Team Italy lost to host China by a score of 1-0 in U18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B play at Pingtan Softball Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Chinese pitching duo Yuyan Duan and Menghuan Zhou Nagatomo threw a combined one-hitter against the Italians. China scored the decisive run in the top of the fifth inning and went on to win 1-0.
Starting pitcher Emma Silvia (4 IP, 3 H, K) and reliever Kylie Milano ( IP, 2 H, R,K) kept the Italians in the game throughout the contest. However, the Azzurre offense was unable to produce anything more than a single by Noemi Cortesi in the bottom of the third inning.
CHINA-ITALY BOX SCORE
The Italians lost their final U18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B game to the Kingdom of the Netherlands by a score of 3-2 at Pingtan Softball Stadium on Sunday, August 17, 2024.
Kingdom of the Netherlands starter Lizzy Kwakernaak (5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 2 K) pitched a hitless first inning and limited the Italian offense to a single by Alida Campioni in the second inning. The contest remained scoreless until the top of the third inning.
After Team Italy starting pitcher Emma Silvia (5 IP, 5 H, R, BB, 2K) surrendered a leadoff single to Kika Bonora. reliever Kylie Milano was plagued by control issues. Thalma Maximiliana reached first base on a strikeout wild pitch and stole second base. Ensuing wild pitches allowed Kika Bonora and Thalma Maximiliana to cross the plate.
After issuing a walk to Lizzy Kwakernaak, Kylie Milano (0.0 IP, 2 R, 2 BB, K) was replaced in the pitching circle by Federica Forlani (3 IP, H, BB). An RBi single by Chimene Netten put the Kingdom of the Netherlands on top 3-0.
The Italians tried to answer in the bottom of the third inning but came up empty after singles from Noemi Cortesi and Sveva Moggi.
Team Italy scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning after a triple by Kylie Milano and an RBI fielder’s choice from Giulia Colino.
The Azzurre made a valiant effort to come from behind in the bottom of the fifth inning when scoring one run. WIth two out, Vittoria Zumerle reached first base on an infield single and advanced to second base on a throwing error by shortstop Thalma Maximiliana. Then Felicia Di Pancrazio hit an RBI single to make it a 3-2 game. However, she was left stranded on base without scoring.
NETHERLANDS-ITALY BOX SCORE
U18 WOMEN’S SOFTBALL WORLD CUP GROUP B RESULTS
With the 3-2 loss to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Team Italy placed fifth in the U18 Women’s Softball World Cup Group B Standings.
Top two finishers, Japan (5-0) and China (4-1), automatically punched their ticket to the 2025 U18 Women’s Softball World Cup Finals in Dallas, Texas,
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy U18 manager Andrea Longagnani visiting the pitching circle courtesy of WBSC)
