With the 5-1 victory over U18 Baseball World Cup defending champion Chinese Taipei at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida on Sunday, September 18, 2022, USA has completed a gold medal sweep of the respective U12, U15 and U18 2022 Baseball World Cup categories. After wins over Canada and South Africa, the Team Italy U18 baseball squad placed 10th in the international competition. Azzurri manager Francesco Aluffi was satisfied with the two U18 Baseball World Cup victories but had regrets for not having qualified for the next world championship when placing fourth in the U18 European Baseball Championship.
The Italian Juniors skipper reflected on his team's level of play against the game's elite at the conclusion of the 2022 U18 Baseball World Cup. Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi said, “I can say that I am half satisfied after the long journey that began in March since it gave us the opportunity to play many games during which we put together nearly 90 innings of quality at-bats. I am half satisfied because we managed to be competitive with almost everyone, even against silver medalist Chinese Taipei. Maybe we only threw in the towel against Panama and Brazil, but for the most part we managed to be competitive with everyone. Of course, we should have been a little more sharp, but it's not always easy to play 100% throughout a 10-day tournament."
Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi continued, "The most relevant fact that emerged is our inability to put the fundamentals into practice. What was missing was the ability to execute. Outsiders may look at our final results as not being positive. However, I can honestly say that I have seen the growth and development of the team here at the world championship. I have witnessed some real positive improvement. We expected better results, but without more opportunities to compete in high-level games we simply lack playing experience. But over the course of time we can be like other nations in building our program up to a more competitive level. We have started to do just that, and I would like to see our players continuing to grow and develop. This team is part of a much larger group that will play for the U23 squad and eventually represent the Team Italy Elite. We will have to continue to watch them, protect them and make sure they progress in learning the fundamentals of team play as well as the application and execution of game strategies."
TEAM ITALY U18 BASEBALL NEWS
U18 BASEBALL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U18 BASEBALL WORLD CUP FINAL STANDINGS
U18 BASEBALL WORLD CUP LIVESTREAM REPLAY
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angottii
(Photo of Team Italy manager Francesco Aluffi and the Junior squad during the national anthem at the U18 Baseball World Cup courtesy of WBSC)
