With victories over France, Great Britain and Germany, Group A top seed Team Italy meets Group B runner up Kingdom of the Netherlands in the U12 European Baseball Championship semifinals. Group B winner Czech Republic faces Germany in the other semifinal game. The two top teams earn the right to play in the U12 Euro Championship final on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 12 noon (ET), while the losers battle for the bronze earlier in the day at 9:30 am (ET).
Against Germany on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Valenciennes, France, the Team Italy offense went right to work in the top of the first inning. A five-run rally was capped off by a three-run double by Mattia Campanini and a two RBI single by Marco Giusti.
The Azzurrini added four runs in the top of the second inning. After Alessandro Barbieri was hit by a pitch, Leonardo Perracino hit a two-run home run to give Team Italy a 7-0 advantage. Then a ground-rule double from Gabriele Pucci, a single by Flavio Casoria and a walk to Mattia Campanini loaded the bases for Serse Benelli. The Italian catcher delivered a two-run double down the left field line to put Team Italy on top 9-0. Germany answered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Team Italy put the game away in the top of the third inning when scoring nine runs. Back-to-back singles by Alessandro Barbieri and Leonardo Perracino was followed by a two-run triple by Gabriele Pucci. Other highlights included an RBI single from Serse Benelli, a two-run double from Nicolò Dal Castello, an RBI single from Carlo Pezzullo and a two-run single from Gabriele Pucci. Germany scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to make it an 18-5 game.
RBI singles by Serse Benelli, Kevin Wong and Carlo Pezzullo plus a fielder's choice by Marco Guisti allowed four more runs to cross the plate for Team Italy in the top of the fifth inning, Germany answered with five runs, but it was too little and too late as the Italians prevailed with a 22-10 mercy-rule victory. Team Italy starting pitcher Jalaba Pecorari picked up the win. He was relieved by the pitching trio of Nicolò Dal Castello, Kevin Wong and Leonardo Perracino.
TEAM ITALY-GERMANY BOX SCORE
Team Italy returns to face Euro rival Kingdom of the Netherlands in the semifinals on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 9:30 am (ET). Watch the livestream by clicking HERE.
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
U12 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U12 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
LIVESTREAM
(Photo of Team Italy slugger against Germany in the U12 European Baseball Championship by LG-FIBS)
