Team Italy U22 softball squad departs to Czech Republic to defend Euro Championship title

Team Italy U22 softball squad departs to Czech Republic to defend Euro Championship title
24/06/2022
After extensive training in Buttrio, the Team Italy U22 softball squad leaves for Kunovice, Czech Republic to defend the European Championship title won four years ago.

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 NameFirst NameDate of BirthPOSBTClub Affiliation
BARBARAMCKENZIE20/09/2001C/1BLRFriul'81 Softball Club
BARTOLIANITA19/05/2004SS/OFRRSestese Softball
CARLETTIFLAVIA23/07/20003B/OFRRSestese Softball
COLONNAALESSIA12/04/2001OFLRUS Giovanile Collecchio softball
GHERGOLETMARTINA12/08/20023BRRBussolengo 2.0
GIACOMETTINOEMI15/04/2000OF/CRRThunders & Dragons Castellana
LACATENAALEXIA21/10/2002P/OFRRForlì Softball
MAMBELLIVIRGINIA28/02/20041B/IFLRForlì Softball
MELASSI TARA ATIENO04/01/2001IF/OFRRPianoro Softball
MELEGARIALESSIA01/03/2000PRRUS Giovanili Collecchio
NANNETTIBEATRICE26/03/2003PRRPianoro Softball
PRINCICELISA05/06/2000C/SSRRBollate Softball 1969
RAMPOLDI LINDA24/05/2004OF/1BLLBollate Softball 1969
ROTONDOALESSANDRA04/02/20002B LRSaronno Softball Club
KOUTSOYANOPOLUSGIULIA04/01/2002OF/1BRRBollate Softball 1969
SALIS CARLOTTA05/06/2000LThunders and Dragon Castellana
SLAWITZELENA26/08/20012BRROld Parma softball club a.s.d
TORRESILVIA01/11/20021B/CRRBollate Softball 1969

Staff

Last NameFirst NameRole
VillaniMarcoCoach
PizzoliniFederico Senior Advisor
MarfogliaPaolaCoach
NavaSimonaCoach
LongagnaniAndreaHead Coach
ButtàAlessandro MariaTeam Physician
CioniMartaPhysiotherapist
AmbruosoFrancescaAthletic Trainer
VenturiniClaudiaTeam Manager

Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

(Photo of the Team Italy U22 squad in action prior to departing for the European Softball Championship)