Despite giving their best effort, Team Italy manager Enrico Obletter and his talented squad of women’s softball players were defeated 10-3 by an impressive Philippines team (ranked #19) in 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) on July 24, 2017 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida. With this loss in the opener for Team Italy, the Italians are in a difficult situation since they are in the same Pool A as defending JWWC champion Team USA (ranked #2)—the favorite and host of the 26-country, 99 game international tournament.
In the opening game of the weeklong competition against the Philippines (ranked #17), Team Italy starting pitcher Sara Riboldi showed confidence by throwing an easy 1-2-3 first inning. However, while battling in the second and third, she surrendered two runs in each inning. After the Philippines took a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth, starter Sara Riboldi was relieved by Federica Tagliavini. The Philippines scored two more runs to make it a 7-0 game. Italy manager Enrico Obletter gathered his players for a meeting in between innings to regroup and focus. With two out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Susanna Soldi lined a shot right back to the pitcher for a single, but she was left stranded at first base. Later with two out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Alessandra Rotondo tripled to deep right center. Elisa De Trombetti followed with an RBI single to score Italy’s first run. In the top of the sixth inning with two Philippines baserunners in scoring position and no out, Chiara Biasi replaced relief pitcher Federica Tagliavini. The Philippines managed to cash in and score another three runs. Trailing 10-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Sofia Cecchin celebrated her 19th birthday with a single to center. After a walk to Susanna Solidi, both Elisa De Trombetti and Valeria Bettinsoli reached on infield errors that allowed two runs to cross the plate. Despite the disappointing 10-3 loss in its opening game of the tourney, the 2017 Team Italy Softball Junior U19 Women’s National Team should not to be underestimated. It should be noted that Team Italy played most the game without the services of leadoff hitter and sparkplug Laura Vigna, who suffered an ankle injury sliding into second base after her bunt single in the bottom of the first inning, She is listed as day-to-day. The Italians return tomorrow to play a doubleheader against Turkey, who are making their historic debut in the youth world championship, and Guatemala (ranked #20). Forza Italia!
By Roberto Angotti
