Team Italy U19 falls victim to USA no-hitter in 2017 Junior Women’s Softball World Championship

After defeating Turkey and Guatemala yesterday in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) in Clearwater, Florida, the Team Italy U19 players returned to the Eddie C. Moore Complex for their biggest challenge of the international 26-country tournament and lost 8-0 to defending WBSC JWWC Champion Team USA on July 26, 2017. Team Italy U19 manager Enrico Obletter knew long before the squad touched down at Tampa International Airport that competing against the Americans would not be an easy task.

Team Italy lefty starting pitcher Carlotta Salis gave her all against a stacked USA lineup of NCAA All-Stars. She recorded an easy 1-2-3 first inning with three infield ground outs, but Team USA fought back with a vengeance. After surrendering six runs, Carlotta Salis was replaced by reliever Federica Tagliavini in the bottom of the third inning. Team USA was relentless and scored another two runs to take an 8-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning, Team USA stopped a potential Team Italy rally when Andrea Howard was robbed of an extra-base hit by an incredible defensive play in the infield. In the bottom of the fourth inning, relief pitcher Federica Tagliavini regained her composure and did not allow any baserunners. Although Team Italy was overmatched by a group of America’s finest softball players, it should be noted that the Italians played without Laura Vigna and Giorgia Migliorini in the lineup due to prior injuries sustained during the weeklong competition. They are listed as day-to-day.

With the loss to USA, Italy’s record drops to 2-2 in the competition. Pool A action for Team Italy finishes tomorrow when the squad plays its second doubleheader of the tourney against South Africa and Chinese Taipei. The remaining scheduled games through Sunday in Florida will be determined based on Team Italy’s overall record in Pool A. Forza Italia!

by Roberto Angotti