Home runs haunt Team Italy in 9-8 extra-inning loss to the Netherlands in Super 6 baseball

The Azzurri baseball squad was inspired at the sight of former Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri at the prior to the start of the battle against the Kingdom of the Netherlands at ETO Ballpark in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands on September 20, 2018. Marco Mazzieri was honored as 2017 Coach of the Year by and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Current Team Italy manager Gerali "Gibo" Gerali served as bench coach and bullpen coach during the decade Marco Mazzieri was at the helm of the Azzurri staff.

Italian skipper Gibo Gerali called on patriarch Alessandro Maestri to start against Euro rival the Netherlands. He pitched seven innings, struck out six hitters and left the game with Team Italy leading 7-5. However, three of the seven hits given up were home runs. He was relieved by Filippo Crepaldi, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning. But after surrendering two home runs and inevitably the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Filippo Crepaldi was taken out by manager Gibo Gerali in favor of Alex Bassani. The Azzurri closer escaped futher damage and got the game into extra innings. With the tie-breaker rule in effect, Aldo Koutsoyanopulos was placed on second base, and Alessandro Vaglio was placed on first base in the top of the tenth inning. An infield single by Leonardo Zileri loaded the bases for Drew Maggi, who came through in the clutch as Team Italy regained the 8-7 lead with his RBI single. But the lead was short-lived, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands came from behind to score two runs in the bottom of the tenth inning to win 9-8.

It looked like Team Italy's game from the start as the Azzurri wasted no time in getting on the board early in the top of the first inning. Alex Liddi got to first base on a slow roller that straddled down the third base line for a single. Then cleanup Chris Colabello crushed the ball over the center field fence for a two-run home run blast. Team Italy wanted more in the top of the second inning. After back-to-back singles from Alberto Mineo and Leonardo Zileri, Drew Maggi was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Alex Liddi. The first Italian-born and developed player to make it to MLB (Seattle Mariners, 2011) got his second hit of the game with a two-RBI single to give Team Italy a 4-0 advantage.

The Dutch cut the deficit down to two when pitcher Alessandro Maestri surrendered a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning and later tied the game up 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning after another two-run home run. Team Italy regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Nico Garbella led off with a walk, and Alex Liddi reached first base on an error. Nico Garbella was called out at third base on Chris Colabello's fielder's choice. Then Giuseppe Mazzanti doubled down the left field line to bring Alex Liddi home. Robel Garcia followed with a sacrifice fly deep enough in center field for Chris Colabello to score from third base and give Team Italy the 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the long ball haunted pitcher Alessandro Maestri for the third time of the game as a solo shot high above the left field foul pole trimmed the Italian lead to 6-5. The Azzurri added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Alex Liddi tripled down the right field line, and Giuseppe Mazzanti knocked him in with an RBI single. But the two-run cushion for Team Italy was not enough since the Kingdom of the Netherlands tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning and ultimately won the game 9-8 in extra innings.

With the disappointing loss to the Netherlands, Team Italy drops to 2-1 in the Super 6 competition. The Kingdom of the Netherlands (3-0) join Spain (3-0) as the only two undefeated teams. The Azzurri must win the next two contests in order to qualify for the Super 6 baseball championship game. Success against Czech Republic on September 21 at 3:30 pm (9:30 am EDT) and Spain on September 22 at 11 am (5 am EDT) is the key element which will grant Team Italy access to the finale. The Super 6 baseball championship between the two top teams takes place on September 23 at 1:30 pm. All games will be streamed live on Forza #Italia! #ItaliaBaseball #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti