Team Italy women's softball manager Federico Pizzolini wanted to kick off the European Softball Championship in Barcelona with a bang against Poland on Sunday, July 24, 2022. His starting lineup looked like this: Laura Vigna, LF; Alessandra Rotondo, 2B; Melany Sheldon, SS; McKenzie Barbara, DP; Giulia Longhi, 3B; Elisa Cecchetti, C; Sarah Edwards, 1B; Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, CF; Fabrizia Marrone, RF; and Ilaria Cacciamani, P.
Team Italy starting pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani looked sharp in her three hitless innings of work with eight strikeouts and no walks. Lefty reliever Bianca Messina pitched a hitless fourth inning with one strikeout to enforce the mercy-rule 11-0 shutout over Poland.
The Team Italy offense went right to work in the bottom of the first inning against Poland and scored seven runs. Laura Vigna led off with a ground rule double. Alessandra Rotondo followed with a bunt single. A double steal resulted in Team Italy's first run. An infield error allowed to Melany Sheldon to reach first base and Alessandra Rotondo to score.
An RBI single by cleanup hitter McKenzie Barbara gave Team Italy a 3-0 advantage. An ensuing infield throwing error to first base allowed Giulia Longhi to reach third base and to McKenzie Barbara to score. Three consecutive walks to Elisa Cecchetti, Sarah Edwards and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos produced another run. A passed ball enabled Elisa Cecchetti to score, and a Laura Vigna RBI groundout yielded the Italians its seventh run of the inning.
Team Italy scored four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. After a walk to Melany Sheldon and a single by McKenzie Barbara, Elisa Cecchetti hit an RBI double. Then Sarah Edwards slugged a three-run homer to make it an 11-0 shutout over Poland.
POLAND-ITALY BOX SCORE
POLAND-ITALY LIVESTREAM REPLAY
Team Italy returns on Monday, July 25, 2022 for more round-robin action. The international competition continues through Saturday, July 30, 2022. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP LIVESTREAM
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(Photo of Team Italy slugger Sarah Edwards hitting a three-run home run against Poland in the 2022 Women's European Softball Championship by Ezio Ratti/Nadoc)
