The Executive Committee has announced the Women’s European Softball Championship will begin one week earlier than previously reported and take place in Friuli Venezia-Giulia from June 27-July 3, 2021. Originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed one year due to the pandemic, the Seniors European Softball Championship will be hosted by defending champion Team Italy. It marks the fourth time in the last 18 years that the Italians have presented the international competition (2003 in Caronno-Saronno, 2011 in Ronchi dei Legionari, and 2017 in Bollate).
Under the leadership of manager Enrico Obletter, Team Italy won the 2019 Women’s European Softball Championship title in Ostrava, Czech Republic after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in the final. In addition, the Italians earned the right to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after a 5-0 shutout over Great Britain in the 2019 WBSC Softball Europe/Africa Qualifier final. With the upcoming Women’s European Softball Championship being playing one week earlier than expected, Team Italy will have a little more time to prepare for the daunting task of challenging top-ranked USA in its opening game of the Tokyo Olympics on July 21, 2021. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
