Azzurrrini manager Stefano Burato called on Team Italy lefty starting pitcher Mattia Campanini, who threw 4.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts. He was relieved by Gabriele Pucci, who gave up one run on three hits and struck out two in his 1.2 innings of work. France got on the board early in the top of the first inning when Guillaume Bidaut hit a solo home run.
The young and talented Italians took possession of the game when scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Gabriele Pucci led off with a single to left field and later scored on an RBI infield single by Mattia Campanini. Alessandro Barbieri followed with a walk and Serse Benelli reached base on an outfield error. Another ensuing error by centerfielder Ferdinand Delori yielded two more runs for Team Italy.
The Azzurrini added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning highlighted by a double from Serse Benelli and a single from Carlo Pezzullo. France answered with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 5-3 game.
Team Italy put the contest out of reach in the bottom of the fifth inning when scoring six runs. An RBI single by Mattia Campanini and a two-run double by Serse Benelli amounted to three runs. Kevin Wong later scored on a wild pitch and Serse Benelli crossed the plate on a passed ball to give the Azzurrini a comfortable 10-3 advantage. After Marco Guisti was granted a walk, Carlo Pezzullo doubled. Edoardo Angioni grounded out to allow another run to score. France squeaked out one run in the top of the sixth inning, but it was too little and too late as the Italians prevailed in the 11-4 win.
FRANCE-ITALY BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns on Thursday at 9:30 am (ET) for a battle against Great Britain. Catch all the action live on the WBSC Europe You Tube Channel. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
U12 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
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(Photo of Team Italy's Gabriele Pucci against France in the U12 European Baseball Championship by LG-FIBS)
