Team Italy Juniors beat Nicaragua 4-2 in U18 Baseball World Cup

Behind 2-0 after five innings of play, Team Italy manager John Cortese and his talented squad of young baseball players never gave up against an impressive Nicaragua team (ranked #15) in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U18 Baseball World Cup on September 1, 2017 at Baseball Central in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. An Azzurri two-out four-run rally in the top of the sixth inning coupled with a pair of outstanding pitching performances from starter Michele Vassalotti and reliever Tomasso Battioni resulted in a Team Italy 4-2 victory over Nicaragua.

With the win in the opener for Team Italy (1-0), the Italians are in a good position to stay atop the standings despite being placed in the same Group A as the always tough Korea (ranked #3)—the favorite to advance to the Super Round in the 12-country, 50-game international tournament.

In the tourney’s opening game at Baseball Central, Team Italy starting pitcher Michele Vassalotti—who recently signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and pitched in the Dominican Summer League—exuded confidence by throwing an easy one-two-three out first inning. In fact, he cruised through the first four innings by striking out six hitters and keeping batters off-balance. Despite his dominance, Nicaragua fought back and managed to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Azzurri manager John Cortese gathered his squad for a meeting in between innings to regroup and focus. Team Italy players must have listened to whatever he said in the huddle because the Italians came back with a vengeance. With two out in the top of the sixth inning, leadoff hitter and sparkplug Tommaso Giarola exercised patience at the plate and got on base with a walk. Shortstop Gabriele Angioi followed with a single to left field. The loyal Team Italy fans in attendance cheered at the top of their lungs and waved large Italian flags in anticipation of a big rally to unfold. An infield error allowed Ricardo Paolini to reach first base and Tommaso Giarola to score Italy’s first run. Cleanup hitter and Team Italy slugger Leonardo Seminati, who recently signed with the Cincinnati Reds, came through in the clutch with an RBI single to left field to tie the game 2-2. Then third baseman Riccardo Bertossi tripled to give Italy a commanding 4-2 lead.

Taking the mound for his final inning of work in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run advantage, pitcher Michele Vassalotti dug down deep and struck out two more batters to give him a total of eight Ks in the contest. Team Italy skipper John Cortese called on reliever Tommaso Battioni to pitch the final three innings of the game. Azzurri all-star shortstop Gabriele Angioi played with defensive prowess in the late innings. After extending his reach to get a ball in the gap between shortstop and third base, Gabriele Angioi then came up firing a rocket to first baseman Leonardo Seminati to rob a Nicaragua player of a base hit. In the same inning, Gabriele Angioi caught a fly ball in the shallow left outfield as well as stopped a ball in the gap between shortstop and second base to throw out the runner at first base. In addition to assisting in all three outs of the eight inning, Gabriele Angioi performed heroism when his over-the-head catch in shallow center field recorded the first out the ninth inning and kept Nicaragua off the bases to ensure a Team Italy victory.

Although baseball powerhouse nations may not take note of the Azzurri win in the opening game of the tourney, the 2017 Team Italy U18 National Team should not to be underestimated. The Italian Juniors have traveled to the U18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada for no other reason but to win. They are placing their destiny in their own hands by playing their very best every game without regard to world ranking or opposition. Team Italy returns tomorrow to play Australia (ranked #8). Forza #Italia! #U18WorldCup #ThunderBay2017

by Roberto Angotti