2019 European Softball Championship schedule revealed for Team Italy
The European Softball Federation has announced dates and locations for the upcoming European Softball Championship, which takes place in Ostrava, Frydek Mistek, Czech Republic and Rybnik, Zory, Poland from June 30-July 6, 2019. Team Italy has been placed in Group B with Spain, Austria, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey. The Azzurre women’s softball squad kicks off the opening day festivities on Sunday, June 30 in Frydek Mistek with an 11:15 am game against Turkey and then returns at 4 pm for a battle against Austria. The Italians travel to nearby Ostrava on Monday, July 1 for a 3:45 pm contest against Ukraine and an 8:15 pm game against Spain. Team Italy wraps up the Group B competition on Tuesday, July 2 with an 11:15 am clash with Israel in Ostrava.
Should the Azzurre prevail as the winner of Group B, then Team Italy will challenge the winner of Group C, which includes the Netherlands, Russia, Poland, Ireland, Denmark and Hungary, on July 2 at 8:15 pm in Ostrava. 
The runner-up in both Groups B and C will also qualify for the championship playoffs. In addition, the two top-seeded teams in Group A (Czech Republic, Sweden, France, Belgium, Slovakia and Lithuania) and Group D (United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland) will advance to the championship playoffs.
If Team Italy comes out on top of Group B, the Azzurre women’s softball squad will return on Wednesday, July 3 for a pair of games against the second-place finisher of Group A at 2 pm followed by another contest against the runner-up of Group D at 8:15 pm. The two best teams of the three-day playoffs will advance to the European Softball Championship in Ostrava on Saturday, July 6 at 6 pm.
The top six finishers of the Euro Championship along with the two top African softball nations will compete in the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualification Tournament in Utrecht, the Netherlands from July 23-28, 2019 to determine which country will be on the #RoadtoTokyo in 2020. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
