Super 6 softball preview: A look at all the winners playing for Team Italy
Team Italy women's softball manager Enrico Obletter has stacked his roster with proven winners for the , which takes place at the ETO Ballpark in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands from September 18-23, 2018. Before returning to Italy in preparation for the in Japan,Team Italy slugger Erika Piancastelli played with Scrap Yard Fast Pitch in two shutout victories over Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei during the in Irvine, California. Prior to signing a professional softball contract, the former NCAA All-American Erika Piancastelli led the to three consecutive Southland Conference Tournament titles. The four-time Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year, completed a stellar career with the Cowgirls by breaking 20 records at McNeese and in the Southland Conference (including 13 career records). In her senior year, Erika Piancastelli was first in home runs (22), RBI (60), doubles (20), and walks (62). She was also second on the team with a .375 batting average and 63 hits. Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter has nothing but love for Erika Piancastelli. He said, "She is our captain, and one of our leaders. She is a great kid and a super player who will only get better as she matures with international ball."
Italian skipper Enrico Obletter cites the recent 2018 WBSC Women's Softball World Championship as a major stepping stone for the Azzurre squad. Team Italy made the playoffs and placed seventh in the 16-nation international tournament. The Netherlands also made the playoffs and took eighth-place. Enrico Obletter said, "I thought the team did very well considering we were in the toughest conference. After losing the first three games, we bounced back and showed the world what we are made of pure grit." Despite falling victim to dominant Japan in the tourney opener, Team Italy was unlucky to lose a pair of one run games to Australia and Canada. By defeating Botswana, Great Britain, Venezuela, and China, the Azzurre women squad proved worthy of the playoffs. Team Italy was eliminated when losing a 1-0 heartbreaker to Mexico in extra innings. Erika Piancastelli led the team in batting average (.391) while her .870 slugging percentage ranked fifth among tournament leaders. Scrap Yard alum Amanda Fama also proved valuable as she was second in slugging percentage (.522) for Team Italy. Manager Enrico Obletter credits his pitching staff for keeping his squad in the close contests. He said, "Greta Cecchetti pitched the best World Championship series of her entire career. Ilaria Cacciamani also pitched very well. We are not too far away from beating the best." Greta Cecchetti threw 31.1 innings and registered the third-best ERA (0.67) in the competition with 39 strikeouts. Teammate Ilaria Cacciamani worked 15.1 innings and posted an impressive 0.46 ERA with 10 strikeouts.
Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter continued, "I'm really proud of what we achieved this summer winning the U19 and U22 Euro Championships with virtually the same U19 team and bringing three of those kids (Laura Vigna, Alessandra Rotondo, and Andrea Howard) to play at the highest level in the world during the Women's Softball World Championship. We were the only team to have played with three U19 players on the field at the same moment. It tells you something about what we are creating for Team Italy in the future. I hope to have the funding to give these kids the opportunity to play against the best in the world three times a year so they can get better." Susanna Soldi led the Azzurre in batting average (.543) during the U19 Women's Softball European Championship tourney. She helped Team Italy with both her bat and her pitching arm by ranking first in the competition in hits (19), triples (4) and saves (2). Sporting an impressive .486 batting average, Laura Vigna led the tourney in home runs (2), runs scored (20) and total bases (29) while also placing third in walks (8) and on-base percentage (.581). With a blistering .533 batting average during the U19 Euro Championship, Andrea Howard finished second in on-base percentage (.632) and third in hits (17, including 4 triples), total bases (25) and walks (8). Elisa Princic came through in the clutch with runners in scoring position as she was the U19 tourney leader in RBI (15). Other offensive contributors included Alessandra Rotondo (.483 batting average), Marta Chiodaroli (.462 batting average), and Chiara Bassi (.304 batting average).
