Team Italy baseball squad scores 11-1 mercy-rule win over Germany while Azzurre women's softball team loses 3-2 heartbreaker to Czech Republic in Super 6 openers

President Andrea Marcon of Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) clearly stated his message that Team Italy was united as one prior to the start of the at ETO Ballpark in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands on September 18, 2018. For the first time in the 75-year history of FIBS, both Italian baseball and softball teams competed in the same competition at the same time.

With an 11 am morning game time, the Team Italy baseball players departed early from their Haarlem hotel to the stadium while the Azzurre softball squad took a later bus in time to catch a glimpse of the Azzurri baseball contest against Germany from the adjacent field while patiently awaiting first pitch at 1 pm. Team Italy manager Gilberto "Gibo" Gerali sent out starting pitcher Luis Lugo, who limited the Germans to just one run in his six innings of work. After a scoreless first inning, Azzurri cleanup hitter Chris Colabello led off the bottom of the second with a single to left field. Giuseppe Mazzanti followed with a walk. Both baserunners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Alessandro Vaglio brought home Chris Colabello to give Team Italy a 1-0 advantage. A two-out rally erupted in the bottom of the third inning when speedy Nico Garbella legged out an infield single. Alex Liddi exercised patience at the plate and worked the count for a walk. Then Chris Colabello came through in the clutch with a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-1. 

Team Italy came back for more in the bottom of sixth inning. Leadoff hitter Leonardo Zileri hit a solo home run. Then Aldo Koutsoyanopulus singled and scored on a two-run homer by Drew Maggi. Nico Garbello and Alex Liddi followed with home runs of their own to give Team Italy a comfortable 8-1 lead. Azzurri manager Gibo Gerali called it a day for starter Luis Lugo and summoned reliever Filippo Crepaldi in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom of seventh inning with two out, Nico Garbella was hit by a pitch, and Alex Liddi was walked. To put a dagger in Germany's heart, slugger Chris Colabello slammed a towering three-run homer over the center field fence to end the mercy-rule seven inning game with Team Italy on top 11-1. 

The Team Italy baseball players return on September 19 at 11 am (5 am EDT) to battle Belgium. The Azzurri clash with the Netherlands under the lights on September 20 at 7:30 pm (1:30 pm EDT). Subsequent games 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) follow. 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

Team Italy women's softball manager Enrico Obletter put ace Greta Cecchetti on the pitching mound for the Azzurre squad against Czech Republic. She gave up one unearned run in the top of the first inning to give the Czechs a slim 1-0 advantage. The Italians tied the game up 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when leadoff hitter Laura Vigna doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice. Czech Republic put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead before Alice Nicolini replaced starting pitcher Greta Cecchetti, who struck out nine batters during her 5.2 innings of work. Team Italy made a valiant effort to come from behind and tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Amanda Fama led off with a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Erika Piancastelli followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one run. She stole second base but was left stranded in scoring position without crossing the plate. In the end, Team Italy came up one run short and lost to Czech Republic 3-2. 

The Team Italy softball squad competes in another 1 pm afternoon game against 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 Azzurre 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 #ItalianBaseball #ItaliaSoftball #ItaliaTeam

by Roberto Angotti