FIBSTV.com presents Team Italy in U23 European Baseball Championship semifinal against Germany on August 27, 2021 at 2:30 PM (ET)

FIBSTV.com presents Team Italy in U23 European Baseball Championship semifinal against Germany on August 27, 2021 at 2:30 PM (ET)
26/08/2021
After beating Great Britain 11-1 in five innings via mercy rule on day three of the U23 European Baseball Championship in Verona, undefeated Team Italy (3-0) faces semifinalist Germany (2-1) on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 2:30 PM (ET) on FIBSTV.com

Team Italy winning pitcher Mattia Sireus gave up just two hits with six strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work to silence Great Britain in the final U23 European Baseball Championship Group A round-robin game on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Azzurri relievers Francesco Bonvini and Federico Virgadaula combined to throw two innings of hitless baseball to secure the five-inning mercy-rule induced 11-1 victory over the Brits.

Team Italy took advantage of five walks offered by Great Britain starter Christopher Messer in the top of the first inning to take command of the contest. With bases loaded, a sacrifice fly by cleanup hitter Samuele Gamberini yielded the Italians their first run. Two more walks to Marco Servidei and Giulio Monello gave Team Italy an early 3-0 lead. After a pitching change, Tommaso Battioni delivered a three-RBI double to put the Azzurri on top 6-0.

Great Britain scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Team Italy came back in the top of the third inning to put two runs on the board. After Marco Servidei was issued his second walk of the game, Giulio Monello singled. An RBI single by Riccardo Flisi followed by a wild pitch allowed Giulio Monello to cross the plate from third base and give Team Italy a comfortable 8-1 cushion.

The Azzurri offense registered three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Daniel Monti led off with a double. Samuele Gamberini connected with an RBI single up the middle. A single from Tommaso Giarola and an infield throwing error proved to costly for Great Britain as Samuele Gamberini scored and Tommaso Giarola reached second base. An ensuing RBI single by Tommaso Battioni made it an 11-1 game.

BOX SCORE

Team Italy returns to Campo Gavagnin in Verona on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 2:30 pm (ET) to play Group B runner-up Germany in the U23 European Baseball Championship semifinals. Undefeated Group B leader Kingdom of the Netherlands (3-0) battles Great Britain in San Martino Buon Albergo in the other semifinal. The winners of both semifinal games will advance to the U23 European Baseball Championship final in Verona on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 2:30 pm (ET) on FIBSTV.com Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

STANDINGS

STATS LEADER BOARD

(Photo of Team Italy celebrating the win over Great Britain in the U23 European Baseball Championship by Lynx Prod.)