World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe in association with Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, the Italian Baseball Association for the Blind and Fortitudo Baseball hosted France, Germany, Great Britain, Team Italy and the Netherlands at the first-ever Baseball for the Blind European Championship in Bologna on October 7 and 8, 2023.
In the semifinal on the final day of the international competition, a grand slam by Giuseppe Tocco put the finishing touch on the Team Italy 10-0 shutout over France. Under the leadership of manager Fabio Azzaro, the Italians went on to defeat the Netherlands in the Gold Medal Game by a score of 6-0. Fabio Trombini won both the Best Hitter award and the Top Prospect award of the event, while MVP honors were given to Giangiacomo Bonomo.
Day 2 Results
Game 11: France vs Italy 0-10
Game 12: Netherlands vs Great Britain 2-1
Game 13 Bronze: France vs Great Britain 0-9
Game 14 Gold/Silver: Netherlands vs Italy 0-6
Day 1 Results
Team Italy emerged as the team to beat from the first day, closing with a clear path of four victories, all of them shutouts with the exception of the game against the Netherlands. Close behind was Great Britain with a record of 3-1, followed by the Netherlands at 2-2. France and Germany ended up with 3 losses and 1 tie. Team Quality Balance calculation determined fourth place to the French.
Game 1: France vs Germany 0-0
Game 2: Great Britain vs Netherlands 5-0
Game 3: Italy vs France 13-0
Game 4: Germany vs Netherlands 0-1
Game 5: France vs Great Britain 0-2
Game 6: Netherlands vs Italy 1-10
Game 7: Great Britain vs Germany 11-1
Game 8: Italy vs Great Britain 9-0
Game 9: Netherlands vs France 4-0
Game 10: Germany vs Italy 0-10
All games are available on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Photos are available for download on the WBSC Europe Flickr profile.
Forza #Italia!
by Marco Landi and Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy celebrating after winning Baseball for the Blind European Championship by Lauro Bassani)
