Team Italy roster unveiled for Haarlem Baseball Week
03/07/2024 2 Minute Read

Team Italy roster unveiled for Haarlem Baseball Week

Making its third consecutive appearance at the historic Dutch tournament, the Azzurri baseball squad features a mix of both experienced and promising new faces from Italy’s Serie A

24 players have been selected to represent Team Italy at the 31st edition of Haarlem Baseball Week. The Azzurri squad will meet on July 9, 2024 in Reggio Emilia for two days of training before flying to the Netherlands to play in the most prestigious international competition in Europe.

The Italians boast both experienced players from Serie A such as Jesus Carrera from Hot Sand in addition to 10 young prospects from the Club Italia LA28 program vying for Olympic qualification.

Under the guidance of development coordinator Gianguido Poma, Team Italy will be assisted by coaches Michele Gerali, Alberto D'Auria, Christian Gnudi, and Carlo Del Santo, pitching coaches Rolando Cretis and Roberto Corradini, athletic trainer Daniele Santolupo, team physician Dr. Davide Ortolina, physiotherapist Marco Mennella and delegation manager Riccardo Soglia.

The following players will represent Team Italy at Haarlem Baseball Week:

  Last Name First Name Position Date of Birth Club Affiliation
1 Agretti Filippo 3B/OF 16/11/1995 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
2 Aldegheri Mattia P 19/02/1998 BASEBALL TEAM VERONA
3 Andretta Maurizio P 22/05/1998 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
4 Angioi Gabriele SS/2B 07/03/2001 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
5 Artitzu Marco P 14/08/2002 BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952
6 Bassani Alex P 25/11/1990 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
7 Batista De Jesus Nathanael Manoly OF 24/02/1995 SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB
8 Battioni Tommaso OF/UT 04/05/2000 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
9 Bocchi Matteo P 19/07/1996 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
10 Bonvini Francesco Maria P 03/08/2000 CROCETTA BASEBALL CLUB
11 Carrera Lopez Jesus Daniel 1B/OF 09/05/1993 MACERATA ANGELS
12 Celli Federico OF 15/02/1995 SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB
13 Di Raffaele Luca P 24/09/1994 SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB
14 Gamberini Samuele 1B/C 13/08/2003 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
15 Liberatore Ernesto Paolo C 26/03/1996 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
16 Mineo Alberto C 23/07/1994 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
17 Morresi Lorenzo C 16/07/2001 MACERATA ANGELS
18 Paolini Ricardo Segundo 2B 11/08/1999 FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953
19 Pomponi Francesco P 08/05/2002 SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB
20 Quattrini Gabriele P 18/07/1996 MACERATA ANGELS
21 Scotti Claudio P 08/07/1998 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB
22 Servidei Marco 2B/3B 19/12/2000 GODO BASEBALL/MACERATA ANGELS
23 Sireus Mattia P 03/09/2002 BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952
24 Virgadaula Federico P 14/07/2000 CODOGNO BASEBALL '67

Haarlem Baseball Week History

Haarlem Week was inaugurated in 1961 and showcased the most important national teams in the world. In fifteen editions, USA has six titles, five for Cuba, four for the Netherlands and Japan and one for Canada. In six attempts to date, Team Italy has reached as high as third place (1972).  

In 2000, 2004 and 2018 the Azzurri placed fifth. In 2000 manager Silvano Ambrosioni led the squad to a 1-0 upset over Chinese Taipei, threatened Cuba in a 3-2 loss and went head-to-head against USA (Simontacchi's debut), the Netherlands and Japan, finishing with a record of 1-4. In the last two editions of Haarlem Baseball Week, the Azzurri have closed the tournament with two wins and three losses. Eighteen years ago, with Davide Dalleditore the best hitter of the tournament, manager Giampiero Faraone registered big wins against the Reno Astros (USA) and the Netherlands, but lost against Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba. In 2018 manager Gilberto Gerali picked up historic wins over Cuba and Germany and lost by slim margins to Japan and Chinese Taipei. After defeating the Netherlands in round-robin action, the Italians were narrowly defeated by the Dutch in the playoffs before being eliminated by Cuba.  

In 2022 manager Mike Piazza led the Azzurri to victories over Curacao (5-3) and Cuba (2-0) after strong pitching performances by Quattrini and Aldegheri as well as offensive excellence by Friscia.

Forza #Italia!

by Marco Landi, Roberto Angotti and Maurizio Caldarelli

(Photo of Team Italy’s Ricardo Paolini during the 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week by K73)