Team Italy softball squad treated like royalty at CONI headquarters in Rome

CONI (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano) secretary general Carlo Mornati hosted a press conference inside the Presidents Room Palazzo H at CONI headquarters in Rome to kick off the beginning of the 2019 Italian softball season on March 20, 2019. FIBS (Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball) president Andrea Marcon, Team Italy softball manager Enrico Obletter, delegation team manager Roberta Soldi, and the Azzurre softball squad were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the sport. CONI secretary general Carlo Mornati wished Team Italy the best of luck in qualifying for for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo by winning the Europe/Africa Softball Olympic Qualifier on enemy turf in Utrecht, Netherlands from July 23-29, 2019.

FIBS president Andrea Marcon thanked CONI president Giovanni Malagò and secretary general Carlo Mornati for their support for the past two years. He also praised the incredible work of Team Italy’s Enrico Obletter and Roberta Soldi. FIBS president Andrea Marcon assured everyone present that they need not worry about the softball team playing on Dutch soil for Olympic qualification. He exuded confidence that the squad will have put in the work necessary to be victorious in the Netherlands to gain passage to Tokyo in 2020 after first claiming the 2019 European Championship. With the Team Italy players in attendance, FIBS president Andrea Marcon joked that it would not only be tragic if the Azzurre did not qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but also a very long walk home for the girls from Utrecht…

Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter spoke highly of his squad. He noted that the results were better than expected in Australia, where the team participated in the 2019 Asia Pacific Cup and the Summer Slam - Fully Loaded Softball competition at Blacktown International Sports Park in Sydney. Drawing upon the confidence built abroad, Italian skipper Enrico Obletter is convinced Team Italy is the strongest softball squad in Europe. He said the team must now execute and prove it with intensity. Delegation team manager Roberta Soldi also spoke and provided an overview of the 2019 Italian youth softball season. In addition to the many challenges ahead, she and Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter will escort the Juniors squad to Irvine, California for the U19 Women's Softball World Cup from August 11-17, 2019. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti