Team Italy Seniors baseball season gets underway when pitchers and catchers report to Collecchio on June 15, 2021
Team Italy manager Mike Piazza summons Azzurri pitchers and catchers for the first official Seniors baseball practice in Collecchio on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
With the tragic loss of Italian national baseball coordinator Bill Holmberg, Team Italy manager Mike Piazza has had to think outside the box to assemble his all-star coaching staff in preparation for September’s European Championship in Piemonte. National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza has come through with some world-class names to help develop and grow the game in Italy. Pitching coach Vince Horsman, a former MLB player and 14-year veteran instructor in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, will take on significant importance to the success of Team Italy when pitchers and catchers report to Collecchio on June 15, 2021.
Another key component to the Azzurri coaching staff is the addition of Italian baseball icon David Sheldon. After a stellar collegiate career at the University of San Francisco, David Sheldon was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1985 and spent two years in the minor leagues before embarking to Italy to play for over two decades and compete in over 1000 games. In addition, he represented Team Italy on 28 occasions (including the 2000 Olympic Games). After his prized playing career, David Sheldon began coaching and built a fine reputation managing Senago Baseball.Complimenting the elite coaching staff is Gianmarco Faraone, who recently completed a two-year stint as a coach and mental skills specialist for MLB China and has an active roster of MLB prospects depending on his daily expertise. Gianmarco Faraone will work alongside Mike Piazza and his staff to help in the growth and development of players in Italy.
When pitchers and catchers report to Collecchio on June 15, 2021, athletic trainer Andrea Cardone and physiotherapist Massimo Baldi will also on hand to assist. Team Italy manager Mike Piazza intends to work closely with the U23 baseball squad to not only reach a larger group of players but also to help build a better future for the Seniors program.
The following players are expected to participate in the Collecchio workout:
Last Name
Given Name
POS
Date of birth
Club
(parent/loan)
1
Aldegheri
Mattia
P
19/02/1998
Parma Baseball Club 1949
2
Astorri
Cesare
C
26/06/1998
Parma Baseball Club
1949
3
Bassani
Alex
P
25/11/1990
Fortitudo B.C. 1953
4
Brolo Gouvea
Murilo
P
15/09/1988
Fortitudo B.C. 1953
5
Crepaldi
Filippo
P
19/02/1992
Fortitudo B.C. 1953
6
Deotto
Alessandro
C
07/12/1995
Collecchio B.C./Parma
Baseball Club 1949
7
Fabiani
Diego
P
28/02/1997
Collecchio
B.C./Cervignano Baseball
8
Liberatore
Ernesto
C
26/03/1996
Fortitudo B.C.
1953/Reggio Rays Baseball
9
Mineo
Alberto
C
23/07/1994
Parma Baseball Club 1949/New Black
Panthers
10
Monello
Giulio
C
10/10/1998
Parma Baseball Club
1949/Rangers Baseball Club/Odessa College
11
Palumbo Cardozo
Angelo
P
10/11/1995
Fortitudo B.C.
1953/Reggio Rays Baseball
12
Paolini
Ricardo
IF
11/08/1999
Parma Baseball Club 1949/Reggio Rays
Baseball
13
Pomponi
Michele
P
25/06/1998
Parma Baseball Club
1949/Oltretorrente BC
14
Rivera
Yomel
P
02/04/1992
Parma Baseball Club
1949/Collecchio BC
15
Scotti
Claudio
P
08/07/1998
Fortitudo B.C. 1953
16
Viloria Serda
Nolberto Alexander
IF
09/12/2000
Parma Baseball Club
1949/Oltretorrente BC
17
Zotti
Matthias
P
23/07/1997
Fortitudo B.C.
1953/New Black Panthers
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
Matthias Zotti pitching against Nettuno BC 1945 in 2020 (Photo by Roberto Capoccitti)
