![Team Italy roster unveiled for Haarlem Baseball Week](https://static.wbsc.org/uploads/federations/2/cms/photos/2d4f953b-9a77-3d49-5036-2813c34e95fc.jpg)
Team Italy roster unveiled for Haarlem Baseball Week
24 players have been selected to represent Team Italy at the 31st edition of Haarlem Baseball Week. The Azzurri squad will meet on July 9, 2024 in Reggio Emilia for two days of training before flying to the Netherlands to play in the most prestigious international competition in Europe.
The Italians boast both experienced players from Serie A such as Jesus Carrera from Hot Sand in addition to 10 young prospects from the Club Italia LA28 program vying for Olympic qualification.
Under the guidance of development coordinator Gianguido Poma, Team Italy will be assisted by coaches Michele Gerali, Alberto D'Auria, Christian Gnudi, and Carlo Del Santo, pitching coaches Rolando Cretis and Roberto Corradini, athletic trainer Daniele Santolupo, team physician Dr. Davide Ortolina, physiotherapist Marco Mennella and delegation manager Riccardo Soglia.
The following players will represent Team Italy at Haarlem Baseball Week:
Last Name | First Name | Position | Date of Birth | Club Affiliation | |
1 | Agretti | Filippo | 3B/OF | 16/11/1995 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
2 | Aldegheri | Mattia | P | 19/02/1998 | BASEBALL TEAM VERONA |
3 | Andretta | Maurizio | P | 22/05/1998 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
4 | Angioi | Gabriele | SS/2B | 07/03/2001 | 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB |
5 | Artitzu | Marco | P | 14/08/2002 | BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952 |
6 | Bassani | Alex | P | 25/11/1990 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
7 | Batista De Jesus | Nathanael Manoly | OF | 24/02/1995 | SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB |
8 | Battioni | Tommaso | OF/UT | 04/05/2000 | 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB |
9 | Bocchi | Matteo | P | 19/07/1996 | 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB |
10 | Bonvini | Francesco Maria | P | 03/08/2000 | CROCETTA BASEBALL CLUB |
11 | Carrera Lopez | Jesus Daniel | 1B/OF | 09/05/1993 | MACERATA ANGELS |
12 | Celli | Federico | OF | 15/02/1995 | SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB |
13 | Di Raffaele | Luca | P | 24/09/1994 | SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB |
14 | Gamberini | Samuele | 1B/C | 13/08/2003 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
15 | Liberatore | Ernesto Paolo | C | 26/03/1996 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
16 | Mineo | Alberto | C | 23/07/1994 | 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB |
17 | Morresi | Lorenzo | C | 16/07/2001 | MACERATA ANGELS |
18 | Paolini | Ricardo Segundo | 2B | 11/08/1999 | FORTITUDO BASEBALL CLUB 1953 |
19 | Pomponi | Francesco | P | 08/05/2002 | SAN MARINO BASEBALL CLUB |
20 | Quattrini | Gabriele | P | 18/07/1996 | MACERATA ANGELS |
21 | Scotti | Claudio | P | 08/07/1998 | 1949 PARMA BASEBALL CLUB |
22 | Servidei | Marco | 2B/3B | 19/12/2000 | GODO BASEBALL/MACERATA ANGELS |
23 | Sireus | Mattia | P | 03/09/2002 | BASEBALL SOFTBALL CLUB GROSSETO 1952 |
24 | Virgadaula | Federico | P | 14/07/2000 | CODOGNO BASEBALL '67 |
Haarlem Baseball Week History
Haarlem Week was inaugurated in 1961 and showcased the most important national teams in the world. In fifteen editions, USA has six titles, five for Cuba, four for the Netherlands and Japan and one for Canada. In six attempts to date, Team Italy has reached as high as third place (1972).
In 2000, 2004 and 2018 the Azzurri placed fifth. In 2000 manager Silvano Ambrosioni led the squad to a 1-0 upset over Chinese Taipei, threatened Cuba in a 3-2 loss and went head-to-head against USA (Simontacchi's debut), the Netherlands and Japan, finishing with a record of 1-4. In the last two editions of Haarlem Baseball Week, the Azzurri have closed the tournament with two wins and three losses. Eighteen years ago, with Davide Dalleditore the best hitter of the tournament, manager Giampiero Faraone registered big wins against the Reno Astros (USA) and the Netherlands, but lost against Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba. In 2018 manager Gilberto Gerali picked up historic wins over Cuba and Germany and lost by slim margins to Japan and Chinese Taipei. After defeating the Netherlands in round-robin action, the Italians were narrowly defeated by the Dutch in the playoffs before being eliminated by Cuba.
In 2022 manager Mike Piazza led the Azzurri to victories over Curacao (5-3) and Cuba (2-0) after strong pitching performances by Quattrini and Aldegheri as well as offensive excellence by Friscia.
Forza #Italia!
by Marco Landi, Roberto Angotti and Maurizio Caldarelli
(Photo of Team Italy’s Ricardo Paolini during the 2022 Haarlem Baseball Week by K73)