With all hands on deck against Germany in the U23 European Baseball Championship semifinal, Team Italy manager Alberto D’Auria sent out pitching ace Claudio Scotti for the best chance to win. The former Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect did not disappoint as he threw three scoreless innings and allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Claudio Scotti was replaced on the mound by losing pitcher Maurizio Andretta, who registered six strikeouts and did not give up a hit but issued three walks in his 3.1 innings of relief. After back-to-back walks in the top of the seventh inning, closer Federico Virgadaula entered the contest and surrendered an RBI single by Simon Baumgardt to give Germany enough offense to win by a slim 1-0 margin.
Germany manager Steve Janssen countered with left-handed pitcher Simon Baumer, who returned to Europe after a successful freshman collegiate season at Florida Southwest State to pitch for the Hamburg Stealers. In 5.1 innings of work, he limited the Azzurri offense to three hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
It appeared Team Italy was in rally mode early in the bottom of the first inning when Riccardo Flisi led off with a single and Riccardo Bertossi followed with a walk. However, back-to-back strikeouts by German starter Simon Baumer and a flyout ended the scoring threat. Riccardo Bertossi singled in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Samuele Gamberini singled in the bottom of the fifth inning but both were left stranded on first base.
Team Italy was 90 feet away from scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning. Giulio Monello reached first base on an infield single, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Davide Meliori and moved on to third base on a groundout by Tommaso Giarola. But he was also left stranded on base without scoring when the game ended.
BOX SCORE
VIDEO REPLAY ON FIBSTV.COM
With the 1-0 shutout to Germany, Team Italy must settle for the battle for the bronze against Great Britain in San Martino Buon Albergo on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 9 am (ET). Germany plays undefeated Kingdom of the Netherlands in the U23 European Baseball Championship final in Verona later in the day at 2:30 pm (ET) on FIBSTV.com
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
STANDINGS
STATS LEADER BOARD
(Photo of Germany celebrating after defeating Team Italy in the U23 European Baseball Championship by Lynx Prod.)
