With just days before the start of the European Baseball Championship, the Euro championship trophy and the baseballs with the tournament logo imprinted on them were on display during the official press conference in Torino on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Team Italy manager Mike Piazza said, “I am honored to be the coach of the Italian national team. We have worked hard to be here to compete for the European title against the Netherlands. Our opponents are solid, but I'm convinced we'll do well. I'm very happy with the team. "The Azzurri squad hosts Greece in its Euro tourney opener on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 3 pm (local time) in Settimo Torinese. In addition to live streaming on www.BaseballSoftball.tv, live coverage will also be available on Sky Sport in Italy.
Team Italy pitcher Maurizio Andretta, who will be making his senior national team debut after an impressive performance in the U23 European Baseball Championship in Verona and San Martino Buon Albergo, was asked for his opinion on his team’s chances for success in the European Baseball Championship in Piemonte. He replied, “We have been prepared well by our manager and coaches. We have formed into a big family, and we hope to go all the way. Our goal is to show Europe that we are the best in baseball, and I think we can do it. The goal can be achieved if we play together as team as we know how to do.”
Piemonte Region Councilor for Sport Fabrizio Ricca said, "This championship trophy has been in the Netherlands for too many years so let's do our best to keep it in Piemonte. Congratulations to Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) for the work done in recent months and a special thank you to Federal Councilor Marco Mannucci. For us, it is a great opportunity to make baseball known in Italy and to make Torino and Piemonte known internationally as the best possible host for such world-class events as the European Baseball Championship.”
FIBS Federal Councilor Marco Mannucci added, “For Piemonte it is an opportunity to get closer to baseball by involving Torino, Settimo Torinese and Avigliana. We have planted seeds that will bear fruit for the next twenty years. We have worked closely with all the municipalities in the Piemonte Region as to not waste any resources but instead trying to leave a legacy for the future."
FIBS Vice President Vincenzo Mignola said, “We are happy to be here hosting again the most important continental event in Italy. The hospitality of Piemonte has already made itself felt in Fossano, where the presentation the jerseys to the players took place. We are here to give the best of ourselves. We are grateful to everyone in Piemonte, a region that has given us its full support .”
FIBS Secretary Giampiero Curti concluded with some words of thanks and encouragement. “First of all, I would like to thank the institutions that have supported us. The investments made will allow our movement to grow. We are small, but we are doing everything we can to become a little bigger.” Forza #Italia! #PerBill
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Mike Piazza, Maurizio Andretta, Vincenzo Mignola, Fabrizio Ricca and Marco Mannucci by ML /Oldmanagency)
