Although the age category has since changed from U19 to U18, the Team Italy Juniors softball squad won the European Championship title three years ago on Italian soil in Ronchi dei Legionari. Defending the Euro softball throne this week in Prague, Czech Republic, Team Italy plans on winning the title #PerEnrico in honor of the man who led the Azzurrine squad to the championship--late and great manager Enrico Obletter.
Team Italy is now under the leadership of manager Andrea Longagnani along with coaches Paola Marfoglia, Simona Nava, Marco Villani and athletic trainer Riccardo Leonesio. The Azzurrine Juniors softball squad begins Euro Group A round-robin action on Monday, July 19, 2021 with two games. The first contest against Poland takes place at Svoboda Park in Prague at 12 noon (local time) followed by another game on the same field at 5 pm against Croatia. The Italians travel the next day to nearly to Spectrum Praha in Prague to host Sweden at 10 am before returning to Svoboda Park for a nightcap at 7:30 pm against Germany. Team Italy concludes Group A play on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 5:30 pm with a battle against France at Spectrum Praha.
Group B features Czech Republic, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine, and Austria. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round robin in order to determine which four squads will qualify to play for the Euro final medal games on Saturday, July 24, 2021. The remaining teams will participate in the relegation round robin.
Up to 5,000 spectators will be allowed to attend the U18 Women's European Softball Championship in Prague so long fans are fully vaccinated (with proof of vaccination and having had the second dose at least 14 days ago) or are in possession of a negative PCR test certificate (within a week before entry) or a negative rapid antigen test certificate (within 72 hours before entry). Forza #Italia! #PerEnrico
by Roberto Angotti
Read also: Team Italy roster announced for U18 European Softball Championship in Prague
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