Team Italy edged
South Africa by a slim 2-1 margin on
day seven of the international competition at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota,
Florida on Thursday, September 15,
2022. Azzurri U18 manager Francesco Aluffi called
on starting pitcher Pietro Verzin, who threw six innings and allowed
one run on six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks during his 86-pitch
appearance. Lefty reliever Sebastiano
Catellani picked up the save pitching a scoreless seventh inning with one
strikeout.
Team Italy threatened to score in the bottom of the first inning after back-to-back singles by Alessandro Laise and Edoardo Cornelli but came up empty. The Azzurri offense broke through in the bottom of the third inning when Alessandro Laise tripled to right field and scored on South Africa second baseman Aiden Carelse’s relay throwing error to third base.
South Africa got on the board in the top of the fourth inning and tied the contest 1-1. The Italians answered in the bottom of the fourth inning with one run of their own to take the 2-1 lead. Aggressive running on the bases by Filippo Venditti paid off for Team Italy after he singled and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Diego Luciani. South Africa first baseman Ethan Grobler tried for the double play at third base but instead committed a throwing error which allowed Filippo Venditti to cross the plate from third.
In the 2-1 victory over South Africa, the Team Italy offense was fueled by Alessandro Laise (3-for-3, 2B, 3B, R), Edoardo Cornelli (2-for-3, SB), Filippo Venditti (1-for-3, R), Alessandro Volpe (1-for-3, SB) and Williams Wong (1-for-3).
SOUTH AFRICA-ITALY BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on Friday, September 16, 2022 at 9 am (ET) for a battle against Canada. Then the Azzurri play their final game of the U18 Baseball World Cup Placement Round against Brazil on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 9 am (ET).
TEAM ITALY SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
TEAM ITALY U18 BASEBALL NEWS
U18 BASEBALL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U18 BASEBALL WORLD CUP LIVESTREAM
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy starting pitcher Pietro Verzin against South Africa courtesy of WBSC)
