Undefeated Team Italy (5-0) beat Spain 7-5 in the U18 European Baseball Championship semi-finals under the lights in Macerata on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Earlier in the day, Kingdom of the Netherlands edged Germany 4-2 in the other semi-final game . Now the Italians and Dutch clash in the U18 European Baseball Championship final in Macerata on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 5 pm (local time). As a result of their wins, both Team Italy and Kingdom of the Netherlands have automatically qualified for the U18 Baseball World Cup in Bradenton, Florida from September 10-19, 2021.
Team Italy U18 manager Francesco Aluffi called on Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Alessandro Ercolani to start the game against Spain. He was on a short leash and only allowed to throw 60 pitches as per the agreement with the MLB franchise. Alessandro Ercolani threw 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
Team Italy got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Federico Ricci walked and later scored on an RBI single by Samuele Gamberini. The Azzurre squad added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. After Francesco Segreto singled, Alessio Lollo was hit by a pitch, and Tommaso Adorni walked, two wild pitches yielded two runs. Then U18 Euro Baseball Championship RBI leader Samuele Gamberini collected his 12th RBI of the international tourney and give Team Italy a 4-0 advantage.
Spain scored two runs in the top of the third inning when Alessandro Ercolani issued two walks, and reliever Diego Fabbiani also gave up two walks of his own before surrendering an RBI single to make it a 4-2 game. Enrico Buin was summoned from center field to stop the bleeding on the pitching mound. He was effective in his three innings of relief and allowed two earned runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. A balk cost him one run in the top of the fifth inning. Team Italy answered with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Francesco Moronta Rodriguez reached first base on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch.
Winning pitcher Edoardo Zngarelli entered the game in the top of the sixth inning after Spain scored two runs to tie the game 5-5. He was the stopper and threw 1.1 innings of hitless baseball with two strikeouts. Team Italy took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Francisco Moronta Rodriguez put down a perfectly-executed safety squeeze bunt to allow Francesco Gamberini to score from third base. An ensuing throwing error to third base by the pitcher also put another run on the board after Samuele Bruno crossed the plate.
Kingdom of the Netherlands is seeking revenge against Team Italy in the U18 European Baseball Championship final in Macerata after suffering a 7-5 loss to Team Italy earlier in the international tournament on July 7, 2021. Don't miss the U18 European Baseball Championship final rematch between the Italians and the Dutch in Macerata on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 5 pm (local time) or 11 am (ET).
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All the U18 European Baseball Championship games are streaming live at www.baseballsoftball.tv. The Euro Baseball Championship final game will also be broadcast live on FIBSTV.com.
Forza #Italia! #PerBill
by Roberto Angotti
Read also: Kingdom of the Netherlands defeats Germany 4-2 and advances to U18 Euro Baseball Championship final
(Photo of the Team Italy celebration after defeating Spain in the Euro Baseball Championship semi-final by Lynx Prod.)
