Team Italy manager Alberto D'Auria has the Azzurri baseball squad firing on all cylinders in the U23 European Baseball Championship in Verona and San Martino Buon Albergo. Undefeated Team Italy (2-0) went right to work in the bottom of the first inning and scored two runs against France (0-2). Riccardo Bertossi led off with a walk, advanced to second base on a single by Riccardo Paolini, moved on to third base on a sacrifice fly from Daniel Monti and scored on a balk by opposing pitcher Clement Esteban. Then Riccardo Paolini scored on an RBI single by Davide Meliori.
France made it 2-1 in the top of the second inning when Mael Zan homered off starter Mattia Aldegheri. Team Italy answered with four runs in the bottom of the second inning after slugger Riccardo Bertossi hit a grand slam. The Italians added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a comfortable 8-1 lead. France battled back with three runs in the top of the sixth to make it a 8-4 game.
BOX SCORE
The Azzurri return to Campo Gavagnin in Verona on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 2:30 pm (ET) to play undefeated Great Britain (2-0). Both Group A teams are assured to advance to the semifinals regardless of the outcome. Group B leader Kingdom of the Netherlands (2-0) automatically qualifies for the semifinals. The winner of the Belgium (1-1) and Germany (1-1) game on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 9 am (ET) will also participate in the U23 Euro semifinals. All contests are streaming live at www.BaseballSoftball.tv Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
STANDINGS
STATS LEADER BOARD
