The battle between the only undefeated teams in the U15 European Baseball Championship, Team Italy and Kingdom of the Netherlands, takes place in the Euro Gold Medal Final in Trnava, Slovakia on July 22, 2023 at 11 am (ET) on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
After a 7-6 victory over Germany and a 16-6 win against Hungary, Team Italy defeated reigning champion Czech Republic 10-7 on Thursday, July 20, 2023 and earned the top-seed in U15 European Baseball Championship Group A.
Team Italy starting pitcher Andrea Destro threw 4.1 innings against the Czechs and allowed just one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. He also helped himself at the plate to pick up the win by collecting three hits and scoring twice. Team Italy catcher and cleanup hitter Thomas Pitteri went 2-for-3 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored. The hot-hitting Lorenzo Maiorelli came through in the clutch with a two-run double to cap a seven-run offensive rally in the top of the second inning and give Team Italy a comfortable 8-0 lead. A trio of relievers, Giovanni Buiatti, Andrea Bergamasco and Patrick Silva, secured the 10-7 Azzurrini victory.
ITALY-CZECH REPUBLIC BOX SCORE
VIDEO REPLAY
The Italians came back the following day to win the semifinal against France by a score of 10-9. Team Italy U15 manager Gianguido Poma called on starting pitcher Gabriele Cirinà, who kept the French off the board in the top of the first inning. Team Italy went out in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff single by spark plug Andrea Destro and ensuing RBI single by Lorenzo Maiorelli, Patrick Silva singled and Lorenzo Maiorelli crossed the plate on a throwing error by France shortstop Ivan Bamberger. The French answered in the top of the second inning with one run to make it 2-1.
The Italians rallied for three runs in the bottom of the second inning. A two-run single by Lorenzo Maiorelli and an RBI single by Corrado Resca put the Azzurrini in front 5-1. Team Italy reliever Davide Zani entered the ballgame in the top of the third inning when France scored twice to make it 5-3.
The Italians scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to put the game out of reach. After singles by Davide Zani and Andrea Destro, Federico Maggalotti hit an infield RBI single. Alessandro Garavaglia singled to load the bases for Lorenzo Maiorelli, who delivered an RBI single to give Team Italy a 7-3 cushion. Then Patrick Silva connected with a two-run double, and Corrado Resca nailed the coffin shut with an RBI single to give the Azzurrini a 10-3 lead.
Winning pitcher Davide Zani returned to throw a scoreless top of the fourth inning but was tagged for two runs in the top of the fifth inning and another two runs in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 10-7 game. He was replaced on the mound by reliever Thomas Pitteri. A pair of ensuing infield errors added two runs for France to cut the Italian lead to just one run.
Team Italy closer Patrick Silva protected the slim 10-9 lead, striking out two and earning the save in the top of the seventh inning to advance the Italians to the U15 European Baseball Championship Gold Medal Final.
ITALY-FRANCE BOX SCORE
VIDEO REPLAY
With the 10-9 victory over France in the semifinal, Team Italy now clashes with Euro rival Kingdom of the Netherlands in the U15 European Baseball Championship Gold Medal Final in Trnava, Slovakia on July 22, 2023 at 11 am (ET) on the WBSC Europe YouTube Channel.
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
TEAM ITALY ROSTER
U15 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
U15 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Read also: Back-to-back wins for Team Italy in U15 European Baseball Championship guarantee semifinal berth
