2019 Euro Baseball Championship serves as first Olympic Qualifier for Team Italy

After a successful two-week camp and Minor League Baseball Instructional League Exhibition Series in Arizona, Team Italy manager Gilberto "Gibo" Gerali is already thinking about the 2019 European Baseball Championship in Bonn and Solingen, Germany. Europe's top twelve baseball nations compete for the Euro Championship title from September 6-15, 2019. During each day of the preliminary round, four games will be played at Bonn's Ballpark Rheinaue while two games will be played at Solingen's Stadion Am Weyersberg. Group A features the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Great Britain, and Austria (or another team to be determined by the Confederation of European Baseball). Team Italy is in Group B, which includes Spain, Belgium, France, Croatia, and Austria (or another team to be determined by the Confederation of European Baseball).

Although exact locations and times of games have yet to be announced, Team Italy will have five consecutive contests during the first five days of the competition. The Azzurri squad kick off with a battle against France on September 7 followed by a game against Croatia on September 8. The Italians return on September 9 to play against Austria (or another team to be determined by the Confederation of European Baseball). Team Italy will tackle its first big challenge when taking on Spain on September 10 and conclude preliminary round action with a game against Belgium on September 11. Playoffs begin September 12 and continue through the Euro Championship game on September 15, 2019.

The ramifications of the 2019 European Championship are significant as the top five finishers of the tournament will earn the right to play in the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier. The winner of the international competition will sent to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti