It's a matter of Italian pride in the USSSA Euro Pro Series

Having given women's softball powerhouse Japan, the winner of the 2018 Asia Pacific Cup, a scare in Sydney, Australia, Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter was impressed with his Azzurre squad despite losing 3-1 to the Japanese in the opening game of the 26-game international tourney on February 1, 2018. He said, "We played a thriller against Japan. We were the only team to score a run against them during the whole tournament, and we pushed them to the limit. Eventually we got beat, but I mean it was a very close game. I think the girls did well. They brought out that Italian pride. That is something that distinguishes us wherever we go. We can play anywhere in the world, and that pride, the will, the want to prove yourself that we're not a third world country in softball or baseball is there." Now the Team Italy U19 women's softball players put themselves to the test on their home turf in the USSA European Pro Series against one of the premier teams in American Pro Softball, the USSSA Pride, in Caronno (Milan) for two games April 25-26, 2018. Italian skipper Enrico Obletter is looking forward to the competition. "It's going to be a couple of important games. We're getting practically the twenty best Italian players to play against them. It might be a friendly game for them, but for us it's going to be sort of like an evaluation as to who will be part of the team and who will not. Because after that it will be just Italian Softball League (ISL) play until July. We are looking forward to playing against the USSSA Pride, and I am looking forward to seeing our players in the ISL. It is still an important league in Europe. Hopefully we get some of our very best players there." Team Italy pitching coach Lisa Birocci Banse echoed the enthusiasm for playing against the game's elite but looked at the bigger picture when interviewed last month at 2018 Spring Training in Pescara. She said, "The games against the USSSA Pride are going to be an awesome challenge. At the same time, our girls are also training. We are always training up until we get to the WBSC Women's Softball World Championship in August and ultimately up until we get to the 2020 Olympics. I think that is an important approach. Growth, I think is an important approach. Excellence is an important approach. We are working on our form running, throwing better, and getting better base starts. That's growth. That's how I think we are approaching these games. We obviously want to win. You want to have a good showing, but this is a stepping stone. We are moving towards something much bigger." Let's wish the Team Italy U19 Women's Softball players the best in the USSSA European Pro Series. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti and Gianmarco Faraone