Team Italy manager Francesco Aluffi called on starting pitcher Giacomo Taschin against Ireland in the U18 European Baseball Championship debut game in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Saturday, August 13, 2022. The Italian pitcher did not disappoint and nearly threw a no-hitter. A single with two outs in bottom of the fourth and final inning by Ireland left fielder Matthew Dutton was all the offense the Irish could drum up. Winning pitcher Giacomo Taschin struck out 11 and walked one in four innings of work.
Team Italy got on the board early in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Alessandro Laise walked, advanced to third base on an infield throwing error and scored on a wild pitch by Ireland losing pitcher David Casey.
Team Italy added four runs in the top of the second inning. After left fielder Alessandro Volpe was hit by a pitch, designated hitter Niccolò Funzione was walked, and shortstop Alessandro Laise reached first base on an outfield error, third baseman Manuel Zazza came through in the clutch with a three-run triple down the right field line. Second baseman Williams Wong followed with an RBI single to give Team Italy a comfortable 5-0 advantage.
The Italians put up three more runs in the top of the third inning. Catcher Andres Annunziata reached second base on an infield throwing error to first base. Center fielder Tommaso Adorni singled and advanced to second base on an outfield throwing error which allowed Andrea Annunziata to score. Alessandro Volpe walked and Niccolò Funzione connected with an RBI single for the second run of the inning. Then Alessandro Laise hit a sacrifice fly to center field to put the Azzurri in front 8-0.
Team Italy nailed the coffin shut via mercy rule when scoring seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. Williams Wong hit a ground rule double and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Sebastiano Catellani. Catcher Marco Ragionieri doubled, captain Tommaso Adorni singled and Alessandro Laise walked to load the bases for Niccolò Funzione . The DH took one for the team when being hit by a pitch to drive in another run. Then Alessandro Laise cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Manuel Zazza was hit by a pitch and Williams Wong walked before first baseman Filippo Venditti hit a two-RBI single to right field and make it a 15-0 game.
ITALY-IRELAND BOX SCORE
ITALY-IRELAND LIVE STREAM REPLAY
Team Italy returns to Arrows Park in Ostrava for a game against host Czech Republic on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 7 pm (local time) or 1 pm (ET). 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
TEAM ITALY SCHEDULE IN GROUP B
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U18 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP LIVESTREAM
TEAM ITALY U18 BASEBALL NEWS
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy pitcher Giacomo Taschin against Ireland in the 2022 European Baseball Championship by Pavel Chorobik)
