29/07/2022 1 Minute Read

Team Italy forfeits U12 Baseball World Cup debut due to positive Covid-19 cases

Team Italy was unable to comply with Health & Safety Protocol Rules requiring 15 Covid-free players to compete in its first game of the U12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan. As a result, Venezuela was declared the winner by forfeit with the score of 6-0.

Team Italy manager Stefano Burato and his Azzurrini squad were unable to field the required amount of players testing negative of Covid-19 in order to compete on U12 Baseball World Cup Opening Day in Tainan, Taiwan. Since the Italians did not comply with the Health & Safety Protocol Rules that require at least 15 Covid-free players, Venezuela won by forfeit of 6-0 over Team Italy on Friday, July 29, 2022. In other games, USA shut out Czech Republic 24-0, Mexico blanked South Africa 15-0, and host Chinese Taipei defeated Panama 4-3.

The situation and condition of the Team Italy players continue to be monitored day-by-day. If all goes well, those testing positive will hopefully turn negative so that they can be allowed on the roster and the 15 players can take the field in the next scheduled game against South Africa on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 6:30 pm (local time) or 6:30 am (ET).

Team Italy is Group A with Chinese Taipei, Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa and Panama. Group B features Japan, Korea, USA, Czech Republic and Dominican Republic. The top three finishers from each group will advance to the Super Round, which will run from August 4-6, 2022.