Winning the 2018 U22 Women's Softball European Championship title was a total team effort for the Italians. Team Italy led all nations in the following categories: walks (34), bunts (14), steal attempts (36), stolen bases (32), lowest oppponent batting average (.203), lowest runs allowed (17), lowest triples allowed (2), lowest home runs allowed (0) and fielding percentage (.956), During the international competition, pitcher Laura Bigatonn earned three victories (21 innings pitched, 19 stikeouts, 0.67 ERA) and raked at the plate with a .421 batting average. She ranked first in the U22 Euro Championship with the lowest opposing batting average (.147). Bianca Messina-Garibaldi (1.08 ERA) and Sara Riboldi (1.65 ERA) picked up two wins each to help support the Azzurre U22 pitching staff. The Team Italy offense played small ball to win rather than depending on the power stroke. The speedy Marta Chiodaroli was runner-up in the stolen base category, going 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts while compiling a .435 batting average. Melany Sheldon led the tourney with eight walks and contributed greatly with her healthy .400 batting average. Unsung heroes of the Team Italy U22 squad included Melissa Mazzoni (.500 batting average), Sara Brugnoli (.444 batting average), Elisa Princic (.409 batting average), Alessia Colonna (.400 batting average), Giorgia Perricelli (.375 batting average), Elisa De Trombetti (.375 batting average), Susanna Soldi (.364 batting average), Sara Cianfriglia (.350 batting average), Chiara Bassi (.348 batting average), Sofia Fabbian (.333 batting average), and Valeria Bettinsoli (.222 batting average).
Team Italy skipper Enrico Obletter likes the way his squad is developing. He said, "There are some players that have matured this past year, especially the young guns: Marta Gasparotto, Laura Vigna, Alessandra Rotondo and Andrea Howard." In addition to representing Team Italy internationally, the Azzurre women also play on the top teams in Italy's Serie A1 Softball League. Many of them have enjoyed recent success in international competitons by capturing the and the titles. Team Italy pitchers Greta Cecchetti and Laura Bigatton led Bollate to the Women's European Cup Winners Cup Championship crown. Greta Cecchetti was electric (4-0, 27 innings pitched) and ranked first in both ERA (0.26) and strikeouts (47). Teammate Laura Bigatton was just as effective on the mound (1-0, 6 innings pitched, 0.00 ERA). Team Italy infielder Amanda Fama fueled the fire behind the explosive Bollate offense with a .333 batting average while playing solid defense. Azzurre run producers Marta Gasparotto and Laura Vigna helped Bussolengo take home the Women's European Premiere Cup title. Racking up a .417 batting average during the international tourney, infielder Marta Gasparotto was first in walks (5), third in hits (10) and fifth in on-base percentage (.517). Sparkplug Laura Vigna ranked second in hits (12), runs scored (12) and on-base percentage (.548), third in stolen bases (4), and fourth in batting average (.462). Utility players Valeria Bortolomai and Susanna Soldi proved their worth in gold offensively and defensively. Catcher Valeria Bortolomai was second in doubles (3) and seventh in slugging percentage (.600) while relief pitcher Susanna Soldi notched a .385 batting average. Elisa Princici made her presence felt as she ranked third in batting average (.583) and fifth in RBI (7). Registering a .353 batting average, Fabrizia Marrone was second in sacrifice bunts (2), and fifth in RBI (7). Giulia Longhi also contributed to the team with her .280 batting average.
Based on all of the success Team Italy players have had in 2018, the Azzurre women's softball squad are primed for a winning performance in the Super 6. Team Italy competes in two 1 pm afternoon games against Czech Republic on September 18 (7 am EDT) and Great Britain on September 19 (7 am EDT) before returning to play later that the same day against rival and host the Netherlands at 6 pm (12 noon EDT). The Italians complete the opening round of the tournament with two 3:30 pm contests against Russia on September 20 (9:30 am EDT) and Greece on September 21 (9:30 am EDT). The Super 6 softball consolation round begins on September 22 at 10:30 am (4:30 am EDT) for the fifth and sixth-place teams followed by another contest at 1 pm (7 am EDT) for the third and fourth-place squads. The top two finishers square off in the Super 6 softball championship on September 22 at 6 pm (12 noon EDT). will provide live streaming of all games. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen #ItaliaSoftball
by Roberto Angotti
