Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) President Andrea Marcon, Verona Heritage and State Property Councilor Andrea Bassi, local Sport Councilors Giulio Furlani and Filippo Rando as well as Verona and San Martino Junior Baseball representatives William Manzotti and Luca Dando stood on the steps of Palazzo Barbieri in Verona to hold a press conference in celebration of the upcoming U23 European Baseball Championship in Verona and San Martino Buon Albergo from August 24-28, 2021.
FIBS President Andrea Marcon said, "Verona and San Martino are definitely an important homes for baseball. Tecnovap Verona begins its season on Saturday, May 22. Official team sponsor Tecnovap is a brand that is historically close to our sport disciplines. In fact, Tecnovap is our official supplier for the Italian National Teams’ steam machines, which are an indispensable tool for the sanitization of game equipment and understandably even more important during these times.”
The resilient FIBS leader continued and said, “San Martino Buon Albergo is known in the world of Italian baseball for its long tradition in youth baseball thanks to San Martino Junior. This organization has been very attentive to the development of young people and has already contributed to the growth of our movement with the star power of Team Italy players Samuel and Mattia Aldegheri. In addition, it is home to our current manager of the U-12 national team, Stefano Burato, who has led Team Italy to three consecutive European Baseball Championships."
As for the Italian U23 baseball squad, it will be lead by manager Alberto D'Auria, a 120-game Team Italy veteran and former senior national team coach with two European titles behind him (2010 and 2012) as well as service time on the coaching staff under manager Marco Mazzieri in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Team Italy U23 skipper Alberto D'Auria will be assisted by pitching coach Rolando Cretis as well as coaches Federico Bassi, Alessandro Bortolomai, Gianmario Costa, and Christian Gnudi.
In the U23 European Baseball Championship, Team Italy is in Group A facing the Czech Republic, France and Great Britain on three consecutive days from August 24-26, 2021 in Verona. Group B is made up of Germany, Ukraine, Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The semifinals beween the two top finishers of each group take place on August 27. The battle for the gold and bronze medals follows on August 28. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
