Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter reveals roster for U19 Softball World Cup in Irvine, California
After winning the U19 European Softball Championship in Staranzano last year, Team Italy has a lot to prove internationally in the U19 Women’s Softball World Cup at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California from August 10-17, 2019. The young and talented Team Italy U19 women's softball squad has a lot to prove in highly-competitive Group B, which features powerhouse Japan (ranked #2), Australia (ranked #7), and South Africa (ranked #28)
Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter will be accompanied by pitching coach Marco Villani, coach Federico Pizzolini, delegation team manager Claudia Venturini, team physician Alessandro Pierucci, and physiotherapist Elio Paolini. The Italian softball skipper has selected the following 17 Azzurre players for the U19 Women’s Softball World Cup: Sara Camisasca, P/INF (Bollate Softball 1969); Sara Cianfriglia, INF (Bussolengo Softball); Sofia Fabbian, OF (Thunders & Dragons Castellana); Silvia Gerbella, INF (Giovanile Collecchio Softball); Noemi Giacometti, INF (Thunders & Dragons Castellana); Alexia Lacatena, P (Caserta Baseball Softball Academy); Arianna Nicolini, INF (Saronno Softball); Elisa Princic, C (Bussolengo Softball); Alessandra Rotondo, INF (Saronno Softball); Susanna Soldi, P/OF (Bussolengo Softball); Chiara Rusconi, P (Saronno Softball); Sara Anna Rusconi Vicinanza, C/INF (Giovanile Collecchio Softball); Elena Slawitz, INF (Old Parma); Silvia Torre, C/INF (Bollate Softball 1969); Giorgia Telò, P (Caserta Baseball Softball Academy); Alessia Colonna, OF (Giovanile Collecchio Softball); and Giulia Metaxia Koutsoyanopulos, INF (Bollate Softball 1969).
Team Italy (ranked #9) kicks off the 16-country international competition on Sunday, August 11 at 3 pm when the U19 Azzurre softball squad plays South Africa. Team Italy returns for a doubleheader on Monday, August 12 beginning at 10 am with a clash against Japan followed by a battle against Australia at 3 pm.
The top two teams of each group after the opening round will advance to the Super Round beginning Tuesday, August 13, while the bottom two teams of each group will compete in the Placement Round. Should Team Italy end up winning at least two of the three games in Group B action, the Azzurre squad would continue in the Super Round and face one of the two top teams in Group C, which includes Puerto Rico (ranked #4), China (ranked #8), Brazil (ranked #14), and Ireland (ranked #22).
If Team Italy places third or fourth in Group B, then the squad would be relegated to the Placement Round and play one of the bottom two teams from Group A, which includes USA (ranked #1), Mexico (ranked #5), Czech Republic (ranked #15), and Botswana (ranked #43). European rivals the Netherlands (ranked #10) is in Group D, which includes Canada (ranked #3), Chinese Taipei (ranked #8), and New Zealand (ranked #11).
The two top Super Group countries with the best overall records will move on to the U19 World Championship Final on August 17, 2019 at 2 pm. In addition, the nations with the third and fourth best records in the Super Group will also compete for bronze on the last day of the competition at 11 am. To buy tickets to the WBSC U19 Women’s Softball World Cup, click . Forza #Italia! #U19SoftballWC #LetsMakeItHappen
