres Annunziata batting against Kingdom of the Nettherlands in the Gateway Tournament in Regenburg, Germany)
