The first gathering for young and promising baseball prospects aiming for the qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will take place at Roberto Iannella Stadium in Grosseto from April 2-7, 2024
With the coaching and logistical support of the two Grosseto clubs, BBC and BSC, the Club Italia LA28 baseball prospects will undergo a series of medical tests on Tuesday afternoon, April 2nd before two daily workouts and three games against the local Serie A teams through Sunday, April 7th.
Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball President Andrea Marcon said, “I think it is a truly important occasion after the exclusion of the national baseball team from the Super Round of the last European Championship. We immediately sat down with Mike (Piazza) and Guido (Poma) to identify the problems and actions necessary for the restart of the program and the objectives of the new cycle, which were then immediately further addressed, given the IOC's decision to reinsert baseball and softball into the Los Angeles program.”
Club Italia LA28 is the brand that identifies the athlete development program which aims to qualify our national teams for the 2028 Games, essentially through the creation of high-level preparation and playing opportunities before, after and, when possible, during the season, extending the number of months, at-bats and innings played for the men and women who will be called upon to achieve this qualification on the field. It is a very important year as the senior elite team will be tested at the 2024 Haarlem Baseball Week, while the U18 squad will compete for a medal in the European Baseball Championship. The situation is a little different for softball, given the World Cup commitment at home and the European Championship in September, but the same type of planning is already in place for the women too.
FIBS President Marcon continued, “Obviously, in both cases, the working groups are absolutely open and far from being defined. Along the way there will be opportunities for everyone to shine and join the team.”
The group of coaches will be led by Development Manager Gianguido Poma, who will be assisted by coaches Michele Gerali, Christian Gnudi, Stefano Cappuccini, Alberto D'Auria, Carlo Del Santo, pitching coaches Rolando Cretis and Roberto Corradini, athletic trainer Michele Corbo, team physician Dr. Davide Ortolina and physiotherapists Marco Mennella and Massimo Baldi, who will also serve as delegation manager. There are currently 21 prospects called up with the possibility that additional players will be added in the next few days.
Last Name
First Name
POS
Date of Birth
Club Affiliation
1
Adorni
Tommaso
OF
11/03/2004
CROCETTA BASEBALL CLUB
2
Angioi
Gabriele
IF
07/03/2001
1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
3
Annunziata Nino
Andres Antonio
C
05/12/2005
ACADEMY OF NETTUNO B.C.
4
Battioni
Tommaso
UT
04/05/2000
1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
5
Bellucci
Attilio
P
08/08/2005
ACADEMY OF NETTUNO B.C.
6
Cherubin
Federico Francesco
P
11/07/2005
CRAZY SAMBONIFACESE BASEBALL SOFTBALL
7
Cinelli
Niccolò
OF/C
16/10/2002
BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952
8
Doba
Ion
P
09/04/2002
MACERATA ANGELS
9
Laise
Alessandro
IF
13/03/2005
CROCETTA BASEBALL CLUB
10
Marelli
Matteo
P
27/02/2006
BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB ROVIGO
11
Montanari
Davide
P
28/11/2004
JUNIOR PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
12
Nepoti
Riccardo
P
08/06/2004
BOLOGNA ATHLETICS
13
Piccini
Filippo
OF
14/10/2002
BASE BALL CLUB GROSSETO
14
Pomponi
Francesco
P
08/05/2002
SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB
15
Ragionieri
Marco
C
21/03/2004
OLTRETORRENTE BASEBALL CLUB
16
Sabatini
Filippo
P
02/03/2007
ACADEMY OF NETTUNO B.C.
17
Taschin
Giacomo
P
03/09/2006
BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB ROVIGO
18
Verzin
Pietro
P
19/11/2005
CRAZY SAMBONIFACESE BASEBALL SOFTBALL
19
Virgadaula
Federico
P
14/07/2000
CODOGNO BAS. '67
20
Zazza
Manuel
IF
20/07/2005
ACADEMY OF NETTUNO B.C.
21
Zingarelli
Edoardo
P
30/04/2004
CANAVESE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL /GRIZZLIES TORINO 48 B.S.C.
(Photo of Club Italia LA28 logo, which created by Andrea Villani for FIBS)
