Team Italy manager Roberto De Franceschi used four pitchers to combat France in U15 European Baseball Championship semi-finals in Brno, Czech Republic on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Losing starting pitcher Matteo Marelli gave up four runs on two hits with four strikeouts and four walks in two innings of work. Relievers Daniele Francini (0.1 IP, H, 2R, 2BB) and Filippo Sabatini (0.2 IP, 2H, 2R, BB, K) left in the third inning with France on top 6-2. Closer Mattia Bernardus was extended to pitch the final four innings and only surrendered one run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Team Italy got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Christian De Boni singled and eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The Azzurrini added another run in the bottom of the third inning after Eduardo Cornelli singled and later scored on an RBI single by Giacomo Taschin.
Team Italy made a valiant effort to get back in the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning when a two RBI by Duccio Cassini and a two RBI triple from Lorenzo Barbona made it a 9-6 game. Team Italy fell short in the end when only scoring one additional run in the bottom of the sixth inning after an RBI single by Luca Magnani.
With the 9-7 win over Team Italy, France plays host Czech Republic in the U15 European Baseball Championship final in Brno on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 1 pm (ET). Team Italy battles for the bronze against Euro rival Kingdom of the Netherlands earlier in the day at 9 am (ET). When the two teams clashed on July 23, 2021, the Italians induced a 12-2 mercy-rule victory over the Dutch. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
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Read also: Undefeated Team Italy advances to U15 European Championship semi-finals
(Photo of France after advancing to the U15 European Baseball Championship final by KS/FIBS)
