In the Women’s European Softball Championship Super Round, Team Italy played a morning game against Spain at Sportpark de Paperclip in Utrecht, the Netherlands on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Italian manager Federico Pizzolini penned the following lineup: Isabella Dayton (LF), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Marta Gasparotto (SS), Andrea Filler (1B), Elisa Cecchetti (C), McKenzie Barbara (DP), Andrea Filler (1B), Giulia Longhi (3B), Giulia Koutsoyanopulos (CF) and Alessandra Rotondo (2B).
Starting pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani held Spain scoreless and the game remained in a deadlock 0-0 tie until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Italian offense produced three runs. After Elisa Cecchetti singled and Barbara McKenzie walked, Giulia Longhi advanced the runners into scoring position with her sacrifice bunt. Then Giulia Koutsoyanopulos reached first base on an RBI fielder’s choice and stole second base. An RBI single by Alessandra Rotondo and an RBI sacrifice fly from Erika Piancastelli made it a 3-0 game.
SPAIN-ITALY BOX SCORE
Team Italy played its second Super Round contest of the day against the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the lights. The lineup looked like this:Isabella Dayton (LF), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Marta Gasparotto (SS), Andrea Filler (1B), McKenzie Barbara (DP), Elisa Cecchetti (C). Giulia Longhi (3B),Giulia Koutsoyanopulos (CF) and Alessandra Rotondo (2B).
Last seen throwing a three-hitter in the 7-0 five-inning mercy-rule win over Greece three days prior, starting pitcher Christina Toniolo went head-to-head with Dutch starter Jessie Van Aalst. In the end, the proud Italian American hurler would prevail after allowing just one run on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings of work to pick up the win over the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Reliever Alexia Lacatena pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning and registered two strikeouts to preserve the 5-1 win for the Azzurre.
The Team Italy offense went
to work early in the top of the first inning when scoring one run. After Isabella Dayton led off with a single, Erika Piancastelli hit an RBI double to
give Team Italy a slim 1-0 advantage. The Italians threatened in
the top of the third inning after Isabella
Dayton doubled and Andrea Filler
was hit by a pitch. However, both runners were left stranded on the bases.
The Italians came up empty again in the top of
the fourth inning when reliever Eva
Voortman entered the game. Elisa
Cecchetti hit an infield single and was replaced on bases by the speedy Felicia Di Panrazio, who stole second
base and moved on to third base after a Giulia
Longhi groundout but no further.
Isabella Dayton tried to get something started with her single in the top of the
fifth inning, but Team Italy was
unable to cash in after she got into scoring position on a wild pitch.
The Italians finally broke through and added four runs in the top of the sixth inning. After McKenzie Barbara singled down the right field line, Elisa Cecchetti connected with an RBI double and later scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by Giulia Longhi. After issuing a walk to Giulia Koutsoyanopulos, Eva Voortman was replaced by reliever J’dah Girigorie. Then Azzurre spark plug Isabella Dayton blasted a two-run home over the center field fence to make it a 5-1 game.
ITALY-NETHERLANDS BOX SCORE
Undefeated Team Italy (7-0) returns on Friday, September 6th at 3 pm (local time) for a Women’s European Softball Championship battle with the Czech Republic. With the win over the Netherlands, the Italians punched their ticket to finals on Saturday, September 7th at 4:30 pm.
Catcher Elisa Cecchetti (3-for-4, 2B, RBI) said, "I saw the ball well and so I tried to be aggressive, to choose good pitches and not think. I have so much confidence in our pitching staff. I think we have a scary lineup and so all we can do is go out there and know that we can do really well There is definitely adrenaline in these games, you don't need to create it. These are the games we play and train for all year, so I wouldn't call it 'pressure' but just a lot of fun. My teammates are phenomenal, so taking the field with them is fun and we just want to have fun, win games, score a lot of points and strike out our opponents.
With eyes on the Women's European Softball Championship Gold Medal game, Elisa Cecchetti concluded, "We haven't finished playing yet, we haven't won anything and so we still have a long way to go. It was important to win this game already to secure a place in the final. Having said that, now we start all over again. We have to go out on the field on Saturday with a knife between our teeth, start again and win that game there."
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Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy pitcher Ilaria Cacciamani in action against Spain on September 5, 2024 by RL-Mate)
