Team Italy elite baseball squad and UnipolSai Bologna clash in exhibition game on June 14, 2022
A free. family-friendly event is planned Bologna's Gianni Falchi stadium on Tuesday, June 14, 2022
In preparation for HaarlemWeek 2022, Team Italy manager and National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and his Azzurri squad return to Bologna's Gianni Falchi stadium for an exhibition game against the UnipolSai Fortitudo baseball powerhouse. Gates will open long before the seven-inning 7 pm contest to welcome families bringing invited youth teams to shag balls in the outfield during batting batting practice. The Team Italy elite national squad will later assemble in the reception area of the stadium to meet the young players and sign autographs.
Baseball fans will have the opportunity to explore the Fortitudo Fan Shop as well as the products marketed by the many partners of the Effe group. Those include Wepere electrostimulators, Barenbrug turf carpets, X-Gift promotional items, Red Bull, Tenute d'Italia wines, De Juliis Timando oil mill, Rossi di Pianella pasta, Scorrano agritourism company and Fuori le Zampe associations, Calderara di Reno (BO) kennel, Abarth Club Bologna and ANT Bologna.
Fans will also enjoy the Jade Dragon Cheerleaders Bologna during the game and a musical extravaganza after the last pitch when the Pompatour Vasco Rossi Tribute Band performs. In addition, Daniele Mattioli will host in the hospitality area a series of interviews with Davide Meneghini, Bolognese councilor Roberta Li Calzi and baseball book author Mario Salvini.
Italian baseball skipper Mike Piazza will be assisted by coaches Doriano Bindi, Gianmario Costa, Alberto D'Auria, Michele Gerali, Gianmarco Faraone and pitching coach Bobby Cramer. Athletic trainer Simone Bonaccorso, team physician Dr. Gianluca Camillieri, physiotherapist Massimo Baldi and delegation manager Vincenzo Mignola will also be on hand in Bologna.
After their winning efforts in defending the European Champions Cup in Bonn, Germany Parma Clima catcher Alberto Mineo and outfielder Aldo Koutsoyanopulos will miss the Team Italy exhibition game in Bologna. Catcher Ernesto Liberatore will replace the Azzurri captain behind the plate. while utility player Noel Gonzalez and pitchers Yomel Rivera and Matteo Bocchi add depth to the roster in Bologna.
The following players are expected to participate in Bologna:
Last Name
First Name
#
POS
Year of Birth
Club Affiliation
1
Aldegheri
Mattia
16
P
1998
1949 Parma BC
2
Astorri
Cesare
18
IF
1998
1949 Parma BC
3
Bocchi
Matteo
46
P
1996
Fortitudo BC 1953
Bologna
4
Celli
Federico
28
OF
1995
San Marino BC
5
Di Raffaele
Luca
14
P
1994
San Marino BC
6
Epifano
Erick
13
IF
1990
San Marino BC
7
Ferrini
Leonardo
1
IF
1989
San Marino BC/Reggio
Rays
8
Gamberini
Samuele
50
C
2003
Fortitudo BC 1953
Bologna/Collecchio BC
9
Garbella
Nicola
5
OF/P
1992
Aosta Bugs/Nettuno BC
1945
10
Gonzalez
Noel
10
UTL
1996
1949 Parma BC
11
Liberatore
Ernesto
25
C
1996
Fortitudo BC 1953
Bologna
12
Lugo
Luis
48
P
1994
1949 Parma BC
13
Martini
Renzo
41
IF
1992
Fortitudo BC 1953
Bologna
14
Mazzocchi
Rene
15
P
1988
Pianoro BC/San Marino
BC
15
Mercuri
Mattia
20
IF
1994
Nettuno BC 1945
16
Quattrini
Gabriele
49
P
1996
BC Le Pantere Potenza
Picena/San Marino BC
17
Rivera
Yomel
6
P
1992
1949 Parma BC
Don't miss this great event! Forza #Italia!
(Image of the poster promoting the exhibition game courtesy of UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna)
