It has been four long years since the last U22 European Softball Championship in Trnava, Slovakia. With Team Italy now departing to Kunovice, Czech Republic to defend the Euro throne, U22 manager Andrea Longagnani must make some last-minute decisions to finalize his roster. Having just completed training with 20 players alongside the Elite National team destined for the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama and the European Softball Championship in Barcelona, Spain, Italian skipper Andrea Longagnani will need to narrow down his U22 team to just 17 players prior to the start of the Euros on Monday, June 27, 2022. Team Italy national softball coordinator Federico Pizzolini will accompany the U22 squad in the Czech Republic before leaving for the World Games.
The U22 European Softball Championship features 17 national teams divided into four groups. Team Italy is in Group A with Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia and Sweden. The Italians play two round-robin games on opening day on Monday, June 27, 2022 against Sweden at 1.30 pm (local time) and Ukraine at 6 pm (local time). The international competition continues through Saturday, July 2, 2022. See the complete schedule below.
U22 EUROPEAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Team Italy U22 manager Andrea Longagnani said, We go to Kunovice with the determination and the desire to win, despite the fact that there are very competitive teams: Czech Republic, host and winner of last year's European Under 18, Holland, Ireland, Great Britain and Israel are tough teams. But we are convinced that we have a team with a great future and the ability to win it all."
The following players are available to play in the U22 European Softball Championship:
Last Name | First Name | Date of Birth | POS | B | T | Club Affiliation |
BARBARA | MCKENZIE | 20/09/2001 | C/1B | L | R | Friul'81 Softball Club |
BARTOLI | ANITA | 19/05/2004 | SS/OF | R | R | Sestese Softball |
CARLETTI | FLAVIA | 23/07/2000 | 3B/OF | R | R | Sestese Softball |
COLONNA | ALESSIA | 12/04/2001 | OF | L | R | US Giovanile Collecchio softball |
GHERGOLET | MARTINA | 12/08/2002 | 3B | R | R | Bussolengo 2.0 |
GIACOMETTI | NOEMI | 15/04/2000 | OF/C | R | R | Thunders & Dragons Castellana |
LACATENA | ALEXIA | 21/10/2002 | P/OF | R | R | Forlì Softball |
MAMBELLI | VIRGINIA | 28/02/2004 | 1B/IF | L | R | Forlì Softball |
MELASSI | TARA ATIENO | 04/01/2001 | IF/OF | R | R | Pianoro Softball |
MELEGARI | ALESSIA | 01/03/2000 | P | R | R | US Giovanili Collecchio |
NANNETTI | BEATRICE | 26/03/2003 | P | R | R | Pianoro Softball |
PRINCIC | ELISA | 05/06/2000 | C/SS | R | R | Bollate Softball 1969 |
RAMPOLDI | LINDA | 24/05/2004 | OF/1B | L | L | Bollate Softball 1969 |
ROTONDO | ALESSANDRA | 04/02/2000 | 2B | L | R | Saronno Softball Club |
KOUTSOYANOPOLUS | GIULIA | 04/01/2002 | OF/1B | R | R | Bollate Softball 1969 |
SALIS | CARLOTTA | 05/06/2000 | P | L | Thunders and Dragon Castellana | |
SLAWITZ | ELENA | 26/08/2001 | 2B | R | R | Old Parma softball club a.s.d |
TORRE | SILVIA | 01/11/2002 | 1B/C | R | R | Bollate Softball 1969 |
Staff
Last Name | First Name | Role |
Villani | Marco | Coach |
Pizzolini | Federico | Senior Advisor |
Marfoglia | Paola | Coach |
Nava | Simona | Coach |
Longagnani | Andrea | Head Coach |
Buttà | Alessandro Maria | Team Physician |
Cioni | Marta | Physiotherapist |
Ambruoso | Francesca | Athletic Trainer |
Venturini | Claudia | Team Manager |
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of the Team Italy U22 squad in action prior to departing for the European Softball Championship)