Team Italy U22 softball squad departs to Czech Republic to defend Euro Championship title
After extensive training in Buttrio, the Team Italy U22 softball squad leaves for Kunovice, Czech Republic to defend the European Championship title won four years ago.
It has been four long years since the last U22 European Softball Championship in Trnava, Slovakia. With Team Italy now departing to Kunovice, Czech Republic to defend the Euro throne, U22 manager Andrea Longagnani must make some last-minute decisions to finalize his roster. Having just completed training with 20 players alongside the Elite National team destined for the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and the European Softball Championship in Barcelona, Spain, Italian skipper Andrea Longagnani will need to narrow down his U22 team to just 17 players prior to the start of the Euros on Monday, June 27, 2022. Team Italy national softball coordinator Federico Pizzolini will accompany the U22 squad in the Czech Republic before leaving for the World Games.
The U22 European Softball Championship features 17 national teams divided into four groups. Team Italy is in Group A with Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia and Sweden. The Italians play two round-robin games on opening day on Monday, June 27, 2022 against Sweden at 1.30 pm (local time) and Ukraine at 6 pm (local time). The international competition continues through Saturday, July 2, 2022. See the complete schedule below.
Team Italy U22 manager Andrea Longagnani said, We go to Kunovice with the determination and the desire to win, despite the fact that there are very competitive teams: Czech Republic, host and winner of last year's European Under 18, Holland, Ireland, Great Britain and Israel are tough teams. But we are convinced that we have a team with a great future and the ability to win it all."
The following players are available to play in the U22 European Softball Championship:
Last Name
First Name
Date of Birth
POS
B
T
Club Affiliation
BARBARA
MCKENZIE
20/09/2001
C/1B
L
R
Friul'81 Softball Club
BARTOLI
ANITA
19/05/2004
SS/OF
R
R
Sestese Softball
CARLETTI
FLAVIA
23/07/2000
3B/OF
R
R
Sestese Softball
COLONNA
ALESSIA
12/04/2001
OF
L
R
US Giovanile Collecchio softball
GHERGOLET
MARTINA
12/08/2002
3B
R
R
Bussolengo 2.0
GIACOMETTI
NOEMI
15/04/2000
OF/C
R
R
Thunders & Dragons Castellana
LACATENA
ALEXIA
21/10/2002
P/OF
R
R
Forlì Softball
MAMBELLI
VIRGINIA
28/02/2004
1B/IF
L
R
Forlì Softball
MELASSI
TARA ATIENO
04/01/2001
IF/OF
R
R
Pianoro Softball
MELEGARI
ALESSIA
01/03/2000
P
R
R
US Giovanili Collecchio
NANNETTI
BEATRICE
26/03/2003
P
R
R
Pianoro Softball
PRINCIC
ELISA
05/06/2000
C/SS
R
R
Bollate Softball 1969
RAMPOLDI
LINDA
24/05/2004
OF/1B
L
L
Bollate Softball 1969
ROTONDO
ALESSANDRA
04/02/2000
2B
L
R
Saronno Softball Club
KOUTSOYANOPOLUS
GIULIA
04/01/2002
OF/1B
R
R
Bollate Softball 1969
SALIS
CARLOTTA
05/06/2000
P
L
Thunders and Dragon Castellana
SLAWITZ
ELENA
26/08/2001
2B
R
R
Old Parma softball club a.s.d
TORRE
SILVIA
01/11/2002
1B/C
R
R
Bollate Softball 1969
Staff
Last Name
First Name
Role
Villani
Marco
Coach
Pizzolini
Federico
Senior Advisor
Marfoglia
Paola
Coach
Nava
Simona
Coach
Longagnani
Andrea
Head Coach
Buttà
Alessandro Maria
Team Physician
Cioni
Marta
Physiotherapist
Ambruoso
Francesca
Athletic Trainer
Venturini
Claudia
Team Manager
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of the Team Italy U22 squad in action prior to departing for the European Softball Championship)