Team Italy shows power in 25-10 mercy-rule win over Czech Republic in Super 6 baseball

After a disappointing extra-inning 9-8 loss to the Netherlands yesterday, Team Italy bounced back with a 25-10 mercy-win over Czech Republic at the at ETO Ballpark in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands on September 21, 2018. A trio of home runs from Chris Colabello and a pair of home runs from Alex Liddi were supplemented by solo homers from Robel Garcia, Giuseppe Mazzanti, Alberto Mineo and Nico Garbella to power Team Italy to an easy 25-10 victory over the Czechs.

Azzurri manager Gilberto "Gibo" Gerali chose to start Parma-native Matteo Bocchi, who pitched for the during the 2018 College World Series. The Czechs put up one run in the top of the first inning, but Team Italy was quick to answer with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Drew Maggi drilled a shot down the right field line for a double. Then Alessandro Vaglio legged out an infield single. With runners on the corners, Alex Liddi blasted a three-run homer over the center field fence to give Team Italy a 3-1 advantage. Chris Colabello and Robel Garcia followed with solo home runs to make it a 5-1 game.

The relentless Azzurri offense went back to work in the bottom of the second inning. The speedy Aldo Koutsoyanopulos walked and quickly stole second base. An RBI single from team captain Alessandro Vaglio, and a two-run homer from Alex Liddi increased Italy's lead to 8-1. A Chris Colabello single led to two more runs when Giuseppe Mazzanti slammed a 400 foot moonshot over the center field fence. The explosive Italian offense was not done scoring. After Robel Garcia reached first base on an infield single, Team Italy catcher and Toronto Blue Jays prospect Alberto Mineo launched a two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Azzurri a commanding 12-1 advantage. Back-to-back singles from Mattia Reginato and pinch-hitter Nico Garbella resulted in yet another run when Mattia Reginato crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Drew Maggi.

Starter Matteo Bocci was replaced in the bottom of the third inning by relief pitcher Rene Mazzocchi, who entered the game with bases loaded. The Czechs cashed in Rene Mazzocchi's first pitch with a two-run single to make it a 13-3 game. A broken-bat single by Alex Liddi, a line-drive single to center field by Chris Colabello, and a walk to Robel Garcia loaded the bases for Alberto Mineo. His sacrifice fly to center field yielded another run for Team Italy in the top of the fourth inning. Czech Republic gave reliever Rene Mazzocchi trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning when he surrendered a grand slam to cut the Team Italy lead to 14-7.

In the top of the fifth inning, Nico Garbella led off with a walk. An RBI triple by Drew Maggi followed by a throwing error resulted in two runs for Team Italy. Alessandro Vaglio walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Then Chris Colabello connected with a fast ball that flew well-clear of the left field fence for a two-run blast. Robel Garcia walked and advanced to third base on a base hit by pinch-hitter Beau Maggi. After Mattia Reginato picked up his first RBI of the international tournament with a single, Nico Garbella hit a three-run home run in his second at-bat of the inning to give Team Italy the 22-7 lead.

Azzurri pitcher Carlos Teran relieved Rene Mazzocchi in the bottom of the fifth inning and allowed three runs. With the score 22-10, Team Italy returned in the top of the sixth inning with the desire to put the Czechs out of their misery by way of the 15-run mercy rule. An Alex Liddi single was followed by a two-run homer by Chris Colabello to put the Italians just one run away from accomplishing their mission. Giuseppe Mazzanti followed with a double and advanced to third base on a groundout by Robel Garcia. A walk-off RBI single from Beau Maggi ended the abbreviated five-inning game via mercy rule by a score of 25-10.

With the crushing of Czech Republic, Team Italy improves to 3-1 in the Super 6 competition. The Azzurri must beat Spain on September 22 at 11 am (5 am EDT) in order to qualify for the Super 6 baseball championship game, which takes place on September 23 at 1:30 pm (7:30 am EDT). All games will be streamed live on Forza #Italia! #ItaliaBaseball #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti