Team Italy Junior U19 Softball players compete in 2017 WBSC World Championship
Manager Enrico Obletter travels with his 2017 Team Italy Softball Junior U19 Women’s National Team to Clearwater, Florida to compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) from July 24 through July 30, 2017. The international tournament brings together 26 of the world’s finest softball nations from all five Olympic regions. A total of 99 games will be played during the course of the weeklong competition.
Team Italy (ranked #12) opens up its Pool A play against the Philippines (ranked #19) on Monday, July 24, 2017. The Italians then return the next day to battle in
a doubleheader against Turkey, who will be making their historic debut in the youth world championship, and Guatemala (ranked #20). Italy will be put to the test when facing Team USA, who will be defending their 2015 WBSC World Championship title, on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. Team Italy completes Pool A action the following day with their second doubleheader of the tourney against South Africa and Chinese Taipei (ranked #9).
Countries finishing among the top two in their respective groups (Pools A-D) will advance into the championship round-robin of two pools, while countries finishing third and fourth in pool play will be placed in a placement pool and play in a double-page system to determine 9th through 16th place. Teams finishing lower than fourth place in their respective pools will compete against each other in a single-elimination format for 17th through 26th place. Softball enthusiasts will see the championship section through the double-page playoff and the placement section continuing through either a double-page or single-elimination format depending on their round-robin finish.
Top-ranked Japan (#1), host USA (#2), Canada (#3) and Australia (#4) will most likely dominate in their respective groups to move on up in the tournament, while 
Euro rival the Netherlands (#8) will need a big effort to advance to the championship round with Japan and Australia in their path in Pool B. Team Italy (#12) must also play its best game with USA and Chinese Taipei (#9) vying to become the top two teams advancing from Pool A to the championship round. Team Italy skipper Enrico Obletter has been working diligently with his squad to prepare the players for the 12th Biennial WBSC U19 Junior Women’s Softball Championship at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida. He expressed optimism on how his young and talented U19 team will compete and said. “I believe we will do well in Florida. Japan and USA will be the teams to beat in Clearwater. They have dominated in recent editions of the world championship and will continue to for some time.” Despite the odds against taking down these powerhouse nations, resilient Team Italy players will rise to the occasion and give all heart while proudly representing their country. Follow Team Italy on Twitter @IABF5 throughout the competition and share your comments using the hashtag #2017JWWC.
by Roberto Angotti
