Against Belgium in the Women’s European Softball Championship on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Team Italy manager Federico Pizzolini penned the following lineup: Isabella Dayton (LF), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Marta Gasparotto (C), Andrea Filler (1B), McKenzie Barbara (DP), Giulia Longhi (3B), Melany Sheldon (SS), Giulia Koutsoyanopulos (CF) and Alessandra Rotondo (2B).
Starting pitcher Laura Bigatton allowed just one hit with five strikeouts in four innings of work to earn the win against Belgium.
Team Italy scored four runs in the top of the first
inning to take an early 4-0 lead. Isabella Dayton singled,
stole second base and crossed the plate on an Ericka Piancastelli sacrifice fly. After Marta Gasparotto singled up the middle, Andrea Filler crushed
a two-run home run over the left field fence. Then McKenzie Barbara was
hit by a pitch. She advanced to third base on a double from Giulia Longhi and scored on an RBI
single by Alessandra Rotondo.
The Italians tacked on three more runs in the
top of the second inning. The speedy Isabella Dayton walked, stole
second base and scored plate on an RBI single by Marta Gasparotto. Andrea Filler followed with her second two-run
bomb of the contest.
The Azzurre softball squad added seven runs in the top of the third inning. After Melany Sheldon singled and Giulia Koutsoyanopulos walked, Isabella Dayton hit an RBI single and Erika Piancastelli connected with a two-run single. Marta Gasparotto followed with a walk and Andrea Filler picked up her fifth RBI with a single to left field. Then McKenzie Barbara crushed a three-run home run over the center field fence to give Team Italy a commanding 14-0 lead.
After an Alessandra Rotondo single, Isabella Dayton drilled a two-run home over the center field fence to make it a 16-0 game.
ITALY-BELGIUM BOX SCORE
Having homered in two consecutive games after a lackluster start to the Women’s European Softball Championship, McKenzie Barbara appears to have found her groove again and to be back in slugger mode. She said, “I feel better after resetting my mindset, going back to the basics and what I know best. Representing Team Italy gives us that sense of pride, knowing what we could have done in the Softball World Cup. Bringing that mentality of ‘Okay, we lived and we learned’ and then showing what we can do in the Women’s European Softball Championship. Wearing this jersey now, I feel like we are the best team in Europe. We always will be and I will stand by that no matter what… I feel like this year we are more connected with the Italian Americans and the Italian-born players playing together as a team rather than individually. We are all mending together with the same goal to win.”
The undefeated Italians (5-0) enter the Women’s European Softball Championship Super Round with a game against Spain (3-2) on Thursday, September 5th at 12:30 pm (local time) followed by another contest later against the Kingdom of the Netherlands (5-0) at 8 pm (local time).
SCHEDULE,
RESULTS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY LINK
STANDINGS
STATS
SOFTBALLEUROPE.TV
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy slugger Andrea Filler after hitting one of two home runs against Belgium on September 4, 2024 by RL-Mate)
