The road to the U23 European Baseball Championship for Team Italy begins on the diamond of Roberto Ajannella Stadium in Grosseto from March 20-24, 2023. Azzurri U23 manager Alberto D'Auria has selected players with various ages between 18 (Andres Annunziata) and 23 (Tommaso Battioni, Marco Servidei, Federico Virgadaula, Davide Marchi and Matteo Oldano). Team Italy hopes to improve from its bronze medal finish behind the Netherlands and Germany during the 2021 European Baseball Championship in Verona.
Team Italy U23 manager Alberto D'Auria said, “Our goal will be to improve on our third place finish in Verona after losing 1-0 to Germany in the semifinals. Considering that many of our players compete in Serie A, Grosseto will be the first of the many extended workouts scheduled. During the season, we will see if we can also have mini-camps. We will evaluate the players we have in Grosseto, but we will also keep an eye on those playing abroad in college.”
The following players are expected to report in Grosseto: Gabriele Angioi (Cagliari BC), Andres Antonio Annunziata (Academy of Nettuno/Nettuno 1945), Nicola Anzanel (Staranzano Ducks), Marco Artitzu (Porta Mortara), Tommaso Battioni (Parma Baseball), Samuele Bruno (Academy of Nettuno/Godo), Simone Carnevale (Bergamo/Fossano), Ludovico Gismondi (Unione Picena/Grizzlies Torino 48), Juan Carlos Infante Carreno Jr. (Pianoro/Modena), Davide Marchi (Fortitudo 1953), Jacopo Marziale ( Grizzlies Torino 48), Tommaso Nani (Codogno), Matteo Oldano (Grizzlies Torino 48), Andrea Pasotto (Milan 1946/Parma Baseball), Maor Luca Pasquini Sweed (Parma Baseball/Bsc Grosseto), Francesco Pomponi (Oltretorrente Baseball/Parma Baseball), Federico Ricci (Academy of Nettuno/Nettuno 1945), Francesco Ridolfi (New Rimini), Marco Servidei (Godo), Mattia Sireus (Bsc Grosseto), Gianluca Tognacci (New Rimini), Giovanni Turi (Macerata Angels) and Federico Virgadaula (Brescia Baseball).
Team Italy U23 manager Alberto D'Auria will be assisted by pitching coach Rolando Cretis, bench coach Gianmario Costa, coaches Federico Bassi, Alessandro Bortolomai and Cristian Gnudi as well as athletic trainer Michele Corbo. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy catcher Andres Annunziata during the 2022 U18 European Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic by Petra Voet)
