15/04/2019 1 Minute Read

Team Italy's Tommy Giarola signs letter of intent with Frontier Community College

Following in the footsteps of fellow Italian players Stefano Berini, Matteo Pizzolini, Maurizio Andretta, Daniel Monti, and Oscar Tucci, Tommy Giarola has signed a national letter of intent to play college baseball abroad as a result of participating in the 2018 International Stars Showcase in Arizona

Following in the footsteps of fellow Italian players Stefano Berini, Matteo Pizzolini, Maurizio Andretta, Daniel Monti, and Oscar Tucci, Tommy Giarola has signed a national letter of intent to play college baseball abroad as a result of participating in the 2018 International Stars Showcase in Arizona. He will join the Frontier Community College Bobcats in Fairfield, Illinois later this year for the 2020 season.

Tommaso GiarolaTommy Giarola is the 20th player to be signed out of the International Stars program headed by coach Mauro Mazzotti. The 18-year-old infielder represented Team Italy in the 2017 WBSC U18 World Championship in Thunder Bay, Canada. He went on to play high school baseball for the 2017-18 Vista Grande Spartans in Casa Grande, Arizona and was named to the All-Region Second Team after ranking 65th in the state in hitting with a .354 batting average. Tommy Giarola competed in the 2018 Southern Arizona High School All-Star Games and received an invitation to the International Stars College Showcase.

The sixth annual International Stars Showcase recruited many players who had previously trained at the FIBS Academy to travel to Arizona’s Mesa Community College from October 2-12, 2018 for an intensive training camp which included games against Mesa, Central Arizona and Glendale Community Colleges. With the opportunity to compete in front of scouts and college coaches, the athletes played with intensity to increase their chances of securing a scholarship or a professional baseball contract. The International Stars Showcase has proven to be a viable option for players seeking a good education in North America while competing at a higher level than they are accustomed to in Europe. Team Italy pitcher Matteo Bocchi (University of Texas at Austin) as well as Azzurri catchers Giulio Monello (Odessa College) and Cesare Astorri (Oakland Athletics) credit the International Stars Showcase for their signings. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti