05/07/2022 4 Minute Read

Team Italy Elite shuts out Grizzlies Torino 9-0 in exhibition baseball game

In preparation for Haarlem Baseball Week, the Team Italy Elite squad played an exhibition game against Serie A's Grizzlies Torino on Tuesday night, July 5, 2022 and won easily by a score of 9-0

Prior to departing for Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands, Team Italy played an exhibition game against host Grizzlies Torino on Tuesday night, July 5, 2022 and shut out the home team 9-0. National Baseball Hall of Famer and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza gave the enthusiastic Torino crowd a sneak preview of what to expect in the upcoming international tournament beginning July 8, 2022.

The Azzurri starting lineup looked like this: 2B Ricardo Paolini, 3B Leo Ferrini, RF Noel Gonzalez, 1B Renzo Martini, C Alberto Mineo, CF Federico Celli, SS Erick Epifano, DH Mattia Mercuri, LF Andrea Sellaroli and P Claudio Scotti.

It appeared Team Italy was going to get the party started in the top of the first inning when leadoff hitter Ricardo Paolini singled up the middle. But Grizzlies Torino starting pitcher Jose Rodriguez induced Leo Ferrini into a textbook 5-4-3 double play. Then Noel Gonzalez grounded to first base for the third out.

Team Italy starting pitcher Claudio Scotti came out strong with three strikeouts despite one walk in the bottom of the first inning.

The Italians threatened to score in the top of the second inning, but the dreaded double-play ball once again doused any chances. Back-to-back singles by Renzo Martini and Alberto Mineo was followed by a strikeout of Federico Celli. With runners on first and second base, Erick Epifano grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Grizzzlies Torino had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning but could not cash in. Claudio Scotti struck out the first two batters he faced before third baseman Leo Ferrini committed a throwing error to first base. The runner advanced to second base on an ill-fated pickoff attempt by pitcher Claudio Scotti. The ball missed its target of first baseman Renzo Martini and ended up in right field. The resilient Italian starter dug down deep and got another strikeout to end the scoring threat.

Team Italy fell victim to excellent defense by Grizzlies Torino in the top of the third inning as Mattia Mercuri grounded out to short and Andrea Sellaroli lined out to second base. Despite a single by Ricardo Paolini, Leo Ferrini grounded out to second to keep the game scoreless.

Pitcher Claudio Scotti struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the third inning before center fielder Federico Celli robbed Grizzlies Torino of their first hit of the game with a running shoestring catch.

Team Italy finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Noel Gonzalez was issued a walk. Then Renzo Martini popped up to second. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Azzurri captain Alberto Mineo and Federico Celli put the Italians on top 2-0. That is all Team Italy would get as Erick Epifano grounded to short and Mattia Mercuri struck out.

Azzurri starter Claudio Scotti returned in the bottom of the fourth inning and fielded a soft grounder for the first out. Groundouts to third and shortstop followed to end the inning.

Team Italy added one run in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Andrea Sellaroli reached first base on an error by the Grizzlies Torino right fielder and was thrown out at second base on a fielder's choice which allowed Ricardo Paolini to get on first base. He immediately stole second base, reached third base on the throwing error by the catcher and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Leo Ferrini.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, reliever Angelo Palumbo got a quick lineout to short before giving up a double and single to put runners on the corners for Grizzlies Torino. An inning-ending double play occurred when first baseman Renzo Martini fielded a line-drive out and then applied the tag on the runner leaning off first base.

In the top of the sixth inning, Team Italy came up empty as Renzo Martini flew out to deep center field, Ernesto Liberatore grounded to first and Federico Celli struck out.

Angelo Palumbo struck out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the sixth inning. A bang-bang throw from right fielder Noel Gonzalez to third baseman Leo Ferrini caught a Grizzlies Torino baserunner trying to extend a double into a triple for out number two. Another strikeout ended the sixth inning.

Team Italy added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Lorenzo Morresi struck out to start the top of the seventh inning. After Tanner Donnels and Andrea Sellaroli were issued walks. Ricardo Paolini flew out to center. Then Leo Ferrini and Noel Gonzalez walked to give Team Italy the first of three runs in the inning. Renzo Martini followed with a two-run single to give the Italians a 6-0 advantage. Ernesto Liberatore struck out to end the rally.

16-year-old reliever Diego Gergolet from New Black Panthers di Ronchi dei Legionari entered the contest in the bottom of the seventh inning and made a perfect 1-2-3 out Azzurri Elite team pitching debut. He got a flyout to left field, a groundout to short and a strikeout to end the seventh inning.

In the top of the eighth inning, Team Italy pushed three more runs across the plate to make it a 9-0 game. Federico Celli grounded out to short. Then Lorenzo Morresi hit an infield single, and Tanner Donnels doubled. Andrea Sellaroli fouled out to first. With two runners in scoring position, Mattia Mercuri hit a two-run single. Ricardo Paolini followed with an RBI single. Leo Ferrini singled before a strikeout of Noel Gonzalez ended the inning.

Reliever Mattia Aldegheri was summoned from the bullpen in the bottom of the eight inning. The Italian right-handed pitcher did not disappoint as he struck out the side.

In the top of the ninth inning, Team Italy was retired easily. Renzo Martini and Federico Celli grounded out before Lorenzo Morresi lined out to second.

Maurizio Andretta pitched the bottom of the ninth inning for Team Italy. He registered a strikeout and then gave up a single down the third base line. However, a 5-4-3 double play secured the 9-0 shutout.

Team Italy will play an intrasquad game at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Milan on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 before flying to Amsterdam the following day en route to Haarlem Baseball Week. Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

ITALY-GRIZZLIES TORINO LIVE STREAM REPLAY

(Photo of Team Italy celebrating after shutting out Grizzlies Torino in exhibition baseball game on July 5, 2022 by Lynx_Prod.)