At the CON6 2020 Italian Baseball and Softball Convention at Palacongressi di Rimini this weekend, members of the Team Italy baseball family are interacting with the 1,000 people in attendance. Team Italy captain Alessandro Vaglio is headquartered upstairs at the Base Italia exhibition area, where an extensive and diverse array of items are available. Standing by the highly-prized Filo d'Oro Extra Virgin Olive Oil, "il capitano" of the Azzurri was seen dishing out samples over delicious bread and talking Team Italy baseball with outfielder Federico Celli. Those looking for something sweet were treated to an assortment of jams and fruit preserves prepared by the great Chef Mauro, while sipping on an espresso courtesy of Caffè Motta.
The Base Italia exhibition area at CON6 2020 also satisfies a fan's appetite for official Team Italy merchandise. Sport4Fan takes great delight in offering an assortment of the latest Team Italy gear. In addition, baseball players can find a perfect fit in choosing a customized hat or glove at the SSK booth. Equally as impressive is the display by Johnson 1836, the oldest Italian medal factory. Johnson 1836 provides relief for organizers of tournaments by producing the finest products for baseball and softball awards using state-of-the-art technology. Meanwhile, X-Gift offers personalized gadgets to help build a brand or business reach its customers.
Downstairs Team Italy pitcher Alessandro Maestri is working with his family at the Dominate booth, located on the ground floor in the main exhibition center. Nursing an injury sustained recently while playing for the Sydney Blue Sox in the Australian Baseball League, the Azzurri pitching patriarch is showcasing the Dominate baseball and softball line of products that he and his wife created. Alessandro Maestri said, "After playing all over the world, I wanted to find a way to share my experiences with people that loved the game of baseball. The biggest thing for me was to focus on the mental part of the game, which is how the name of this brand came to me. Dominate is related to the capability of each player to dominate their own mind. It's about being able to keep your beliefs and confidence up, especially through the hard times life and baseball presents. Dominate your mind to strive for success!"
Nearby Team Italy slugger Chris Colabello is with former Azzurri captain and current San Marino Baseball manager Mario Chiarini at the HitTrax booth. HitTrax is the first and only baseball simulator offering a powerful combination of analytics and entertainment that has never before been available to indoor facilities. HitTrax provides real-time stats and key performance metrics as well as powerful video analysis and trend reports. Patented technology provides a one-of-a-kind experience that fosters player engagement and a meaningful connection with instruction. Working closely with HitTrax founder Mike Donfrancesco, Chris Colabello hopes to help Italian athletes with the latest technology available.
National Baseball Hall of Famer and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza is joined by an international fraternity of fellow managers as well as coaches, umpires, scorers, athletes, and medical professionals at the CON6 on January 25-26, 2020. “Ten questions for Mike Piazza” is the first of four CON6 2020 appearances scheduled for the 12-time MLB All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award Winner on Saturday, January 25 from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm inside Sala del Tempio 440. Mike Piazza returns after lunch for a talk on “How to help hitters in pressure situations” from 3:30 to 4:30 pm inside Sala Anfiteatro 1540. Mike Piazza kicks off the CON6 2020 Sunday morning workshops on January 26 with “The art of framing: how catchers can help pitchers become more effective” from 9:15 to10:00 am inside Area Palestra 600. He follows with a discussion on “How to put pressure on the opposing pitcher by making adjustments at-bat” from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon inside Sala della Piazza 500. Tickets for CON6 2020 can be purchased for 50 euros by clicking . Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
