Team Italy Softball travels Down Under to Sydney, Australia for Asia Pacific Cup

Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter is preparing his Azzurri squad for the biggest international women’s softball event in Australia since the 2000 Olympic Games. The Asia Pacific Cup takes place at Sydney’s Blacktown International Sportspark from February 1-4, 2018. Italy is one of six competitors that play six round-robin games to determine which four teams will advance to playoffs. Team Italy kicks off the 26-game tournament against top-ranked Japan in the morning on opening day and returns in the afternoon to battle fourth-ranked Australia in the afternoon. The fierce competition continues on Friday, February 2 when the Azzurri play emerging powerhouse China and eighth-ranked Chinese Taipei. Team Italy faces fifth-ranked New Zealand and the Aussie All-Stars on Saturday, February 3. The top four teams will advance to the finals while the remaining squads will compete in a consolation round on Sunday, February 4, 2018. The Asia Pacific Cup tourney serves as Team Italy’s first opportunity to get ready for the 2018 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Softball World Championship, which takes place in Chiba, Japan, from August 2-12, 2018. The WBSC event will be the first chance for teams to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Forza #Italia!                                                                                                                             

by Roberto Angotti